My Christmas Tales

By Callum Clegg

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes in the North Pole around Christmastime? Does Santa get distracted? Do toy machines break down? Does someone else out there want to destroy Christmas?

Well, I’ve wondered about all these things and imagined what could happen, so come and share the adventures with me.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press AU
• Release date: Oct 18, 2018
• ISBN: 9781504315258

Callum Clegg

Callum Clegg was born in 1990. He is a 28 year old man from Beechwoth, Victoria, Australia. He is a young author diagnosed with cerebral palsy. He was raised along with his brother and sister by his mother as his father passed away when he was 7 years old. Callum's vivid imagination and limited ability to physically engage in most normal developmental activities led him down the path of creating and writing short stories, including children's Christmas stories, special needs adventure stories, action, thriller, horror and life stories. His dream is to become an accomplished and published writer.

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Copyright © 2018 Callum Clegg.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

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ISBN: 978-1-5043-1524-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5043-1525-8 (e)

Balboa Press rev. date:  10/15/2018

Contents

1.     Aussie Xmas

2.     A Boy for Christmas

3.     Christmas with Strangers

4.     A Christmas Camp Blizzard

5.     Dark Christmas

6.     Santa Strikes

7.     The North Pole Race

8.     Claus Family Reunion

9.     Orphan Santa

10.   Two Different Santas

1.

Aussie Xmas

Up in the northern hemisphere, when you think of Christmas you think of snow, right? Kids play around in it all day just having a good time, counting down the days until it is Christmas day, and you spend the rest of the day indoors, just because it’s freezing cold outside. In Australia, it’s a different story. It’s actually hot when Christmas comes around and that means good times outside, kids playing cricket or footy, going for a swim, or just laying around in the shade; they go indoors to get out of the heat, not to keep warm. They do whatever they can to cool down. It’s a good life to have.

CHAPTER 1

I T WAS A FEW DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND CALEB WAS ON HIS way to the local shop to pick up a few things for Christmas lunch that his mother had already ordered. Caleb was 14 and was going to start year nine at secondary school in a couple of months. The street was filled with people rushing around because they wanted to make sure that they had all they needed before everything was sold out. There was even a street musician playing Christmas songs so that everybody could get into the spirit of things. No one was really listening though; it was just part of the background fun.

Hey Dudley Caleb called to the musician. It doesn’t look like you’re having much luck today.

I can’t blame them; no spare cash Dudley answered. I should just wait until New Year’s Eve. Then he began packing up because he knew that it was going to be like this until after Christmas. He tried to keep all of his gear together because he didn’t want to lose anything, and Caleb helped him.

Did you hear about Russell? Dudley asked.

What about him? said Caleb.

Apparently he’s on a camping trip somewhere down at the gorge and won’t come back into town until the day before Christmas.

Why is he doing that?

His entire family is up Dudley told him and by the look on Caleb’s face, he didn’t have to say any more. Then Caleb caught sight of Jade Lovett out of the corner of his eye; she was the most beautiful girl in their school, every boy wanted to ask her out, but most of them were too nervous. Caleb watched her for a few seconds until Dudley snapped him back to reality by waving his hand in front of his eyes and saying Earth to Caleb.

What? Caleb asked, and Dudley just smiled.

I’ve got to get out of here mate, I’ve got to meet Mick.

Alright man.

Just do me a favour.

What?

Just talk to her Dudley said, before he hopped on his packed bike and left.

Caleb finally made it to the shop. There was a poster of a snowman that was made out of sand on a beach and he thought that was definitely an Aussie Christmas because the closest thing that they had to snow was ice in the freezer. He smiled at that. He felt sorry for all of the people who were playing Santa Claus all across the country; the heat of the suit had to be torture for them. He remembered when he was a kid and how excited he used to get whenever he saw Santa, just like everyone else. Now he had second cousins that did the same thing; because it’s just how things go. Then he thought about one of his friends, Luke, who was spending the holidays on a beach and how he sometimes wished that he was with him, because it was definitely the time for it. Focus, he thought, as he approached the counter.

