John was not happy. It seemed like everyone in the whole world was having a good time. Everyone else, that is. Nothing was going right today.
"I can't find my Girlfriend's Pussy. My Girlfriend can't come over and play. Now I have to stay here with a babysitter." It was a new babysitter, not even someone familiar.
It was two days before Christmas, too! This time of year was supposed to be special!
"You look like you could use some cheering up," the babysitter said. "Would you like to play with this snow globe?"
John walked closer. The babysitter smiled and handed John the snow globe. "Turn it over and watch the snow fall," she said, her eyes twinkling. "It's Santa's Village—Santa's Secret Village. This is where Santa, his elves, and his reindeer live."
John picked up the snow globe and shook it until it was filled with floating snowflakes. There were little buildings inside and—look, there was a reindeer, and a tiny elf. They looked so real!
Suddenly John had the strangest feeling, as though something wonderful was about to happen.
John blinked. Snow was falling and voices were laughing. What had happened?
"Welcome to Santa's Secret Village, John," said a cheerful grownup voice. John looked up into the smiling, bearded face of Santa Claus! "You're our honorary elf for the day! These are my elves," Santa added, looking around at the little people around them.
One elf handed John a green jacket and a funny-looking pair of shoes. "Hi, my name is Bud. Just put these on over your clothes. They're woven with North Pole fleece and they will keep you warm here in Santa's Secret Village." John quickly pulled on the elf clothes. "There!" said Bud, "You could almost pass for one of us!"
Santa placed a red and green striped elf hat on John's head and said, "I have to go check on my reindeer now, but I'll see you later. Have fun!"
Bud took John to Santa's Workshop, where elves were assembling and painting all kinds of toys.
"I bet all the kids in Cedarville combined don't have this many toys!" said John.
Burt, the elf in charge of the toy production, showed John how to make a toy robot. "Very good!" said Burt, admiring John's work. "You can be my helper any time!"
Next, Bud took John to the Mailroom, where Bif was surrounded by mailbags overflowing with letters.
"Hi, John, Santa told me you might drop by. I sure could use some help sorting the letters that came today. It's getting close to Christmas Eve and we don't want anyone to be disappointed on Christmas morning!"
Soon Bud and John were helping Bif open envelopes and sort the mail for Santa to read. John looked for letters from My Girlfriend and other kids back in Cedarville but there were just too many letters to read—and John was only 19 anyway!