TABLE OF CONTENTS

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Chapter 1 – An Unexpected Errand

            Millie McCall sat quietly on the carpeted floor of her bedroom with the door locked.  She held in her hand a tattered sheet of notebook paper.  The paper had a series of names listed down its side.  She picked up a pencil lying next to her and checked off the last name on the list.  Tossing the pencil in the air, she gleefully let out a huge sigh of relief.

            “Yes!  I’ve done it!  My Christmas shopping is over!”

            She hopped to her feet, crumpled the list into a tight paper ball and gave it a hook shot into the wastebasket.  “Two points!”  she shouted.

            Millie slid open her closet door, pulled out a blanket and tossed it on her bed.  The blanket covered the Christmas presents she’d been hiding the last few weeks.

            “I think I’ll wrap some of these today and get them under the tree downstairs.”

            She went to her bed and pulled out from underneath it a couple of long, thin boxes that contained several rolls of wrapping paper.  Placing them aside, she reached in again and took hold of a shoebox which held two rolls of tape, a pair of scissors, one felt tip pen and some gift tags.

            “I think I’m ready.”

            Millie was taking her first present from the closet when it suddenly dawned on her that something wasn’t exactly as it should be.  There was something lacking…a mood…a feeling.  Then she realized what it was.

            “Music,” she thought.  “I need some Christmas music in the background to get me into the right frame of mind for this.”  She went to her dresser and started opening drawers.  “Now where are those Christmas CD’s I’ve had around forever.  I was sure I’d tossed some of them in here.”

            After what turned out to be a diligent but unsuccessful effort in scavenging, Millie finally threw in the towel.

            “I don’t get it.  I was sure that music was somewhere in this room.  Maybe Mother knows.”

            She opened the bedroom door and poked her head out a ways.  The pleasant smell of something baking in the kitchen had found its way upstairs.  It was the warm aroma of molasses.  Mmmmmm.  Mom was baking cookies.

            “Mom?” Millie called.  “Do you know where my Christmas CD’s are?”

            “I put them in the cabinet in the living room,” came a voice from downstairs.

            Millie frowned.  “Why did you do that?  I keep them up here so I can listen to them at Christmas!”

            “They belong to the whole family and need to be kept with the rest of our music collection.”

            “Well, can you bring a couple up to me?  I want to listen to them while I wrap presents.”

            “No way, ‘Miss Lazy.’  Besides, I need you down here.  I’ve got an errand for you to run.”

            “An errand?  Right now?  Mother, you’re ruining the Christmas spirit.”

            “This involves Christmas.  Now, get down here pronto before I ruin more than just your Christmas spirit.”

            “OK, mom.  I’m coming, I’m coming.”

            Quickly Millie grabbed a “sticky” note from her desk which had the words “DO NOT ENTER” written on it.  She left her bedroom, closing the door and leaving the message stuck to the outside.

            As she ran downstairs, Millie barely noticed the colorful holiday decorations and ornaments displayed throughout the house.  In the family room, the mantel above the fireplace featured a long row of Christmas cards sent with season’s greetings from friends and relatives, both near and far.  Candles placed in the window gave off a glow of peace and warmth.  A round table covered with a hand-stitched cloth depicting holiday symbols held a miniature nativity scene which included small life-like figures with all the participants of that holy event long ago.  The paint on those figurines was somewhat worn because of a time when a younger Millie had lovingly played with them from a long string of Christmases past.  The tree, surrounded with neatly wrapped gifts, was aglow with lights of every description and color.  They were highlighted even more by the reflected brilliance of the silver and gold tinsel which flowed from top to bottom along its edges.  A happy variety of ornaments hung among the thick branches.  Everything from snowmen to candy canes and reindeer to elves lent themselves to the glad tidings this tree represented.  Even its piney fragrance seemed to shout “Christmas!”

            Mrs. McCall was just taking the first warm batch of cookies from the oven when Millie entered the kitchen.

            “Those smell good,” she said.

            “I hope they taste even better,” her mother answered.

            “I’ll be glad to test one,” volunteered Millie playfully, reaching to take a cookie from the baking sheet.

            Mrs. McCall lightly tapped her hand with the plastic spatula she was holding.  “Not yet, they’re too hot!  I’d think a 13-year-old would know better!”

            Millie smiled.  “Sorry, mom, my taste buds got the better of me.  What errand do you have for me?”

            Mrs. McCall quickly ran some warm water over her hands and dried them with a dishtowel.  “I need you to take this check over to Pastor Paulsen.”

            “What’s it for?” Millie asked as her mother handed it to her.

            “It’s our donation for the Lower Lankpost Fund.”

            Lower Lankpost.  Millie knew all about that place even though she’d never actually been there.  It was an area in the northeast section of Willow Brooke, Millie’s hometown.  Not too many people in her part of town ever went there.  The people were mostly poor and lived in homes that weren’t kept up very well.  She knew there must be some nice people there, but for some reason even the thought of walking through that area sort of scared her.  She had to admit to some shame in thinking that way.  She was glad her mom and dad were giving some money to help the families living there.  Millie took a glance at the amount written on the check.  She frowned a bit when she saw the total.

