Wednesday, December 23, 1992 @ Short StoryCONTEST Tired Santa meets up with Eskimo family and Amanda... The sleigh was packed, the reindeer were harnessed but no one could find Santa. It was a beautiful night that Christmas Eve and Santa thought so too. He decided to go for a little walk and he wasn’t paying any atten- tion to the time. He thought he would have enough time to go for just a little stroll before he had to head out. Santa walked about half a kilometre through the woods and then he heard a shuf- fling in the bushes. He looked over and saw an Eskimo family of four. There was a mother, a father and a little girl and a baby boy. They seemed to be lost so Santa went up to them and asked them if they needed help. They replied, “Oh, yes sir, Thank you. We seem to be lost.” Santa said, “We could walk back to my place but my legs are pretty sore...” Then the eskimo family said, “We have an idea, why don’t we make an igloo.” Then the five of them started to make bricks out of the snow and stacked them on top of each other. Finally, they had a cozy little igloo. The five of them crawled in and started to talk. The eskimos looked curiously at Santa and wondered why he lived up here and why he didn’t look like them. This is what Santa explained about himself: “My name is Santa Claus and every year on De- cember 24th, I go to every city and town in the world and deliver everyone a present.” Then the Eskimos asked “How do you go everywhere in the world in just one night?” Santa replied, “I have eight reindeer all hooked up to a magic sleigh. This sleigh can travel faster than the speed of light.” Then Santa remembered, “I have to be on my may because it is getting late.” He said good bye to the Eskimos and walked back to his house an climbed aboard his sleigh. Santa had done all the cities and all the towns except for Castlegar, B.C. Santa started the houses and the last house on his list was the Parks house. It was 5 a.m. when Amanda was awakened by the sound of Santa squeezing down the chimney. Amanda came down the stairs to find Santa Claus quickly putting the presents under the tree. She could see a frown on his face and she asked him why. Santa explained that he usually doesn’t let kids see him because it takes away the mystery of Santa Claus. Amanda said that she didn’t;mind seeing him because she always wanted to meet him. The frown was replaced with a smile as San- ta hopped into his sleigh, gave me a wink and a hearty Ho, ho,ho! Amanda Parks Age 10 Elizabeth helps save Christmas... The sleigh was packed, the reindeer were harnessed but no one could find Santa. Everyone and everything was in a ruckus. “Oh no,” shrieked Mrs. Claus. One of the elves spoke up “I know who can find Santa.” “Who! Who,” everyone asked. “Why Elizabeth, of course. She has been my friend for a long time and I have a feeling that she will find Santa.” Ding Dong! “Oh, now who could that be,” I thought. “Theodore!!! What brings you here.” “I have something terrible to tell you Eliza- beth. “What is it Theodore, you can tell me any- thing. ” “Well, Elizabeth, Santa’s missing.” “Missing, that’s terrible we have to find him, and quick.” Back in the North Pole everyone was searching high and low for Santa. “It’s just to bad there won't be presents for the boys and girls this year,” said Mrs. Claus. “SURPRISE!” Elizabeth and, Theodore burst in the door. “Elizabeth! It’s nice, to see you but I am afraid Santa’s gone,” replied Mrs. Claus. “Did you check outside,” I asked. “Well no,” she said. “Let’s go then,” I yelled. “You will have to take Rudolph, he can guide you through the fog with his nose.” Elizabeth, Theodore and Rudolph headed into the fog. “Look,” I called, “there’s something red over there.” And sure a enough it was Santa. Theodore, Elizabeth and Rudolph saved the day. Santa went up to his sleigh with a frown on his face. The frown was replaced with a smile as Santa hopped into his sleigh, gave me a wink and a heart Ho, Ho, Ho! Elizabeth Colville Age 8 Searching for a scatter-brained elf... The sleigh was packed, the placed by a smile as Santa reindeer were harnessed, but hopped into his sleigh, gave no one could find Santa. Chi-Chi, another one of us _ ho,ho! elves, went out to look for him. Chi-Chi is a very scatter- brained elf and also a very big worry wart. me a wink and a hearty Ho, Christine Robertson Age 11 “Oh, dear, dear me, I must find Santa!” he muttered to himself as he scurried toward the workshop. By the time Chi-Chi was there the poor scatter-brained elf had forgotten who he was looking for. “Oh, me oh my,” he cried as he quickly ran back toward the sled. When he got back, the other elves wer@very an- gry and so the sent Twinkie (me) to look for him. Just as I was about to look for him, old jelly belly himself in, he was walked frowning.The fown was re- RMB. stains bepheny Cites WINTER WHEELS MPV's Mazda 626, 929, Ford Probe, Honda Prelude LIMITED QUANTITIES Take Off or New Homelan + quality buil ‘ complete ca * expl p BR wt Wee AUTO BODY ICBC CLAIMS SPECIALISTS + Unibody Repairs * Free Towing * Windshield + Factory Paint Matching * Replacement « Rust removal * Custom Painting * Fiberglass Repairs * Overheight Truck Bays * Courtesy Cars Available * Free Estimates * Seniors Discounts 365-2585 3805 Columbia Ave., Castlegar Southend of Town Here's My Card... on ence | ding since *~ rpentry services diting services CALL DALE AT: 365-00 INRS NATIONAL REAL ESTATE SERVICE The #1 real estate sales company in the Kootenays requires an Experienced Salesperson in the Castlegar area. NRS Rosling is a member of the Kootenay Real Estate Board and offers the multiple listing service to all their clients. Interested parties forward resumes to NRS Rosling Real Estate 593 Baker St., Nelson, B.C. ViL 4J1. Att: Ben Arcuri or NRS Rosling Real Estate 1252 Bay Ave., Trail, B.C. V1R 4A6. Att: Cal Hockley HUGH KEENLEYSIDE LOCK CLOSURE BC Hydro advises the public the Lock at Hugh Keenleyside Dam will be closed to Boat Traffic December 25/92 & January 1/93 WE APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE BGhydro & Bob Proctor Neal McKenna Bill pleco ADVERTIS e OFFICE 365-7266 * FAX 365-33 d Construction 979 @ Wednesday, December 23, 1992 Short StorYCONTEST CSCU introduces Variable Investment Plan The silly squirrel and Santa’s hat... The sleigh was packed, the reindeer were harnessed, but no once could Santa. “Santa” ene Mn Glas, “Santa, there’s no time for hiding!” “Santa, you've got td get going,” shouted his elves. But Santa didn’t hear them. eee Deep in the forest, Santa grew ever closer to the squirrel. “Come on, please give me my hat.” whispered Santa. “I can’t go anywhere without it.” He leaped for the squirrel and landed face down in the snow. The squirrel chattered happily, enjoying their little game. “Please little guy” said Santa with a sleigh as he chased the squirrel deeper into the woods. eee “Okay everyone, We must start looking for Santa,” said Mrs. Claus as she rounded up her elves. “Squeaky, go look in the house. “Troy, go look in the workshop. “And you,” she said, pointing to me, “go look in the woods.” eee “Santa, Santa, where are you,” I said as I looked everywhere. “Over here,” he said, as I ran in the direction of his voice. “What are you doing out here?” I asked. “We have looked everywhere for you!” “T've been trying to get my hat back from that silly squirrel, he said pointing up the tree. “Oh well, I guess I'll go without a hat this year,” Santa said, as he started towards home. As soon as he left, the squirrel dropped the hat and scram- bled up the tree. I grabbed the hat and ran after Santa. “Santa,” I shouted, “there’s good news. I got your hat back but... it’s all wet and dirty.” Santa frowned. “What are you two whispering about?” asked Mrs. Claus. “Come on or you'll never finish delivering all your presents by morning.” The frown was replaced with a smile as Santa hopped into his sleigh, gave me a wink, and a hearty Ho, ho, ho! Valerie L. Kosowan Age 14 Of teddy bears and candy canes... The sleigh was packed the reindeer were harnessed, but no one could find Santa. Mrs. Claus was getting worried. It was Christmas Eve the reindeer were waiting, and the presents needed to be delivered. Mrs. Claus did not know how to guide the reindeer. They needed to find Santa. They had looked everywhere inside out, but no Santa. The elves were too small to guide the reindeer. Nobody but Santa knew how to guide the reindeer and sleigh. We decided to search again all around the North Pole and Santa’s workshop. We all spread out. Mrs. Claus searched the house upstairs through bottom, wall through wall. But sadly enough there was no Santa Claus. She walked out- side looking very unhappy. I told her to wait for me by the sleigh. I went into the workshop, the room was filled with toys, stacks and stacks, piles and piles roof high. I thought to myself if Santa is in there, it’s sure going to be hard to find him. I looked in the piles of teddy bears... nope, no Santa is in here. last pile was of candy canes. I looked and saw something red. Sure enough it was Santa. I dug him out, he was very thankful. I said, “Santa hurry up the presents need to be delivered.” Santa said, “Where's my reindeer?” “They are all ready to go.” “Oh, thank you,” said Santa. The frown was replaced with a smile as Santa hopped into his sleigh, gave me a wink and a hearty Ho, ho, ho! Stephanie Casler Age 12 Castlegar Savings Credit Union has introduced its new Variable Investment Plan— , a high-yield variable rate term deposit plan based on the credit union’s own mort- gage portfolio. VIP pays a rate of return on member deposits, calculat- ed at the beginning of every month based on the consoli- dated yield of mortgage inter- est earned by the CSCU. VIP is designed for members at- tempting to build a retire- ment income or those already retired and living off interest paid on their investments. BUSINESS DIRECTORY Copy Deadline for January — 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 23 ¢ 365-7266 eT Brian L. Brown. CERTIFIED GENERAL ACCOUNTANT 270 Columbia Avenue Castlegar - 365-2151 Surgenor & Rogers CERTIFIED GENERAL ACCOUNTANTS 1444 Columbia Avenue, Castlegar, B.C. NEIL E. SURGENOR, C.G.A. 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