"Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Christmas almost here…Oh, hi, Nick here." Well, it’s that time of year again, snow, Christmas trees, presents, friends and all that good stuff. Right now, I’m decorating my tree. I just put the lights and the balls on. Next comes my collection of old dog tags. They’ve been in the family for years, long before I was whelped. The last thing I put on is the tinsel. I love this tinsel…gives it a real snowy look and after Christmas, you can eat it.

Last year, I was sick for a week after I ate the stuff. That was the most fun I had all year! My friends were calling me ‘Tinsel Nick’ for months. Oh yes, I almost forgot…the pine cones. Every year I put a new supply of pine cones on the tree. When my buddies drop in for a Christmas visit, I treat them to one of my special pine cone chewies. Everybody loves them! By the way, did you send your letter to Santa Claws this year? I sent mine last month; care of the North Pole, HO HO HO. I sure hope it gets there this time.

Just then, I heard a knock at my door. Actually it was more like a scritch, scratch, screetch. I padded over to my new door opener and stepped on the bar that says ‘open’. The top part of the door swung open. I had the door cut in half so I could see who was there before I let them in. This time, however, there was nobody there. Again, I heard a scratch, scritch, screetch. Hmmm, I thought, must be an invisible client. I trotted over to the half open door, jumped up and looked over the top. I was completely astonished by what I saw. Standing on the other side of the lower half of my door was a miniature Siberian Husky with a flashing red nose, wearing a red and white toque.

"Hi" I woofed, "My name is Nick, Canine Detective extraordinaire. What can I do for you?"

"I’m Rudy, the red-nosed Siberian. Can I come in?"

I ran over to my door opener and pressed the second half of the open switch. Rudy scooted in and jumped up on my desk.

"We need your help Nick. We’ve been making toys for this year’s Christmas and now that it is time to get the sleigh loaded up, we can’t find Santa anywhere. Oh! Woe is me, what will Christmas be like without Santa Claws and presents? Will you help us find him?"

Needless to woof, I took the case. How would I get MY present if Santa didn’t show up. We went down the stairs and out the door and what to my wondering eyes did I see…double parked in front of my building but a sleigh and eight pairs of tiny Siberians.

"Is that Santa’s sleigh?" I inquired.

"The one and only," said Rudy. "Come over here and I’ll introduce you to the team."

I stood there in awe as Rudy sang out the names of the team.

"There is Dasher and Dancer and Donner and Blitzen, Comet and Cupid and Prancer and Vixen and Olive, (the other Siberian), and here is Dopey and Doc, Sneezy and Grumpy, Happy, Bashful and Sleepy."

For some reason, their names all sounded familiar. "Are you sure these guys are Siberian Huskies?" I howled.

"They have been for hundreds of years," replied Rudy. "Jump in and let’s go."

Off we went to look for Santa Claws. We flew north, past Oo La La’s mansion and over Mr. Musher’s house. Near Edmonton, we made a haw and headed over the Rockies. An hour later we landed in the middle of a forest.

I thought we were going to the North Pole," I told Rudy.

"We don’t work there anymore, energy costs are too high and what with the G.S.T. added to the cost of fuel (dog food), it seemed like a good idea to move closer to the kiddies. Come on in and see Santa’s Workshop."

Oh boy! I thought. I’m going to see where Santa’s Sibes make all the toys. We trotted into the workshop. There were toys everywhere, and dolls and games, you name it and it was there. They were all stacked up to the ceiling and each one had a name and address on it.

"Anything here for me?" I asked.

"We can’t tell you Nick, you’ll just have to wait until Christmas morning, that is, if we find Santa." Said Rudy with a worried look.

That brought me back to the problem that got me here in the first place. Where should I start looking?…"Does Santa have an office in here?" I asked Rudy.

"Over there, through that red and white door."

Once in the room, I pulled out my magnifying glass and started looking for clues. On the desk was a pile of letters from all the children who had written to Santa. On top was…my letter. Hooray, my letter got to Santa after all. I felt really good about that.

"Over here", woofed Rudy, "This is where Santa relaxes when he gets tired."

We went through another doorway into a small den. There was a large bookshelf filled with all kinds of books. Over in one corner was a cozy fireplace with a warm fire and stockings, all hung with care. In front of the fireplace, sat a lazy Santa recliner with a footrest. There was a small lamp table beside it. I began my search, checking the table, nothing there. I looked under the chair, just a little dust and a pair of slippers. I looked at the bookcase…one book was missing. That was interesting…I went over to the chair and lifted up the cushion. There was the missing book, only now it wasn’t missing anymore, "Little Red Riding Hood." I opened the book and a folded paper fell out.

"Well, what have we here?" I whined. "Let’s open it and find out."

It’s a letter from Peter Klaus, that’s Santa’s brother," said Rudy. "He lives far away and usually writes at Christmas time."

I began to read the letter. It told how Peter had gone to America during the summer and heard stories about a little old man who had gone into the woods and fallen asleep…for twenty years.

"Gee Rudy, how would you like to go to sleep for twenty years? Wouldn’t that be great."

Rudy and I stared at each other and…bingo, a light went on. "By George, I think we’ve got it. you don’t think that Santa…anyway, where would he go if he wanted to sleep for twenty years?"

"I know," said Rudy, "Over the river and through the woods there is a cottage where we play in the summer. We call it Grandma’s House."

"That’s the only place that we haven’t checked yet," I howled excitedly. "Let’s get the gang and go see if we can find Santa."

So, off we went like a rocket on the fourth of July. Rudy was in the lead with his nose flashing brightly. We followed a narrow trail covered by freshly fallen snow, no sign of footprints ahead of us. I had to bend over to avoid the pine tree branches as the little Sibes took the short route, running under the branches. They could make it but I wasn’t sure that I would. I was picturing the ‘Headless Musher of Sleepy Hollow’ and that’s not even in this story. Finally, we reached a clearing and there before us stood ‘Grandma’s House’. It was made out of gingerbread and candy canes. Come to think of it, I hadn’t eaten all day and she wouldn’t miss a chunk here or there. There were no lights on but a wisp of blue-gray smoke came out of the chimney. Someone must be home. Through the front door we all ran, looking hither and thither and seeing no one. We headed up the stairs and into the bedroom. Lying on the bed, fast asleep, was Santa Claws. Everyone jumped up and down and shouted with glee. Then they broke into a Jingle Bell Howl. Sixteen little Sibes, Rudy and myself all howling happily at the top of our lungs because we had found Santa. There was going to be a Christmas after all!

Santa woke up, rubbing his eyes, "Wow! What a dream. I thought I was Rip Van Winkle and fell asleep for twenty years."

"You’re in the wrong story," said Rudy, "If it hadn’t been for Nick, we’d still be looking for you."

"Well, ho, ho, ho, we’d better go," laughed Santa.

Arriving back at the workshop, all the Sibes helped load the sleigh while Santa put on his brand new red suit. "By the way, Nick, how would you like to help me deliver the presents this year?" chuckled Santa. "I can always use some extra paws on Christmas Eve."

So, off we went with a flurry of little heads and tails. We flew over the hills and dales, stopping at the towns and villages to brighten up the children’s day. What a treat, to be accompanying ‘The Santa Claws’ on his merry way and to be pulled by seventeen miniature Siberian Huskies lead by Rudy, the red-nosed Husky.

So if you are awakened by a howling sound coming from above your roof this Christmas Eve, don’t be alarmed. It’s only me, Nick that is, and Santa with his team of tiny huskies out on a priority mission… making everyone’s Christmas a Happy One. And that includes each and everyone of you!!!!