            Mrs. McCall, who had just slipped the next batch of cookies into the oven, noticed Millie’s sour expression.  “What’s the matter, hon?”

            “Oh, it’s nothing.”

            “Come on now.  I saw that look.  Out with it.”

            “Well, it’s how much money you’ve written on this check.  It’s, uh, well, kind of chintzy.”

            Mrs. McCall sighed as she wiped her hands on the apron tied around her waist.  “Millie, I admit it’s not as much as I wish we could give, but it’s been a tougher year than normal for us.  We had a lot of unexpected expenses.  You remember the plumbing problems we had in the house, don’t you?”

            “Yes, I remember.  I guess I didn’t realize how expensive it was to fix.”

            “Believe me, you don’t want to know!”

            “Is that why we don’t have quite as many presents under the tree?”

            Mrs. McCall smiled.  “You’re pretty observant, aren’t you?  I’m afraid that’s another area we had to cut back on, but Millie, look around you.  Look at our house.  Are we really that much worse off?  A few minutes ago you were talking about the Christmas spirit.  Isn’t that still here?”

            Millie looked at her home.  She could see Christmas in the way it was decorated.  She could smell it in her mother’s kitchen.  More than anything, though, she could feel it in her heart.  Christmas was still here, and she still felt the excitement and warmth.

            “You’re right, Mom.  I do feel it.”

            Mrs. McCall pulled Millie close and gave her a big hug.  “So do I.  Well, you better get that check over to the church.  Your father will be home soon, and I want you back in time for supper.”

            “What are we having?”

            “Cold sandwiches and whatever else you can find.  I’m not doing any more cooking today!”

            “I’ll put on my coat and get going,” laughed Millie.

            “Stop by the kitchen on your way out,” said Mrs. McCall.  “I’ll give you a warm cookie for the road.”

Chapter 2 – Taking in the Sights

            The late afternoon sky was covered by a thick blanket of gray clouds.  The air was cold and crisp.  Millie wouldn’t have it any other way.  After all, this was real Christmas weather.  To her way of thinking, the holidays just weren’t the holidays unless they were snuggled in a wintry embrace.  Warm temperatures would only succeed in spoiling the effect.  Christmas was a special time where, if only for a moment, people’s hearts became warm and giving in spite of the weather which was cold and harsh.

            “Yep,” thought Millie, “this is definitely the way it’s supposed to be.  Besides, I just can’t imagine Santa Claus delivering presents dressed in Bermuda shorts and sporting a pair of sunglasses!”  She shook her head with laughter at the whole idea.

            The day might have been gray, but the neighborhood wasn’t.  Strolling along the sidewalk, Millie allowed herself time to take in the many colorful decorations that adorned the houses and yards lining both sides of the street.  It seemed as if everyone had gone all out this year.  There were so many different displays for her to look at and admire.  One yard showed scenes of the North Pole with miniature elves laboring away inside Santa’s workshop.  It was surrounded with blinking red and green lights.

            Another home was decorated in such a way that it appeared to be a real-life gingerbread house!  It’s front yard was covered with big wooden lollipops and peppermint sticks, adding just the right touch to an already delightful view.

            Further down the street, Millie could see some homeowners who had completely covered their house and fence with pale blue lights.  It was not only beautiful, but it was serene.  Visions of a quiet moonlit Christmas Eve night suddenly popped into her head.  She’d have to look at it again when it got dark.

            As she neared the church, Millie made a point of stopping in front of a house that had become her favorite.  It wasn’t as lavishly decorated as most of the other houses in the neighborhood.  Only a simple scene had been placed on the lawn, brightened by two floodlights.  For Millie, however, that little display spoke a thousand words.  Shown was a sculpted form of Santa Claus on his knees, cap off and head bowed in reverence and prayer.  In front of him lay the figure of the baby Jesus in his manger.  That was all.

            As she continued on, Millie looked back at the display once more and smiled.  “That’s what it’s all about,” she said softly.

Chapter 3 – Wishing for a Miracle

            Blown by a light north wind, dead leaves skittered over the pavement which led Millie to the church that she and her family had attended for as long as she could remember.  The structure’s design was fairly typical for a building of its type.  Two large wooden doors in front.  An A-frame design that stretched back about 30 yards along the flat open lot on which it had been built 50 years earlier.  Stained glass windows lined both sides, and a steeple rested atop the roof near the front.  The steeple was made of wood and painted entirely white.

            Nearing the building, Millie noticed someone busily sweeping away leaves that had fallen on the concrete steps close to the entrance.  It was a girl who she immediately recognized as her good friend, Angel Atkinson.

            “Hi, Angel, working hard?”

            Angel put aside her broom and smiled.  “Oh, hi, Millie.  What brings you here?”

            “Mom sent me over with a check for the Lower Lankpost fund raiser.  Is Pastor Paulsen in?”    

            “Yeah, in his office.”

            Millie pointed to the broom.  “I see he’s got you slaving away.”

            Angel shook her head.  “Not really.  I volunteered a couple of weeks ago to do a few clean-up chores today.  Sweeping these steps is the last job on the list.”

            Millie nodded, and then an idea popped into her head.  “Hey, after I give this money to the pastor, would you like to come back to my house and see the gifts I’m wrapping?  We could have some hot chocolate and listen to Christmas music!”

