“We are going to Disneyland for Christmas,” said Thomas.

“My Granny is taking me to Lapland to see Santa Claus in his house,” said Lottie.

Milly said nothing. Mummy had told her that this year they did not have much money, so Milly might not get all the presents that she had asked Father Christmas to bring. Milly thought longingly of the red bicycle that she had set her heart on. But she tried not to mind too much. She knew that Grandma and Grandad were coming and they would have a lovely time with lots of special things to eat. Grandad loved to play games and he also showed Milly how to do magic tricks.

On Christmas Eve, Milly went to bed early so that Christmas Day would come sooner, and she quickly fell asleep. A sound, like a tiny tinkling bell, awoke her and to her astonishment a twinkling light was whizzing round and round her bedroom. When it eventually stopped at the bottom of her bed she could see that it was a beautiful fairy with shimmering wings. The fairy was carrying a large notebook.

“Hello,” said the fairy, “are you Milly?”

Milly nodded.

“Oh good,” said the fairy. “I have had a very urgent message from Santa Claus. Could you possibly manage to spare a few hours to help us out tonight, please? We have such a very busy schedule, and would you believe it, one of Santa's little helpers has chosen tonight of all nights to phone in sick.”

“Oh yes please!” said Milly. “I would love to help. I like helping people.”

“Right you are then,” said the fairy. “Now here is your uniform. Don't worry about the size – one size fits all. Oh, and my name is Sparkle, by the way. Now come on, we have no time to lose and there is so much to do before morning!”

Sparkle waved her magic wand over Milly's head and soon she found herself sitting in a huge sleigh complete with snorting reindeer, all ready and anxious to be off, and, there was Father Christmas waiting for her, surrounded by busy elves and fairies.

“So glad you could come Milly,” he said. “Now, are you a good reader, because your job is to read out all the children's names that I am visiting tonight, and next to the names you will see some stars, they tell me how good the children have been and how many presents they should receive. Five stars mean that they have been very, very good.”

“Oh I am a very good reader,” said Milly.

Then they were off, and Milly could scarcely keep up with Santa as he dashed in and out of the houses with the sacks that his elves kept filling. On and on, over the roof tops, skimming the tops of trees, swirling over the sea, dashing around the moon and through the stars. It was so exciting.

But before she knew it a glow appeared in the sky and the blackness slowly turned to grey.

“Last delivery,” said Sparkle, “and only just in time, here comes morning.”

The sleigh was finally empty. Tired elves lay down on the empty sacks.

“Milly,” said Father Christmas. “I don't know how we would have managed without you. Thank you so much, and now it is time to go home. Close your eyes and count to three.”

Milly closed her eyes and when she opened them she was in her own little bed and it was morning.

She heard the door open and Grandad calling out “Happy Christmas Milly.”

“Grandad,” she said. “You will never believe..............” but she got no further because, leaning against her bed she saw a beautiful red bicycle. From the handlebars, hung a label which said, “To Milly, a very good girl. Happy Christmas.” There were five kisses on the bottom - or they might have been stars.

“Oh,” said Milly, “what a lovely surprise.”

“You deserve it,” said Grandad, “you have been such a good girl”

Milly thought, just for a moment, that Grandad looked just like Father Christmas.

And outside the window she heard the tinkle of a tiny bell.

The end.

Jean Hill © 2011

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Category: Children's Stories