Nicky

By Edward Bell

Nicky is the story of a young Nicholas Claus who learns of his family’s legacy and the role he will someday play when he takes over for his father, Santa. Because of his inquisitiveness, his parents, Santa and Millie Claus, decide it best for Nicky to take a trip with Elf Olaf to Columbus, Ohio, to learn about children and the various issues they have to deal with while growing up. We learn how Santa first met his flying reindeer, the elves, and we learn there are good and bad witches. We meet Tyrone Porter, a street-tough boy and soon-to-be friend of Nicky. Inside these exciting pages are trolls and princes. Nicky is a work for every child and child-at-heart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Nov 30, 2020
• ISBN: 9781645759737

Edward Bell

Edward Bell lives in Columbus, Ohio, with his wife Pam. He works for the Franklin County Job and Family Services and is a devout Christian. He is the author of a Christmas story: Nicky. He has earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration as well as professional designations such as AAMS, CMFC, and CSS.

Book preview

Twenty-One

About the Author

Edward Bell lives in Columbus, Ohio with his wife Pamela. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in business administration. Writing is but one of the many hobbies he has and NICKY is one of eight literary works he has penned. Edward’s early life was filled with fond and exciting memories of Christmas filled with togetherness spent with other family members and friends.

Dedication

NICKY is dedicated to the memories of my late mother (Charlotte) who made Christmas so very special with bright colours, good food, tradition and religious understanding. My late father (Edward) who spent many sleepless hours assisting Santa get toys together. My late siblings Renee and Bryan Jeffery, who spent many Christmas Eves in wide-eyed wonder over what Santa may or may not bring.

Copyright Information ©

Edward Bell (2020)

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher.

Any person who commits any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

Austin Macauley is committed to publishing works of quality and integrity. In this spirit, we are proud to offer this book to our readers; however, the story, the experiences, and the words are the author’s alone.

Ordering Information

Quantity sales: special discounts are available on quantity purchases by corporations, associations, and others. For details, contact the publisher at the address below.

Publisher’s Cataloging-in-Publication data

Bell, Edward

Nicky

ISBN 9781645759720 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781645759713 (Hardback)

ISBN 9781645759737 (ePub e-book)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020919102

www.austinmacauley.com/us

First Published (2020)

Austin Macauley Publishers LLC

40 Wall Street, 28th Floor

New York, NY 10005

USA

[e-mail]

[phone]

Acknowledgement

I would like to extend several acknowledgments to people without whose patience and understanding NICKY may not have come to life: first and obviously foremost my wife Pamela, who bore the pressure of having to listen to the storyline over and over with only the occasional roll of her eyes, all the while offering creative ideas and technical assistance.

Bruce Petush, who read, loved and volunteered to create the artwork for this story and he is an avid fan of all things Christmas.

Darrel W. Wilson, as my best friend he was the first to read NICKY as it was being created and as an accomplished writer himself offered much needed suggestions and critiquing.

Tiffany Harris, and other good friends not only read NICKY and offered opinions, but their encouragements went a long way when I felt like not completing this book.

Chapter One

Waking from a fitful sleep, Nicky didn’t understand the meaning of his dreams. At ten years of age, he seemed to be having the same dream every night.

It was always the same, there were thousands of children running up to him with outstretched palms, begging. They all had the same look, sad faces with sunken, lost eyes. Their clothes were dirty and little more than rags.

Nicky couldn’t understand why they were begging for things, he was sure every child had. Things like; a place to call home, food, and clothes. They weren’t necessarily begging for themselves either, but for their parents, brothers and sisters.

Getting out of bed, Nicky made his way to the kitchen. There, he found his mother happily removing a tray of gingerbread cookies from one of the many ovens in her cookie shop.

His mother had been born Millicent, but everyone called her Millie.

As he stood in the doorway smelling the sweet aromas of ginger, cinnamon and vanilla, Nicky found it hard to believe his mother was over a hundred years old. In fact, Millie was one-hundred-and-fifty years old.

Noticing her son in the doorway, Millie smiled and asked, Nicky, I thought you were asleep. What brings you to the cookie shop this early?

It was always busy in the cookie shop this time of year. There were millions of cookies to bake and everyone was expected to spend at least eight hours a day helping Millie to make them. This included Nicky, his father Nicholas and the elves.

Millie joked, I’ll bet I know why you’re here. You didn’t get enough to eat on your shift and couldn’t sleep, knowing all these delicious cookies had to be baked and…, she stopped short. Millie saw the sadness that had spread over Nicky’s face. Oh, my poor baby! You look so sad. What is it Nicky? What’s troubling you? Millie asked.

Looking up into the concerned but cheery eyes of his mother, Nicky sighed and explained, Mama, I keep having the same dream. Every night it’s the same.

And what is this dream that keeps my Nicky, from sleep? Millie asked, placing a warm palm against her son’s cheek.

Nicky knew his mother’s touch was magical. Usually, its loving warmth would take away his sadness. This time however, it did no more than make him sigh deeply.

Mama, every night I see these children, thousands of them. They’re living on the streets without food or clothes. Are there really children out there like that?

Nicky’s eyes grew wide with the expected soothing reassurance he’d come to expect from his mother. Instead, Millie said, It seems you are old enough to understand what I will now try to explain to you.

Sitting on a stool, Millie motioned for Nicky to take a seat beside her. Holding his hands, Millie looked into Nicky’s eyes and said, Nicky, the world is a very big place as you will someday see. Up here where we live, you don’t see the many problems other families face. Your father…well, he sees them every year. The mailroom is full of letters from children and even some parents who ask for his help.

And does he help them, Mama? Nicky asked. There was a sound of hope in his voice.

He does the best he can Nicky, but there are so many of them that he is simply not able to find them all.

But, why can’t he find them? If they send him letters, can’t he find their homes from the return address? Nicky asked confused.

I’m sure your father could explain that better than I, Millie answered. Let’s just say the children you speak of, well, most of them don’t have homes to live in. At least not what you know of as a home. Most of their parents try hard to do better and find places but they must go wherever they can find work, so they have no real place to call home. That makes it hard for your father to keep track of them. Besides, he’s an old geezer now. Millie smiled. When she saw Nicky’s mouth turn into a grin, Millie continued, Now, don’t go telling your father I called him that!

As Nicky shook his head that he wouldn’t, Millie said, It’s so sad. There are so many of the little darlings that it breaks your father’s heart, when he realizes some of the children are going to be without toys, especially at Christmas.

"Mama, what about all those computers father bought? He said they would