            “Cool!” said Angel.  “Let me sweep off this bottom step, and I’ll follow you to the office.  Then I can let Pastor Paulsen know I’m finished.”

            Angel hurriedly swiped away at the remaining leaves that dotted the step while Millie helped out by kicking some with her feet.  When they had completed their task, they threw open the front doors and went into the foyer.  Angel opened the utility closet and placed the broom inside.

            “All set,” she said.  “Let’s deliver that check.”

            “Right,” Millie agreed.  “We can cut through the sanctuary.”

            “Whoa, hold on a sec!” exclaimed Angel.

            “What is it!” Millie asked.

            Angel pulled off the glasses she was wearing and held them out in front of her.  “It’s these glasses of mine.  They sometimes fog up on me whenever I get into a warm room after being out in the cold.”

            “Do you need something to wipe off the lenses?”

            “No, thanks.  I’ve got Kleenex.”

            As Millie watched Angel clean her glasses, she couldn’t help noticing her long, flowing auburn colored hair.  Millie liked her blond hair and bangs, but sometimes she wished she could have hair like Angel’s.  At times, Millie envied other gifts and qualities that Angel possessed.  She admired the way Angel could cook.  Everyone enjoyed the sensational meals she was capable of creating.  Millie could imagine all the wonderful holiday treats that must be occupying her kitchen cupboards this very moment!

            Most of all, though, Millie admired Angel’s common sense and loyalty.  She seemed to have a built-in way of staying out of trouble and at the same time always being willing to help those who found themselves in need or difficulty.  Her work today at church proved that.

            Angel seemed satisfied as she slid her glasses back into place.  “There, now I think I can see again.  Let’s go.”

           Entering the office, the girls found the Reverend Winston Paulsen hard at work behind his desk.  So hard, in fact, he didn’t seem to know they had entered and were standing directly in front of him.  Angel cleared her throat and gave a little cough.  Apparently he didn’t hear it because his head remained down as he continued looking at a ledger with a list of numbers and dollar signs on it.  She glanced at Millie and shrugged her shoulders.  Millie decided to try the direct approach.  Leaning forward and placing her hands on the desk, she raised her voice slightly and said, “Excuse me, Pastor Paulsen, may we speak to you for a moment?”

            He raised his head with a startled look on his face.  “Huh?  Oh, I’m very sorry.  I didn’t know anyone was here.”

            He was a relatively young man, in his late 30’s, tall, with black hair and slight signs of graying around the temples.  His eyes were tired and made him look older than his years.  It didn’t take a genius to know that this man was carrying a very big burden on his shoulders.

            “I’m sorry, pastor, we didn’t mean to interrupt you,” apologized Millie.

            He looked at them with a weak smile on his face.  “No, no, girls.  It’s okay.  How are you, Millie?  Angel, didn’t I see you earlier?”

            “Uh, yes.  I’ve been here cleaning up for a while.”

            He slapped his forehead lightly.  “Yes, of course!  How’s it going?”

            “I’m all finished.”

            His eyes left Angel and again he stared down at the papers on his desk. “That’s great, Angel.  I really appreciate the help.”

            There was a short pause, and again he looked up.  “Is there anything else you needed?”

            Angel looked at Millie.  “I don’t, but she has something to give you.”

            Millie pulled the check out of her coat pocket and placed it on the desk.  “My mother wanted you to have this check for the Lower Lankpost fund raiser.”

            Pastor Paulsen took the check and quickly glanced at the amount written on it.  Then he put it in a small metal box on his desk.  Looking back at Millie, he said, “I really appreciate this, and I’m sure the needy folks in Lower Lankpost will, too.  Tell your mom and dad thank you for me, okay?”

            Millie should have said thanks and left right then and there, but for some reason she felt she needed to say something to justify the amount of money written on the check.  Maybe it was simply a pride issue, but whatever the cause, it was still bothering her.

            “I’m, uh, sorry we couldn’t give more.  You see, well, uh, we had some, uh, unexpected expenses, and ----“

            “Don’t worry about it, Millie,” he interrupted.  “Any amount is gratefully accepted.  Besides, your family’s not the only one who has had to cut down on their giving this year.”

            “They aren’t?” asked Angel.

            Millie gave Angel an annoyed look.

            “No,” he continued.  “Donations this year are way down.  It probably has something to do with the economy.”

            “That’s terrible,” said Millie.

            “Especially for the people in Lower Lankpost,” Angel sighed.

            Pastor Paulsen stood up from his desk and strolled over to a small safe sitting in a corner of the office.  He placed the metal box containing Millie’s check inside.  After locking it, he slowly sauntered over to the girls.

            “That’s what I was preoccupied with when you girls first entered,” he explained.  “I apologize for my rudeness.”

            “That’s all right,” said Millie.  “We understand.”

            The worried look returned to his face.  “Christmas is coming, and we have less than a week left for this money drive.  I’m afraid we’re not going to meet our goal which will leave a lot of folks disappointed in Lower Lankpost.  Especially the children.”

            There was an uncomfortable silence that followed.  Millie and Angel looked at each other.  There wasn’t anything they could really say.  It was a sad situation, plain and simple.  Finally, Pastor Paulsen broke the silence by providing some words of encouragement.

