Just a sweet little story for you today.
Santa in Space
Ben snuggled into his sleep-pouch. Mum made sure the Velcro was tight. “We don’t want you floating off into the night,” she said.
Ben liked living on a space station. It was fun watching the world from above, drinking round balls of juice and playing with the other five children on board but Ben missed some things. It never snows in space.
“Mum.”
“What sweetheart?”
“Does Santa know we’re here?”
“Oh, I think so.”
“Can his reindeer fly through space?”
“Um, we’ll have to ask your father that one.”
“Should I write to Santa, just in case?”
“We’ll do that tomorrow, Ben; just in case. You go sleepy byes now.” Jane tucked teddy in and kissed them both goodnight.
“Tom.”
“Mmmm?” Ben’s daddy was always working.
“Ben asked me a question I didn’t know the answer to.”
“Really?”
“Can reindeer fly in space?”
“Oh. Now that IS a question.” He actually turned away from the consol.
“I said you’d know.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, I think.”
“Well I didn’t know what to say. I promised we’d write tomorrow and make sure Santa knows we’re here.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
“But then what?” She folded her arms and waited.
Tom looked blank. “It’s just something I hadn’t remotely taken into account.”
“Remotely – good word.”
“I’ll ask the other families what they’re doing.”
“We’re a multicultural crew, Tom. They probably don’t even celebrate Christmas.”
Turned out Jane was right. There wasn’t a supply rocket due until January.
“We’re scientists,” said Tom. “Remember? We deal in rational thought and empirical data. We should just tell him the truth.”
Jane glared at him.
“-- that Santa simply -- can’t make it this far.”
“You tell him then!” Jane flounced off.
What was he supposed to do? Tom hit on the idea of composing an email from Santa so that Ben wouldn’t be too shattered.
Dear Ben,
I hope you are enjoying life up there on Earth Orbiter. I’m sorry that my reindeer can’t fly that high but we will drop by your house as usual and leave some presents there.
I want you to know that you are very special and a good boy!
Merry Christmas,
Santa.
But he kept stalling. No need to cross the bridge ‘til you come to it.
It was the 20th December. Everyone was asleep when a sudden noise woke them. It sounded like a light collision. Maybe a small piece of space junk.
“Probably nothing to worry about” said Tom.
A few minutes later, another noise.
“I’ll maybe check on Ben,” he said. “Computer, lights.”
Ben was safe and sound but there on the wall by his pouch, a small sack was hanging and an array of toys spilling out: a shiny painted spiral spinning top, a set of LED yoyos, a little model of the space station and a compendium of magnetic board games.
“Jane!?”
“Don’t look at me,” she said.
“Oooooo Santa’s been!” cried Ben excitedly as he slid out of his pouch. “He came early, just for me!”
The communications screen lit up. It seemed Santa had paid a visit to all the families on the station and he hadn’t forgotten the adults either. In the galley they found a cooked turkey and all the trimmings; even sweets and cake. They’d all be able to get together for a midwinter feast. Everyone could celebrate midwinter.
Tom went to check telemetry.
“Do you see anything, Tom?” said Jane.
“See? No. But readings indicate that a very small craft has just re-entered Earth’s atmosphere from this heading,” he said and scratched his head. “I’m sure there’ll be some rational explanation.”
For a moment he really believed that but in his heart of hearts he knew…as part of him had always known: there is simply something magical about Christmas.
