Mrs. Cringle, hearing her husband's heavy tread, poked her head through from the kitchen. As usual, she was up to her armpits in flour. Chris was not one to go without in the baked goods department.

"Chris, you're late dear. Is everything all right?" Her rosy cheeks glowing from the heat of the kitchen.

"Everything's fine now. But if that damn Rudolph comes up with any more demands I'm switching to nuclear power. We should never have let them form a Trade Union."

"Never mind dear, I've cooked a lovely Arctic Hare Pie for you." (This was her answer to any problem.)

"I'd prefer bloody Reindeer Pie." Chris muttered.

I suppose now is the time to explain a little about Chris Cringle. He's a faerie. A very special faerie.

Back in the Middle Ages, the faerie folk had lived a life apart. It had been Piper that had broken the age old way and lead his people out of the caves and into peaceful coexistence with humankind. The problem was; that left a gap. Humans had myths, they thought that they didn't believe them, but they had them. And myths have power........

For a while, things had seemed fine. But, people started to notice. Young children would wake in the morning, look under their pillows and find....... a tooth. Cobblers would leave out food and drink, only to find in the morning that their shoes still had holes, and the mice had crapped on the sandwiches.

No one had realised how dependent humans had become on the faerie. The whole of human history had been touched by the faerie, and now there was a void.

A Great Council had been called by Piper. Something had to be done. For days and days they talked. There was even the suggestion that the faerie should return to their caves. But, finally, a solution was found. A rota was set up. Every faerie had to take a turn at being a mythical figure. While they did, the rest of the folk would concentrate some of their glamour on the chosen ones, giving them the power to fulfil their duties.

The twentieth century had been marked down for Chris. He'd been nominated for the role of Santa.... Saint Nick...... Father Christmas...... Whatever he was called, wherever he was expected, Chris was your faerie.

So...... Now you know. Back to the story..........(cont)