Snowflakes & Snail Mail

It’s not a well known fact that letters to Santa Claus do not go straight to the North Pole. Well, not to Santa’s Workshop, to be clear. Not at first, at least. You see, the letters go to the North Pole post office, which is located just ½ mile north of Santa’s workshop, atop a large hill (or a small mountain) overlooking the workshop and village below. 

The post office is staffed by a handful of elves who found their gifts to be more suited to letter delivering than toy-making. It’s not a job to be ashamed of, mind you. In fact, the elves who work at the post office are some of the bravest of the bunch, as the only way to deliver the letters that arrive there is by skiing down the mountain themselves.

Amongst the elves who work at the post office is one of Santa’s most undervalued employees. A snail, named Milo, works the front desk, greeting his fellow postal workers with a smile and arranging the letters to Santa neatly inside big bags for the elves to deliver. Milo loves his work, and although he’s not fast at what he does, he always gets the job done. 

One night, Christmas Eve, to be exact, Milo had just finished sorting the last letters of the bunch into the final delivery sacks of the night. He bid adieu to Bernie, the last elf carrier at the office, and sent him off. Milo loved watching the elves ski down the mountain with the letters he had so carefully packed. It made him feel quite special knowing that his job had made a difference. 

As Bernie skied off down the mountain, snow began to fall. Milo returned inside, brewed himself a mug of hot chocolate and returned to his desk. When he got there, however, he nearly dropped his mug! There, across his desk was a single red letter, addressed to Santa.

As quickly as he could slime, Milo raced over to the emergency phone and called Santa’s Workshop.

“I need another elf carrier, right away! There’s one more letter to deliver!”

The other end crackled with static. “No can do, Milo! The blizzard’s too strong. Looks like we’ll just have to miss one this year. Santa’s getting ready to head out.”

The phone call ended. Milo was beside himself. He had never missed a letter before! He looked at the letter again. Because of him, some poor child was going to go without a gift this Christmas. 

No, no. He couldn’t let that happen. He grabbed the letter and his coat and headed outside.

Atop the mountain, the snowflakes were falling down hard and fast. Milo could hardly see in front of him. Still, slowly but surely, he made his way across the mountain, all the way to the very edge. Looking down, Milo felt a lump of fear knot itself in his stomach. He looked around. There were no skis left. He had an idea, and carefully, turned over onto his back shell.

Clutching the letter in his hand, he pushed off the edge, using his shell like a sled. He gained speed quickly, and soon enough Milo was sliding down the mountain at a speed he had never even dreamed was possible. He zoomed and he zipped through the snow, around trees and past snowmen. 

Finally, Milo’s sliding came to a halt at the bottom of the mountain. He looked ahead toward Santa’s workshop. He still needed to make it through the whole village and snow was still piling up!

As quick as he could go, Milo slipped his way through the snow. It was freezing, and he felt his body shiver in his shell, but Milo knew he had to make it. Some kid’s Christmas morning depended on it. 

Finally, Milo made it to the workshop, just as Santa was about to get on his sleigh!

“Wait, Mr. Claus! I have another letter!”

Santa stepped off the sleigh and walked over to Milo.

“Why Milo, I haven’t seen you down here in ages! That’s an awfully long trip to make in a blizzard!” Santa said in his great, booming voice.

“I had to, Mr. Claus, otherwise this poor child wouldn’t get his gift!”

Milo handed the letter to Santa. Santa opened it.

“Hmm, it seems what this child wants isn’t something I can make this quickly. I’m sorry, Milo, but there’s just not enough time.”

Milo was so sad. He hadn’t been fast enough.

“What is it?” He asked Santa.

“Well, it looks like the young boy wanted a brand new sled.”

Suddenly, Milo had another idea. Slowly but surely, he slid out of his shell and handed it to Santa.

“Here Mr. Claus, it may not be top of the line, but it sure packs a speedy punch!”

“Why, Milo, this is yours! I couldn’t ask you to give up your own shell,” said Santa.

“It’s okay. I’m sure I can get a new one. It’s Christmas, and no child should go without a gift on Christmas.”

With a twinkle in his eye, Santa fixed Milo’s shell with a bow, and gently packed it in his sleigh. Milo watched on with the elves as Santa’s sleigh flew off into the night. 

The next morning, Milo was busy arranging his mail carrier bags for next year, when Santa Claus himself entered the office, carrying a large Christmas present. 

“Oh, Mr. Claus! How did it go last night? Did the boy like his Christmas present?” Milo asked.

“Why, take a look for yourself,” said Santa.

Santa winked at the TV above Milo’s desk, and a video began playing of a young boy, sliding down a snow-covered hill, riding in Milo’s old shell. The boy’s smile brought a tear to Milo’s eye.

“I just stopped by to drop off one last Christmas present. I asked the elves to work on it while I was delivering the rest last night.’

Santa dropped the present on Milo’s desk.

“For me?” Milo asked.

“Of course it’s for you!” Santa laughed.

Slowly, but surely, Milo opened his present. Inside, was a brand new shell, a red and gold one, modeled after Santa’s own sleigh! Milo was so thrilled that he hopped right in!

“It’s a perfect fit!” He exclaimed. 

Santa said, “Thank you, Milo. You’ve shown to me that you really understand the true meaning of Christmas. And you’ve taught me something too!”

“What’s that?” Milo asked.

“You’ve taught me that no matter how fast or slow someone is, it doesn't matter. True heart and courage can take time, and I’m glad I had the patience to see yours. Thank you, Milo.”

Milo was so happy. “Thank you, Mr Claus.”

“You can call me, Santa, kid.”

“Will do, Santa!”

Santa turned to leave the office but before he did, he looked back at Milo and said, “Don’t be afraid to give that shell a spin every now and then and come visit. Take your time, of course.”

Milo smiled as Santa left in his own sleigh. Then, as quick as he could, Milo raced out the back door toward the edge of the mountain. He turned on his back and pushed off! 

“Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!”