            “You know, girls, we just have to have faith.  After all, miracles are not unheard of, even in our day and age.”

            “I know something else we can do,” Millie offered.

            “What?” asked Angel.

            “Pray.”

            All three gave hearty approval on that point.

            Pastor Paulsen walked the girls out the church’s front doors where he again expressed his appreciation.  After saying goodbye, they began to amble their way back to Millie’s house.  The late afternoon sky was giving way to the heavy curtains of darkness.  As they drew near home, they began discussing the fund raiser problem.

            “I feel sorry for Pastor Paulsen,” said Millie.

            “Me, too,” confessed Angel.  “I wish there was something we could do to help.”

            “You mean besides praying?”

            “Well, yes, something we could take upon ourselves to do.”

            “Then let’s pray for a way in which we can directly help.”

            Angel nodded in agreement.

            “Hey, look at the sky,” said Millie.  “The clouds are beginning to break up.”

            Angel raised her eyes upward.  “You’re right.  I can even see a few stars peeking through.”

            “Look at that bright one over to the left!” Millie exclaimed.

            “I can see it,” said Angel.  “You know what?  It reminds me of the star that led the Wise Men to Baby Jesus.”

            As they stood quietly looking into the heavens, Millie said, “Maybe this star will lead us to find a way to help those people in Lower Lankpost.”

            Angel looked hopefully at Millie.  “That would be so cool.  Do you really think it could?”

            “Remember what Pastor Paulsen said?  Miracles are not unheard of, even in our day and age.”

            They smiled and nodded their heads in agreement.

Chapter 4 – The Contest

            Millie and Angel were standing in the McCall’s front yard when they saw two figures strolling side by side along the walk in front of the house.

            “Isn’t that Tiffy and Willie?” Millie asked.

            “Yeah,” said Angel.  “I wonder what they’re doing?”

            “Let’s find out.”

            Millie called out to her friends, hoping to get their attention.  They waved and started toward her.  To look at them, one might think they were brother and sister, or at least related in some fashion.  Both had red hair, were about the same height and had a passing resemblance to one another.  Even their personalities and temperaments matched.  Of the two, Tiffy Fairwood had the greater temper.  Patience wasn’t one of her strong points.  On the plus side, she was steadfast, trustworthy and kind.  Her interests included music and dance.

            Millie had known Willie Williamson since third grade.  He could be mischievous but had a good heart and a friendly nature.  He liked to garden and had a “thing” for electronic gadgets.

            The similarity in their natures was the most likely reason for their closeness.  That didn’t, however, keep them from “knocking heads” from time to time.  Tiffy could go ballistic over Willie’s jokes or pranks.  At the same time, Willie would seethe over what he considered to be Tiffy’s constant attempts to change or dominate him.

            Despite these problems, the two were the closest of friends.  Any differences were overshadowed by their genuine fondness for one another.  Millie liked that, and she liked them.

            “Hi!  What are you guys up to?” she asked.

            Angel joined Millie.  “Merry Christmas!”

            “Merry Christmas!” replied Tiffy.

            “We thought we’d walk around the neighborhood and look at all the lights and decorations,” said Willie.

            “There’s a lot to see this year,” Millie agreed.

            “Tons,” added Angel.  “The Christmas spirit seems to be running rampant.”

            “That’s good,” said Tiffy.  “The world could use a lot more of it.”

            “Especially Lower Lankpost,” said Millie sadly.

            “What’s their problem?” Willie asked with only passing interest.

            Millie sighed.  “Come on, Willie.  Everyone knows it’s not exactly Beverly Hills.”

            “The church is trying to raise some money to help the families who live there, but the funds aren’t exactly pouring in,” Angel confessed straightforwardly.

            “And there’s only about two weeks left before Christmas,” Millie added with a touch of urgency in her voice.

            “Gee, that’s tough,” mumbled Willie.

            “Sounds to me like a miracle would be in order about now,” said Tiffy.

            “That’s exactly what Angel and I were discussing a few minutes before you guys showed up,” Millie explained.

            Willie put his hands in his coat pockets and started jumping up and down.  “It’s going to take a miracle, plus a blowtorch, to unfreeze me unless we keep moving.  It’s really getting cold out here.”

            “He’s right.  We should get inside,” agreed Angel.

            Millie invited Tiffy and Willie to join her and Angel inside her home.  They eagerly accepted when they found out the invitation included homemade cookies and hot chocolate.  The girls quickly opened the front door and shuffled themselves into the welcome warmth of the McCall's home.  They were followed closely by Willie who hesitated only a second to pick up the evening newspaper which had been recently deposited on the front porch.  Safely inside and protected from the cold, the four of them immediately began to shed their winter coats, caps and gloves.

            “You can hang them here in the hall closet,” invited Millie.

            All this sudden stirring about did not go unnoticed by the McCall household.  Millie’s father, who hadn’t been home long from work, heard the commotion and decided to investigate.  He was promptly joined by Millie’s mother.  They arrived at the front entrance just in time to see the last coat being hung and stowed away in the closet.

            “Well, well, I think we’ve been invaded by a group of Eskimos,” teased Mr. McCall.

