Canadian Stories, A Folk Magazine Written By or About Canadians

Billy wasn’t looking forward to Christmas. His Dad was far away on a Navy warship and his Mum was always busy taking care of the baby, his new little sister. Bad enough having a big sister! Enid spent all her time nowadays trying out new make-up. Billy told her that when he wanted to paint he used paper, not his face. Girls! He’d never understand them.

All this had brought back Billy’s stammer. It always happened when he was upset. He just couldn’t sound some of his words. And to make it worse, when the children in his class heard him stammer, they laughed and called him “Silly Billy.” And how was he going to be able to take part in the school Christmas concert if he couldn’t speak properly?

Billy stared out of the window. Enid was helping his Mum put the baby into her car seat. He remembered now. They were going shopping, Christmas shopping. That would mean lots of time looking at clothes and shoes and other dull stuff and then probably only a quick visit to the toy department for a photo with Santa. Billy would have liked to look at all the new games and action figures.

His chance came. Mum and baby were waiting in line for the photographer and Enid was studying a jewellery catalogue and begging their Mum to let her have her ears pierced for Christmas, instead of a present. Girls! They sure had funny ideas.

Billy was right beside the Harry Potter display when the loudspeaker announced Santa was taking a break. “He’ll be back from the North Pole soon,” said the voice overhead. “Please stay in line.”

Santa passed by Billy coming back from his break.

“How are you, young man?” he whispered. “And what do you want for Christmas?”

“My Dad ho-ho-home for the ho-ho-holidays,” stammered Billy.
“You’re perfect!” Santa gasped. “Can you help me out? I’ve lost my voice talking to so many children, and I can’t say ‘ho, ho, ho out loud any more. Can you be my elf this afternoon and ‘ho, ho, ho’ for me?”

Billy grinned from ear to ear. “Sure thing! But I’ll have to ask my Mum. That’s her over there.”

He ran to ask her and she said that she and Enid and the baby would go and see about the ear-piercing and come back for Billy in an hour.

Santa found the bright red elf costume for Billy, who spent the next hour happily ‘ho, ho, hoing.’ And the photographer took a photo of Billy with Santa for him to send to his Dad for Christmas.

When some of Billy’s schoolmates came to have their photos taken, they were very surprised to see Billy the elf helping Santa.

They never called him “Silly Billy” again, and Billy never even stammered once at the school concert. Do you know why? Yes! You guessed! Because he was ha-ha-happy now!