CHAPTER 2

O N THE WAY HOME CALEB WENT PAST THE LAKE AND SAW THAT there were a few people there doing all sorts of fun things. Some of them were water skiing; most of them were just tourists he thought because he had never seen them before. Caleb had lived in the same small town all of his life and so he had seen everything there billions of times; sometimes he forgot that there were things there that out-of-towners might be interested in seeing. The town got visitors every now and then, but especially at this time of year when the kids began the long summer school break. It could become chaotic. Sadly, this time of year could get a bit busy for the local police, because it was only a small town and there wasn’t that much to do, so kids got into trouble every now and then, particularly when tension developed between the visiting kids and the locals defending their patch. Caleb remembered when the cops had to deliver him home a couple of times and you can imagine his mother’s reaction. Luckily he’d never really been in any serious trouble, he generally tried to find something innocuous to do whether it was just going down to the skate park for a few hours or going down the street and hanging out with his friends. He had a simple life, with only the occasional hint of drama, just like everyone else in the town. Everybody had their own secrets after all, nobody was perfect. Caleb watched some little children playing in a sandbox making a sand snowman because they wanted to feel more Christmassy, and he saw people everywhere wearing T-shirts with something Christmassy on them so that they could get more into the holiday spirit. It was so hot here already that most people either sat under the shade of a tree or went swimming. There were a few caravans parked around; that meant a few of the people were just passing through. Caleb guessed that they were heading for the beach for Christmas like Luke. Suddenly Caleb’s musings were interrupted; he saw Jade coming out of the water. God she was beautiful. He got up his courage and decided to go and say hello. She saw him coming and walked to meet him halfway. She seemed happy to see him too.

Caleb, I didn’t expect to see you here she told him.

I was just passing by until I saw you he replied.

Do you want to join us? she asked, and pointed to a few other people from his school in the water behind her.

He was just about to say yes, until he remembered and said "I would, but I have to go home because my Mum needs this, and he pointed to his backpack.

Well do you want me to come and help you? she asked. Caleb felt his eyes light up, and he looked quickly down because he didn’t want her to see that.

Alright then he replied. Then we can come back if you want.

That sounds like a plan.

Let’s go then he answered as nonchalantly as he could, as Jade picked up her towel and wrapped it round her.

When they arrived at his house, Jade decided to wait outside because she was still a little wet and didn’t want to drip on their floor. Caleb quickly went in to give his mother the groceries before he grabbed his bathers. What are you doing? his mother asked.

I’m going to the lake with a friend he replied.

Who?

She’s just outside.

CHAPTER 3

"S HE? HIS MOTHER ASKED WITH A SMIRK ON HER FACE. CALEB immediately knew what she was thinking, but he told her that ‘she’ was just a friend, which of course was true for now. Caleb didn’t want to make a big deal of this, but his mother was persistent about meeting her. Why don’t you invite her in? Almost immediately they heard the fly-screen door open and footsteps coming closer until Jade entered the room. We are just going swimming" he mumbled, and hoped that his mother wouldn’t embarrass him.

Hi Mrs McKenzie Jade said, waving to his mother.

I’ve seen you around before his mother said, thinking about it.

Jade Lovett Jade replied, extending her hand. Mrs McKenzie shook it.

Of course, I know your mum from school meetings. It’s nice to meet you his mother told her. Caleb went to quickly grab his bathers. When he returned they were still having a conversation and he wouldn’t have been surprised if they hadn’t even realized that he had left.

By the time he and Jade finally made it back to the lake, they saw that it was packed. There were so many people in swimming, and lots of others cooking a barbeque. They almost turned around because they both seemed to want just a little quiet time together, but then they figured that this might be fun; after all they were on summer break and it was the time to celebrate. They joined their friends at one of the barbeque sites.

Later, as they sat together on the lake shore, Caleb could still hear the birds and the cicadas chirping beneath the babble of human activity; yes, it was definitely Christmas time he thought. Jade lay on her towel sunbathing and just relaxing, listening to everything that was going on, occasionally sipping at her water bottle to keep hydrated.

There was a small market across the road from the lake that was selling ice-creams and icy-poles; it was the perfect spot for it. Caleb recognised his mate John Griffin there who was in a wheelchair. John was the same age as Caleb and was just watching everyone having fun. Caleb signed to Jade that he was going over to see John; he was all alone and looked like he needed someone to talk to.

Hey Johnno Caleb said as he reached him.

Hey Caleb, how are you doing? John replied.

I’m doing okay, why don’t you come over and have a snag?

I don’t think my wheelchair can make it through the sand.

You’ll be fine, I’ll push you if you get stuck and if it’s too heavy I’ll get some help.

Okay then John agreed before he headed over to the crowd.

Everybody knew John and was happy to see him there and a lot of people went up to talk to him. Caleb saw the joy in John’s face; he knew how difficult it was for him, although John rarely let on to it and always had a happy face. Caleb couldn’t help but admire Johnno, and he knew that everybody in town did too; everybody always tried to look out for him even though they knew that he could usually take care of himself.