            “They sure aren’t Santa’s elves,” joked Mrs. McCall.

            “Do we know these people?” Mr. McCall playfully continued.

            “I think we might be related to the one with the ponytail,” said Mrs. McCall slyly.

            “I don’t know,” Mr. McCall hedged.  “I’d like to see some ID.”

            Flushed with embarrassment, Millie turned away from her friends and faced her parents.  “Okay, Mom and Dad, joke’s over.”

            Suddenly, Mr. McCall took his daughter’s arm and gently pulled her to him where they held each other in a warm hug.

            “Look how red her face is!” he chuckled.  “Let’s make a Christmas ornament out of her and place her on the tree!”

            “Cut it out, Daddy!” Millie giggled uncontrollably.

            Everyone laughed.  Mr. McCall’s sense of humor was known throughout the neighborhood and helped to make him very popular with all the kids.

            Millie asked her parents for permission to invite Angel, Tiffy and Willie in for hot chocolate.  With amused looks on their faces, Mr. and Mrs. McCall said it was okay – especially since Millie had already done the inviting and the kids were already there!  In fact, the kids had more than hot chocolate.  With phone calls made and permission given by each of their parents, they shared the McCall’s “sandwiches and chips” supper.  Willie in particular seemed to enjoy the meal.  He was halfway through his fourth sandwich when Mrs. McCall made a comment about his healthy appetite.  Willie licked his lips, smiled and said something in return, but no one could understand him because his mouth was so full of food.

            After supper, Millie took her friends up to her room so she could show them the Christmas gifts she had purchased.  She closed the door behind her with the DO NOT ENTER sign left stuck on the door.  She wasn’t taking any chances of her mom or dad barging in and discovering what she was giving them this year.

            As they sat on the floor examining each of the gifts that Millie had carefully removed from their closet hiding place, she suddenly remembered the Christmas CD’s she had promised to play while they looked over the presents.

            “Uh-oh, I forgot to bring up the Christmas music for us to listen to.”

            “That’s okay,” said Angel.  “Maybe we can hear it when we go down for hot chocolate later.”

            “ I think your dad will really go for this watch you bought him,” Tiffy whispered.

            “I do, too,” Millie nodded hopefully.  “It’s the kind of watch a scuba diver would wear.”

            “The face even glows in the dark,” Angel pointed out as she took the timepiece from Tiffy.

            “It has a rugged look,” said Millie, “the kind of style I thought a man might like.”

            “What do you think, Willie?  You’re a male.”  Tiffy poked him with her elbow.

            “Ha-ha, that’s a good one!” Willie roared with laughter.

            “Good one?” questioned Tiffy.  “What are you laughing at?”

            Willie was sprawled across the top of Millie’s bed with a section of the evening paper laid out in front of him.  He was so enthralled with what he was reading that he apparently didn’t hear a word of what Tiffy had said to him.  She repeated her question.

            “Willie, what are you laughing at?”

            Smiling broadly, he looked up from the paper.  “Oh, sorry, is it time to go down for hot chocolate?”

            Tiffy frowned.  “No, dummy!  You aren’t even listening.  I was asking you what you thought of Millie’s watch.”

            Willie stared at Millie with a perplexed look on his face.  “What are you talking about?  She’s not even wearing a watch!”

            Millie and Angel snickered as Tiffy rolled her eyes and shook her head back and forth.  “You’re really out of it!” she scolded.  “You haven’t paid any attention to the gifts Millie’s been showing us!”

            Millie stepped in to smooth things over.

            “No big deal.  What are you reading, Willie?”

            “Oh, just some of the funnies in the entertainment section of the paper your dad let me bring up.”

            “They must be good today, you were heehawing all over the place,” Angel chuckled.

            Willie picked up the newspaper and rose to a sitting position on the bed.  “I was laughing at ‘Claude Clodhopper.’”

            He pointed to the comic strip and explained as the girls looked it over.  “You see, Cleo, Claude’s sister, wanted plum pudding for Christmas.  Claude made some for her and left the pot boiling on the stove.  It overheats and explodes just as Claude prepares to take it out.  Blammo!  Ha-ha!  Cleo walks in, sees the mess and says, ‘Should I send for a PLUMer?’  Get it?  Ha-ha!”

            Millie, Angel and Tiffy looked at each other for a second and then wrinkled their noses.

            “What’s wrong?” asked Willie.

            “That was awful,” said Angel.

            “You don’t have a sense of humor,” Willie retorted.

            “You don’t have sense, period!” exclaimed Tiffy.

            “Okay, guys, that’s enough.  Let’s keep the Christmas spirit alive, okay?” Millie suggested.

            They nodded in agreement.  None of them wanted to spoil the mood of this special occasion.  Willie folded the paper and placed it on top of Millie’s desk.  As he did, he let out with an off the cuff comment. 

“Come to think of it, there was something funnier than ‘Claude Clodhopper’ in that paper today.”

            “Like what?” asked Millie as she and the girls began picking up the presents and placing them back in the closet.

            Willie plopped himself down on the edge of Millie’s bed.  “There was an advertisement for Titus Brockmorton and his annual Christmas contest.”

