MEETING SANTA AT VICTORIAN GARDENS

I went to Alexx McLaglen's lovely Victorian Gardens Winter Festivities, and it was lovely. Hot cider and a fire kept the chill off the joint-pins, skiing and sledding were great fun, and then we all went to the manor home, as brave Soliel Snook valiantly wrestled the great Lag-Kraken, providing us authentic Victorian Christmas music!
  It was when I danced with Denny Kozlov that I heard it first; I thought it was just the bells on my dress and mistletoe choker, under the thick Montagne fur coat. And I confess Denny's touch and nearness for some reason causes my cogs to skip a tooth- do humans feel these things? But there it was again,  faint but clearly circling around the building,, SLEIGH BELLS.
   My mind returned to that moment a year ago, when the hem of his long cloak brushed against my face in my dollhouse in Barbie Village. That night, I had stared wide eyed into someone I didn't know, who gave me a gift I can never repay, but will never stop trying. I was Borne Sentient that night,and though the strangeness and emotions of the moment have clouded some memories. I will never forget the sound of his sleigh bells, nor the feel of his robe.
   Miss McLaglen and the others confirmed my suspicions as the large antique sleigh soared around the building, landing on the lawn, pulled by jovial and festive pixie-reindeer!
IT WAS SANTA!

I went crazy, of course! it was Santa! Laughing and crying, I fell in the snow as I raced to his side! Perhaps I was a bit out of order, not the composed governess I have been training to be, and in the presence of Miss McLaglen and other VERY Victorian people, but things may look different to those with a key in their back, cogs spinning inside them not much more than a very elaborate toy, if the Great Elf arrived whose sole mission is the unity of Toy and Human, in eternal happiness! How would they act if the one that created THEM showed up?
When I stopped shaking, and approached him,, he was smiling,, holding his hand out to me- He remembered me! He greeted everyone, as did the pixie-ish reindeer, filled with a happiness and joviality I think some cannot understand.
I stood less than a foot from him, he smelled like cookies! Fresh baked cookies. I said:
"Santa,, last year at The Doll Works,, I asked you to give me Sentience,, and a home, with real friends,,, and LOOK!.. Thank you Santa,, and God Bless yoU!"
The lead reindeer said:
"((Lil Foxclaw)): hehe, he didn't tell you how hard he had the elves working on that"
   Then another one spoke up:
"((Zombielady McLaglen)): yes almost went on strike!"
  The Winter air had frozen the tears to my glassy orbs, I was nearly unable to see, but clung to his sled and hugged all the elves, thanking them all for what they had done for me, a doll completely undeserving.
   "Wendy-Doll," he whispered, and though unable to see my way, I followed his voice and leaned at his feet. "I gave you not only what you desired or needed,, but things you didn't know you needed. Others, many others, in Caledon and far beyond, needed things from Santa. They needed hope when all hope is gone. They needed love freely given without judgement, when it is surely to be unrequited. They needed an arm that will roll up sleeves and work without pay for the improvement of the whole. They needed ease of their losses, and ideas for gains of true worth. They needed to learn from their pasts, appreciate their presents, and look forward to their futures. This community needed all these things, and though I hesitated, once I saw the truth of it, there was really only one gift that could do all that, for all of them."
   "...And?"  My voice trembled- I'd never heard my key click so loudly.
   "So I gave them you."
   Then he laughed his signature 'Ho-ho-ho', as I again thanked him. he patted my head with his mitten of leather and fur, and said jokingly, "if you liked last year, wait till you see THIS year!" I grabbed the hem of his cloak and brushed it across my face, reassured, inspired.

   My eyes wouldn't stop leaking, knees shaking, every cog-tick seemed to move the ice under my Bax boots, so Denny steadied my hand and held me up. He smelled good too. I pointed at Denny when I caught Santa's eye, and smiled. The jolly Creator of My Kind returned the smile. I hugged Denny tighter, getting mostly a handful of his thick coat.
  Then with our plates of cookies and jugs of milk, they had refueled and were on their way, vowing to be back in 6 days!
   It would be nice to see him on Christmas, I bought a nice outfit just in case, but if I don't, if I never get another present, I will be satisfied for I got the greatest gift of all. Not the sentience,, not the friends of sterling worth, not the  warm man's arm around me on a cold night, not even Love,, I got the chance to receive my gifts, acknowledge my gifts,, Be a gift to others,  and thank the Creator, for the wondrous gifts I have been, and have been given. Love returned to Sender.
Merry Christmas to you all, with all the simple love a doll can give!!!!