Arwin's Christmas Adventure Arwin Lane is a bus driver for the Winnipeg Transit in Canada. She usually works Christmas Eve, but this year she is looking forward to a nice quiet relaxing time at home. No hustle and bustle of the crowd’s last minute looking for presents. No pushing, no shoving, just a nice QUIET time at home. At least that is what she had planned, until her dispatcher calls and begs her to fill in for another driver who is home with the flu. "It will be double time," the dispatcher reminds her. Not that she needs reminding, but she has to admit the extra money would help her with the bills this month. Reluctantly she gives in and makes it to work about half hour before her shift. The dispatcher calls her to his office and tells her that she will be driving the Santa Special. She is to pick up the children at the North Orphanage and take them to see Santa at Macy's department store downtown." "Oh GOD, a bus full of sniveling brats," she thinks. "Why do I have to do it," she argues? "BAAH HUMBUG!" "You are the ONLY one small enough to fit in the suit," he says. "Suit? What suit," she asks? From behind the desk he pulls out... an ELF COSTUME! "OH GOD! Nooooooooooo" She gulps. "I HAVE to wear that?" "Yes," he says, "Even these." He hands her two rubber pointy ears, the costume and some elf shoes that jingle as he hands them to her. "Now go put these on," he orders. Reluctantly she grabs the costume and goes to change. "Is DOUBLE time worth THIS hassle?" The costume fits her like a glove. It is surprisingly warm and comfortable. She feels a little tingle as she clips the ears on. The shoes jingle as she walks. Slowly she opens the door of the changing room and peers out to see if anyone is around. If the other drivers see her she'll be the laughing stock of the garage. As she opens the dispatchers’ door she hears familiar voices. "Hey look everyone... It's Mz. Elf Lane!" HA AHA HAAA. The whole garage is in an uproar of laughter as she closes the door behind her. The dispatcher says she looks fine and takes her to the garage where the Santa Special is waiting, all shiny and clean. The exhaust smells of peppermint. She tries to turn off the Christmas music on the radio but ALL the stations are Christmas. She grumbles as she sits in the driver’s seat. "At least the hot chocolate is JUST RIGHT," she sips. She opens an envelope the dispatcher gave her. A note inside gives her directions and states that she is to meet a Mrs. C. Laus who will be waiting for her at the orphanage and that there is a BONUS for her at the end of the trip. "A BONUS? WOW!" She hadn't figured on a bonus. Driving to the orphanage Arwin day dreams about what the bonus could be. "Fa la la la laaaaaaaaa" sings softly in her ears. In record time she reaches the North Orphanage and is surprised at how easily the bus handled the snow covered roads and seems to drive itself as it stops at the orphanage door. The building is all decorated for Christmas (of course) and she is greeted by Mrs. C. Laus at the door. She loads the children on the bus and is quickly befriended by a little girl named Suzie. Arwin quiets the children by telling them a story about Santa Claus. After the story is over, she and the children pretend the bus can fly as they toss pretend presents out the window to children around the world. Arwin hates to admit it but she IS having fun! Before long they arrive at Macy's Department store and the children leave the bus to visit Santa. Alone in the bus, Arwin eats her lunch and remembers her dead niece, killed by a drunk driver the day they went to see Santa. Arwin had worked extra shifts to purchase a diamond necklace for her niece, "Like the BIG GIRLS wear." Little Suzie reminds her of her niece. Opening the box she carries with her always, with the necklace in it, she starts to cry. Suzie is the first back to the bus and she tells Arwin that she told Santa she wants "a necklace...Like the BIG GIRLS wear." Arwin is shocked but she has no time to think about it. The rest of the children are boarding the bus and it is time for the journey back to the Orphanage. They play games and sing songs and Arwin grows to love Suzie. Back at the orphanage safe and sound, Arwin says good-bye to Suzie. She gives her the little box with the necklace and makes Suzie promise not to open it until Christmas morning. Before she leaves Mrs. C. Laus gives Arwin an envelope with a certificate inside good for 1 FREE WISH. It is signed SANTA and Arwin now realizes that Mrs. C. Laus is Mrs. Claus! Before she has time to think, she tells Mrs. Claus that she wants to adopt Suzie. Mrs. Claus smiles and tells her to come back the next day to get the paperwork started. The next day, Christmas Day, Arwin goes back to the orphanage and tells Suzie that she wants to adopt her. The two hug and share a special moment when Suzie opens the little box that Arwin gave her the night before. In it is a necklace, "Like the BIG GIRLS wear." Arwin puts the necklace on Suzie, and with a tear in her eye gives the little girl a hug and kiss on the cheek. As the two head off to Arwin's sister's house for Christmas dinner, Arwin thinks to herself "hummm... Driving the 'Santa Special' WAS more of an adventure than I expected! It's been a very Magical Holiday indeed!" 1000 Words with the title. Inspired by a story I wrote last year. I decided to shorten it to 1000 words for the contest. Enjoy! Merry Christmas to you and yours :)