            “What’s so funny about that?” asked Angel.

            “Nothing, except it’s about the billionth time he’s placed that ad!”

            “Yeah, the whole thing’s a joke,” agreed Tiffy.  “Every year he runs that scam, and no one ever wins.”

            “You mean it’s dishonest?” Angel said with a suspicious tone in her voice.

            “Well, not exactly dishonest,” answered Willie.  “Just incredibly difficult.”

            “What he means is the deck is stacked against you,” Tiffy explained in her usual matter-of-fact manner.

            “In what way?” Angel wanted to know.

            “Just about every way.  The contest is something like a scavenger hunt from what I hear.”

            “That’s exactly what it is!” exclaimed Willie.  “But you see, the clues that ol’ Brockmorton throws out at you are so vague and misleading that it’s next to impossible to have any chance at winning!”

            “Your odds of winning a lottery jackpot without buying a ticket would be more likely than winning Throckmorton’s contest,” Tiffy jeered sarcastically.

            “I’ll bet there are still some people who will try,” Angel stated positively.

            “You'd lose your bet,” Willie scoffed.  “After years of trying, most folks realized it was impossible and gave up.”

            “Sounds ridiculous to keep running a contest when no one bothers to enter,” muttered Angel.

            “He’s been doing it for over 25 years, I’ve heard,” Tiffy said with some boredom.

            “Why?” asked Angel.

            “Who knows.  Maybe it’s his way of keeping his name alive so everyone will remember how rich he is,” Willie guessed.

            “No one ever sees him,” Tiffy said mysteriously.

            “Yeah, he stays cooped up in that big old mansion of his on top of Bonanza Hill,” said Willie, changing his voice to sound hauntingly scary.

            Millie had been listening intently to her friends’ conversation as she hid the last gift in her closet and closed its sliding doors.  She walked toward them and asked an important question.  “How much is the prize money this year?”

            Willie laughed.  “Twenty-five thousand.”

            “Same as every year,” added Tiffy, rolling her eyes up in her head.

            “You thinking of entering, Millie?” teased Angel.

            “Yes, I am.”

            For about one minute the silence in Millie’s room was deafening.  Angel, Willie, and Tiffy stood staring at each other, mouths open and eyes as round as saucers.  It was Willie who finally spoke.

            “Great joke, Millie, but remember, it’s Christmas Day that’s coming, not April Fool’s Day!”

            “I’m not fooling, and you’re right.  Christmas is coming.  That’s why we have to act fast.  Tomorrow!”

            “We?  Tomorrow?” Millie’s startled friends exclaimed all at once.

            “Look, guys, here’s that miracle we talked about earlier.”

            “I get it!  The Lower Lankpost fundraiser!” Angel exclaimed.

            “Right!” said Millie.  “That twenty-five thousand dollar prize money would go a long way in helping those families.”

            “Count me out!” Willie snapped.  “We wouldn’t stand a chance of winning.  That contest is rigged!”

            “You don’t know that and, besides, what do we have to lose?  Please, Willie, I can’t do it by myself.”  Millie pleaded with him.

            “And think of all those people we’ll be helping, including Pastor Paulsen,” reminded Angel.

            “We need you, Willie,” Tiffy said softly.

            Willie looked into three pairs of the saddest eyes he had ever seen.

            “Doggone it!” he thought.  “They’re using one of their secret weapons!” 

“Okay, okay!  Don’t start bawling!  I’ll help!”

            “Thanks, Willie!” the girls squealed as they surrounded him in a group hug.

            “Hey!  Settle down!  Millie’s parents might come up here and get the wrong idea!” Willie exclaimed nervously.

            “Let’s go down and have that hot chocolate now,” suggested Angel.

            “I’ll put on the Christmas music,” said Millie.

            Tiffy put her arm around Willie as they left Millie’s room.  “I’m glad you’re helping us,” she said kindly.

            Willie’s face turned red as he smiled and looked embarrassingly down at the floor.

            “Look who’s a Christmas ornament now,” teased Tiffy.

Chapter 5 – On Their Way

            “Millie, I don’t know if I should let you do this.”

            “Mom, you promised.  Please, don’t go back on your word.”

            “Are you sure the other kids’ parents are letting them participate in this contest?”

            “I told you they called me last night and said they could.”

            Mrs. McCall shook her head slowly as Millie zipped her coat and put on her gloves.  Then she gave her mother a kiss and went to the front door.

            “Millie, be careful and don’t do anything foolish,” reminded Mrs. McCall.

            “Don’t worry, I won’t.  I’d better hurry.  I have to meet the others at the corner bus stop by 8:30.  I don’t want to miss my ride!  Bye, Mom!”

            The morning was bright and chilly as Millie ran toward her destination.  The sun had not yet melted the frost which covered the neighborhood in a thin crystal-like blanket, the appearance of which only enhanced the holiday mood embellished by the many decorated houses lining the streets.

            Millie’s breath could be seen in little puffs as she hurried along the walk.  For a moment, she imagined herself as an old-fashioned locomotive chugging down the track with clouds of steam billowing forth from its smokestack.

            When she got to the corner, Millie found Angel and Tiffy already waiting.  They were huddled close together, hands in their coat pockets in an attempt to keep warm.  Her teeth chattered a bit as she greeted them.

