Disclaimer: The characters of the Stephanie Plum series belong to Janet Evanovich and are used here without permission. No copyright infringement is intended.
Note: This is a challenge response. It was to appear in letter form.
Unmentionable Aid
By TT
Dear Santa,
Normally I would wait until you were able to come to the mall to tell you, but, since it's July, that won't happen for a while, so I figure this was the best way to tell you.
Last week I was being a very, very good girl, despite what Mommy and Angie might say. I ate all my oats and hay, did all my lessons and even remembered to use my human hands instead of my paws at the dining room table when we went to Grandma's.
I might have forgotten to make my bed once or twice and it really wasn't my fault that Lisa's toy bunny was on the stove while the burner was still hot; she asked me to put it up there. Albert got the fire out pretty quickly and there wasn't a whole lot of anything hurt, other than the bunny. It's also not my fault that I accidentally stomped on Billy McGurkin's toes. He should know better than to sneak up behind a horse. He's just lucky I wasn't scared enough to kick. Aunt Stephanie told me exactly where to kick him if he ever tried to touch me.
Anyway, none of that was really my fault. I was being good and practicing my dressage steps in the living room, when Mr. Diesel popped in to visit.
I know he's not supposed to pop in without Mommy or Albert or Aunt Stephanie there with us, but he looked a little worried, so it must have been important.
“Hi, Mr. Diesel,” I said with a smile.
“Hi, Mary Alice,” he said back, smiling, but I could tell he was worried.
I remembered what Mommy told us about guests, so I asked, “Do you want some water or juice? I'm not allowed to make anything hot and can't touch the food until lunchtime.” Mommy was in the basement with Lisa doing laundry.
He smiled a little wider and told me, “No, that's all right. I need your help with something.”
I like helping people and Mr. Diesel doesn't seem to mind that I'm a horse, but I don't know him very well, so I didn't think Mommy would be happy if I left with him. “I can't go alone with you. Can Aunt Stephanie come?”
Normally, I'd want Mommy or Albert with me, or even Grandpa, but Mr. Diesel is Aunt Stephanie's friend, so I asked if she could come.
“Sure, let me go get her,” he said and popped away.
Mommy came up and asked me who I was talking to. I told her Mr. Diesel, but he went to get Aunt Stephanie. I didn't understand the strange look on her face when I told her this, but it was funny.
Before she could say anything else, the phone rang. It was Aunt Stephanie. I only heard what my mom said, even though I tried not to listen.
When she hung up, Mommy looked at me, opened her mouth, closed her mouth and shook her head. I had only ever seen her do that to Aunt Stephanie or Albert before.
Finally, she sighed and told me to put my shoes on since Aunt Stephanie and Mr. Diesel would be by soon to pick me up.
I did as she said because I'm a good girl and always try to obey Mommy.
Anyway, Mr. Diesel and Aunt Stephanie showed up and we left.
Mr. Diesel had Aunt Stephanie drive to somewhere outside town. It was near a big field and no one was around.
When we were parked, Mr. Diesel had us get out of the car and go to the middle of the field. I wasn't too sure about what was going on, but I knew it had to be important from the way Aunt Stephanie looked serious. She did smile at me when she saw me looking at her, but I could tell she was a little worried.
That's was when Mr. Diesel told me he needed my help. I was something he called “unmentionable”, but I told him I was a horse.
He laughed.
He told me that I was a horse, and he needed me to talk some sense into someone for him.
I told him OK and he said he would bring us to the place.
He concentrated really, really hard and we ended up in the back yard of Mr. Mayor Juniak's house. I knew it was his house because I've been here with Grandpa before, but only once.
I saw him standing on the porch and waved. I think he had an upset tummy because he didn't look too well, but he tried to smile back.
Anyway, when I looked around the yard, I spotted a reindeer. I was very surprised, so I asked Aunt Stephanie if I could go talk to is.
She seemed to hesitate, but said it would be OK. She took my hand and we went over to the reindeer.
I introduced myself and Aunt Stephanie and was surprised when he, the reindeer, told me his name was Comet! I knew right away he had to be one of your reindeer.
We talked for a while longer and he told me about his vacation and needing a break. He had decided he liked Trenton a lot and didn't feel like going to the North Pole just yet.
I didn't know if he should be away or not, but he seemed to be happy in Mr. Mayor Juniak's back yard.
So, after talking a while, he offered to give me and Aunt Stephanie a ride. Mr. Diesel had been listening to the conversation and tried to protest when I told him, but when I looked at Aunt Stephanie, her eyes were all bright and sparkley and I could tell she really wanted to fly.
I agreed for both of us and we climbed on Comet's back.
Mr. Diesel was very unhappy saying we couldn't do this and people would see.
Neither Aunt Stephanie nor I cared. We just wanted to fly.
Just as Mr. Diesel was reaching to take one of us off, Comet rose into the air and we were away!
It was wonderful and we had so much fun.
Aunt Stephanie laughed. I've never seen her smile so big except once with Mr. Ranger.
Comet flew us around and took us out of town eventually and over to where the fields were where we left the car.
There were a few other cars there, but Comet thought it was time to land, so we did.
I'm not exactly sure what happened next or how Comet got that bald patch on his side. The orange vest wasn't my idea either, but I don't remember how they got it. And the mean hunters who tried to hurt Comet shouldn't get any presents this year. It's their own fault Comet accidentally kicked them and stepped on them. Aunt Stephanie says the hoof-prints on their faces and stuff will go away eventually.
Anyway, after it was over, I talked to Comet and he agreed to go back home, but he did promise to visit again.
Aunt Stephanie took me back to her apartment and let me use her computer to write you.
I hope Comet got home to the North Pole safely and that you aren't mad at Aunt Stephanie and me like Mr. Diesel is and that you will still bring us presents on Christmas. We've both been really, really good, honest. It wasn't even our fault.
Give Comet a hug from me and tell him I can't wait to see him again. Please let him come visit and maybe bring some of the others. We had so much fun and I think Aunt Stephanie would like to fly again.
Love,
Mary Alice