That was a nice thing you did Jade said.

He deserves to be here just like us Caleb replied.

CHAPTER 4

T HERE WAS A TOWN CHRISTMAS CAROL PARTY GOING ON THAT night and everybody was invited. There was a big Christmas tree up against the post office because it was the only place to put it, and there was a band setting up on a small stage, and booklets of carols were being passed around containing all the songs that they were going to sing. Before the show got started people were chatting amongst themselves waiting for it. Caleb was in the crowd with his family looking around at everything that was going on; he was a little surprised at how many people were there. He only saw crowds in his town whenever there was an event going on like this one, and with all the holiday makers taking part, it was a bit hard to find his friends. The streets were being closed off so that people could walk anywhere they liked, and every shop was closing. He found it hard to believe that just a couple of days ago his town had been quiet and peaceful.

Caleb stood in front of the Christmas tree, noting that it really was so big that people might see it from all over the town. The little kids crowding in front of him just loved it and obviously couldn’t wait for the carols to start; they must have known that someone in a Santa costume always came near the end of the program and handed out presents to small children. The little kids always had a good time there and that was what it was all for after all. Caleb never really liked crowds, but he decided to stay for at least a little while because everybody in town must be there. After a while he noticed a few of his school teachers that he hadn’t seen since the school year finished and he said G’day to some of them; then he even spied people he hadn’t seen for a longer time, like people who used to take care of him when he was little. Finally though he heard There you are from his mate Mick, who continued I thought that I’d never find you.

G’day mate. Have you found Dudley? Caleb asked.

I have no idea where he is.

He must be around here somewhere.

Fat chance of finding him in this crowd. When is this thing going to start? said Mick.

It’s like this every year, so many people come and it takes a while for everyone to settle down Caleb told him.

That’s for sure Mick said. The truth was that both of them always came every year because it was just the thing to do at that time of year. They knew the drill; they kept on waiting until the mayor began to make his speech. The mayor always made a speech about what the town had accomplished during that year to remind the citizens about how far they had come. This year there had been some new paths built to make it easier for wheelchairs and scooters to drive on. There were also new shops around town that had attracted more tourists to come, which helped the town to get a good reputation hopefully all across the country and even overseas. It was a big deal for them because they were just a small town and the owners of the shops needed the patronage to boost their sales. Everyone applauded the new shopkeepers as they stood behind the mayor because they certainly deserved it, as well as all of their employees. Then the mayor talked about some groups around town that helped to raise money for certain things that helped the community too. After the mayor’s speech, there was music playing for everybody to get into the Christmas spirit. It was performed by a church group. Maybe it wasn’t as magical performed in the heat when there wasn’t any snow falling down, but it was good enough for them. Then everyone sang Christmas carols that everybody knew, about Jesus Christ and his birth at Christmas time. Caleb couldn’t help but think that it was just like being in church; he wasn’t religious but he had gone to church a few times in his life. After that, everybody stayed to listen to the choir of school children, and remained silent out of respect for the children who were singing the songs. Towards the end, Caleb went over to stand with his family.

CHAPTER 5

A FTER THE STREET PARTY THE FAMILY WENT TO HIS grandparents’ house, just as they did every year, because Caleb’s parents thought that it was a nice thing to do. They decided to walk down because it wasn’t that far from the centre of town. As they approached they saw his grandfather, as usual, outside, working on something at the side of the house. Caleb was the first person to walk up to his grandfather and say hi. Caleb had always admired him, and truth be told had always felt more close to him than he did even to his parents. As he gave his grandfather a hug, Caleb could smell his grandmother’s cooking coming from inside the house; he immediately felt very hungry. Caleb’s grandparents didn’t regularly go up the street whenever something was on, because now they were old they liked peace and quiet; they had always really been an old fashioned couple who kept to themselves and their family. His grandfather could generally be found outside fixing things up and making the place look the best it could be, and his grandmother was usually inside cooking. Caleb went inside to say hello to his grandmother just as she was taking some biscuits out of the oven. He saw that they had a few decorations up; he recognised them from previous years and knew that most of them were so old that they had had them since his mother was a child. Caleb was well aware that his grandparents were preparing for the entire family to visit in just a few days; that’s what their family did every year. Caleb always got along well with his extended family and honestly couldn’t remember if they had ever had an argument. Like most kids, Caleb himself argued with his parents every