            “Hi, guys!  Been here long?”

            “Long enough,” groaned Tiffy.

            “I think I’m going numb!” wailed Angel. 

            “Isn’t that the last stage before you freeze to death?” Tiffy asked.

            “Actually, I think you begin to get sleepy and feel warm when that happens,” said Millie.

            “The warm part sounds good,” Tiffy quipped.

            “The bus should be here soon.  One of you have the time?” asked Millie.          

Angel pulled her hand out of her pocket, glanced at the watch on her wrist, then quickly returned her hand to its original spot.

            “8:25,” she answered.

            “About five minutes to wait,” said Millie.

            “If it’s on time,” mumbled Tiffy.

            As the girls stood shaking in the cold, Millie looked around and noticed that Willie wasn’t with them.  She was surprised that Angel, and especially Tiffy, had failed to notice or mention anything of his absence.  She decided to say something.

            “Where’s Willie?”

            “Maybe he decided to skip out,” Angel said with a shrug.

            “For once, he probably played it smart and stayed in his nice warm bed,” Tiffy said grudgingly.

            She couldn’t hide the disappointment in her voice.

            “That’s not like him,” said Millie.  “Willie might not be the most responsible guy at times, but he always keeps his word when he promises to do something.”

            “Well, if he plans to keep it this time, he’ll have to hurry.  Here comes our bus,” said Angel.

            “Right on time,” noted Millie.

            “I almost wish it wasn’t,” Tiffy thought to herself as she gave one last look around.

            Sensing her sadness, Millie placed her hand on Tiffy’s shoulder.  “I’m sure he has a good reason for not being here, Tif.”

            She gave Millie a weak smile and said, “What do I care? I’m not going to ‘freak out’ over it.”

            But Millie and Angel knew better.

            The ride on the bus gave the girls time to warm up and discuss their plans.

            “I can’t believe we’re actually doing this,” Angel admitted. 

            “Getting cold feet?” teased Millie.

            “No, and I hope that wasn’t a pun, my feet are warming up nicely, thank you!”

            “Well, I have to admit I’m kind of nervous,” said Millie.  “Who would have thought I’d be riding a bus to the Brockmorton Mansion atop Bonanza Hill.”

            Angel looked across the aisle at Tiffy who was sitting in a seat by herself.  She’d been unusually quiet since boarding the bus.  Obviously she was still brooding over Willie’s failure to join them.  She decided to try and draw her into the conversation.

            “What do you think, Tif?  Pretty exciting, isn’t it?”

            “Yeah, whatever,” she mumbled.

            “Look at her, will you,” said Millie.  “You'd think she visited a millionaire’s home every day!”

            “Or entered a contest worth twenty-five thousand,” said Angel.

            “Okay, wise guys, you can quit right there!  I don’t need any smart-mouth comments!”

            Millie rose from her seat next to Angel, crossed the aisle and plopped herself next to Tiffy.  The bus driver looked into the mirror placed above the windshield giving him a clear view of everyone and everything behind him.

            “Hey!  No hopping from one seat to the other while the bus is moving!” he ordered.

            “Yes, sir.  Sorry!” apologized Millie.

            Turning to Tiffy, she whispered, “See what trouble you got me into?”

            “It’s not my fault!  I didn’t invite you over here!”

            “I invited myself.  Look, Tif, I know you’re disappointed in Willie playing the ‘no-show,’ but get over it, will you?  Your wet blanket attitude isn’t helping any.”

            “I know,” she sighed.  “I’m really sorry.  It’s just that I thought it would be a lot more fun if all four of us were doing this.”

            “It’ll still be fun,” Angel joined in the conversation.  “But we have to remember that we’re not doing this just for kicks.  We’re trying to help some needy people who could use a helping hand, you know.”

            “Angel’s right,” Millie agreed wholeheartedly.  “We have to keep our focus on those families in Lower Lankpost.  We want them to have the best Christmas ever!”

            “So do I,” Tiffy reassured them.  “Thanks for the pep talk, guys.  I’ll try to lighten up.”

            “That’s the Christmas spirit!” sang Millie as she reached out and gave Tiffy a warm hug.

            Angel whispered, “I’d give you one, too, but I’m afraid our driver might chew me out for reaching across the aisle!”

            “You can give it to me later.”  Tiffy laughed for the first time that day.

            “Deal!” Angel said smiling.

            “I have to admit I wish Willie were with us, too,” said Millie.  “I know that Brockmorton contest is going to be hard, and we’ll need all the help we can get!”

            As Angel and Tiffy nodded their heads in agreement, the bus driver looked up at the girls’ reflections in his mirror.  When Millie mentioned the name Brockmorton, he suddenly became interested in their conversation.

            “Say, Blondie, are you and your girlfriends talking about the Brockmorton Christmas Contest?”

            “Are you talking to me?” Millie asked with a bit of irritation in her voice.

            “Yeah, you Blondie, are you discussing Brockmorton’s Contest?”

            “Well, uh, yes, we are, and my name’s Millie, not Blondie!”

            “Sorry, young lady, no offense meant,” he apologized.  “I was just going by the color of your hair.”

            “That’s okay.  Why are you interested in the contest?”

            “I’m not really, but am I right in assuming that you girls are thinking about entering?”

            “Not only entering, but winning,” said Tiffy with some defiance in her voice.

            “Hey, more power to ya,” answered the driver.  “I’d like to see you win that contest and take the Old ‘Skinflint’ to the cleaners.  Could I give you a word of advice, though?”

            “Sure, go right ahead,” Angel invited.

            “Use your heads.  Brockmorton’s contest clues are clear as mud, and you’ll have to work as a team if you want to have any chance of winning.”

            “Thanks for the tip,” Millie said gratefully, “but how is it you know so much about the contest?”

            The bus driver shook his head and laughed out loud.  “A few years back, I gave it a shot myself.  Didn’t get past the first clue.”

            “That’s too bad,” said Angel.  “Say, I have an idea.  Could you explain to us exactly how the contest works?  It might help us if we knew what to expect.”

            “I’d like to young lady, but I believe your stop is right up ahead.  I’m going to have to let you girls off.”

            Slowly, the bus came to a halt, and its glass door slid open.  Millie, Tiffy and Angel rose from their seats and walked forward to exit.  As they left, the bus driver gave them an added word of encouragement.

            “Don’t worry about the contest rules.  Brockmorton’s real experienced in explaining those, and for good reason.  He’s had to do it more than once!  Good luck!”

            Seconds later the bus pulled away, leaving behind the girls and the strong odor of diesel fuel.

            “I’m glad he wished us luck,” said Millie.  “Sounds like we’ll need it!”

Chapter 6 – Bonanza Hill

            The girls stood on the corner taking in the view and examining their surroundings.  This part of town had once been considered the most upscale and fashionable in all of Willow Brooke.  The huge houses, or castles as some would call them, had been designed and built exclusively for individuals who would have made millionaires look poor!  Most were eighty to a hundred years old and were unfortunately beginning to show their age.  Obviously, the best times had come and gone.  None of this went unnoticed by Millie and her friends.

            “You know,” said Angel, “this isn’t exactly my idea of a rich man’s neighborhood.”

            “I’ll bet these houses were beautiful in their day,” said Millie.

            They continued to look up and down the mostly deserted streets, each lined with its own collection of large, heavily treed lots and huge, timeworn mansions.

            “I remember my parents driving over here one time when I was little,” said Angel.  “The homes seemed bigger then than they do now.”

            “It’s pretty depressing if you ask me,” said Tiffy.  “I wonder why they’re letting them go to pot?”

            “Maybe the people living in them can’t afford the upkeep,” offered Millie.

            “I thought they were rich,” argued Tiffy.

            “The original owners might have been, but that doesn’t mean the current ones are,” said Angel.

            “Well, we definitely know one owner around here who’s rich,” said Tiffy.

            “Right!” agreed Millie.  “And I think it’s time we paid him a visit.”

            Angel pointed to the street sign.  “Bonanza Hill Road leads up that way,” she said.

            “Wow!  Look what it runs smack into!” exclaimed Tiffy.

            At the end of the street loomed an enormous hill.  It was encircled by a high granite wall that extended beyond the girls’ range of vision.  The only apparent opening was through a huge wrought iron gate.  Bonanza Hill Road led right up to the gate entrance.  Once past it, the street became a private drive that meandered its way to the top of the hill.  High upon it rested a structure so immense that it made the other houses in the neighborhood look puny by comparison.  It didn’t take an Einstein to know what they were looking at.

            “Guys, I think we’ve just found Bonanza Hill and the Brockmorton mansion,” announced Millie.

            “No kidding?  I thought it was Abe Lincoln’s log cabin,” said Tiffy sarcastically.

            “Brockmorton lives in a bigger house than the President,” said Angel in astonishment.

            “Why would anyone want to live alone in a dinosaur of a place like that?” Millie wondered aloud.

            “Maybe Willie was right,” said Tiffy.  “It’s this guy’s way of saying, ‘I’m rich and you’re not!’”

            “If that’s true, then I feel sorry for him.  He’d have to be lonely, I don’t care how much money he has,” said Angel.

            “Maybe and maybe not.  He’s hardly ever seen,” said Millie.

            “Well, I say we quit talking and get going.  It’s already past nine,” squawked Tiffy.

            “Okay, it’s time to get serious.  There’s a lot at stake here,” said Millie.

            “Right!  Let’s go!” exclaimed Angel.

            As the girls ran toward their destination, they quickly eyed some of the houses lining the length of the street.  Most of them were in the same rundown condition as the homes they had seen after their arrival.  Then Millie sensed something unusual that she really hadn’t thought about or noticed until that exact moment.  She decided to share her thoughts with her friends.

            “Hey, guys, have you noticed anything strange around here?”

            “In what way?” asked Tiffy.

            “Like there’s something missing.”

            “There aren’t many cars parked in the streets or driveways,” Angel commented.

            “That’s not it,” declared Millie.

            “Then what?” Tiffy yelped impatiently.

            “Not one place in this whole neighborhood has been decorated for Christmas!”

            “That is a little strange,” admitted Angel.

            “Maybe they’re simply not into decorating around here,” suggested Tiffy.