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Charlie the Great White Horse and the Journey to the North Pole
Written by: Kenneth Mullinix Music written by Thomas Mullinix Dedicated to: Robert James Mullinix |
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Children’s fables are meant to bring back to life: the basic tried and true ideals of old-fashioned story telling, whose foundation is built upon wholesome and virtuous storylines; that is the basis of “Americana Literature”.
“Charlie the Great White Horse”
Trilogy of Books
~Book Two~
These novels have eleven “original songs” that were written and recorded for this series.
The music CD can be ordered directly through the mail.
Send payment and request CO:
Charlie the Great White Horse
PO Box 4846 Laguna Beach, Calif. 92651
Sales Prices $5.95 plus $1.50 shipping and handling
Make check payable to Ken Mullinix
Total costs-$7.45
(Allow up to ten days for shipment)
~Prologue~
In the first book: the small town of Centerville-in the heart of Indiana in the early nineteen hundreds-was the setting for the magical story of “Charlie the Great White Horse and the Story of the Magic Jingle Bells”.
It was the story of “Charlie the Barnyard Horse” and his magical transformation into, “Charlie the Great White Horse” on Christmas Eve-in Mr. Beamer’s barn.
Charlie it turned out was not an old ordinary barnyard horse after all, and in fact he was born to a long family of brave and famous horses who, are known as “Arions”.
These horses are an extraordinary and mystical great family of horses that once roamed the face of the earth in the “ancient” times. This breed of, supernatural horses were bred by the “Ancients”, to solely serve humankind, for betterment and good.
Louis Parks, Chug Martin and “Charlie the Horse”, had become town heroes by thwarting the horse napping of, “Jupiter the Show Horse”.
Santa Claus seeing the bravery and courage that lies within Charlie’s heart, offered him a chance of a lifetime to have a spell placed upon him with the help of a string of “Magic Jingle Bells” created by Santa, to turn Charlie into the great horse he was destined to be.
In this second book: Charlie “The Great White Horse” resides at the North Pole in Santa’s Village and oversees the workings of the great wrapping-machine, the elves, and all the workingmen. Things are running smoothly at the North Pole until the three protagonists (that gave Charlie so much trouble in the first book) return. The three “Missouri Rats” are no good crooks that have implemented a sinister plan, and have now taken over the daily operation of Santa’s Village from Charlie, and might have stolen Christmas’s future-from all the children of the world.
As this story unfolds: Charlie has now taken ill at the North Pole and the magic that lies within the string of “Magic Jingle Bells” has been broken...maybe forever!
Louis Parks, Chug Martin and Hot-Tamale Molly have been (by fate) decreed, to be the saviors of the future of Christmas and have been given the daunting task of returning “The Magic” back into the string of “Magic Jingle Bells”. The three brave friends must now: embark on a long and very dangerous trek to the North Pole, to reach Santa’s Village before Christmas Eve, before the dwindling magic that is keeping Charlie alive…is no more.
The young adventurers with help from “Jupiter the Show Horse” and his best friend “Apollo” get help from the strangest of characters, through out their: protracted, and arduous journey; with each giving all the help they can...to save Christmas.
However, mostly they all try to give little Louis the great courage that he will need to succeed at the very dramatic and climatic ending.
We hope you enjoy reading this: “True Christmas Fable” and coming of age story: filled with tried and true family-values and morals for children (parents and adults) of all ages:
“Charlie the Great White Horse and the Journey to the North Pole”
~Contents~
Chapter 1 A Square Dance...............................................................................5
Chapter 2 Mr. Beamer’s Attic........................................................................18
Chapter 3 Meet Squint-Eye Pete....................................................................25
Chapter 4 The Cornfield................................................................................34
Chapter 5 The Journey Begins.......................................................................42
Chapter 6 Plainsville Population 51...............................................................47
Chapter 7 Red Beard the Pirate and the Great Lake......................................55
Chapter 8 The Captains Dinner.....................................................................62
Chapter 9 A Change in the Weather.............................................................70
Chapter 10 The Great Indian Chief of the Boreal Forest..............................83
Chapter 11 A Visitor......................................................................................95
Chapter 12 The Snow Panther of the Northwest Territories........................108
Chapter 13 Growlar the Cave Bear..............................................................117
Chapter 14 The Polar Gates.........................................................................125
Chapter 15 The Return to Santa’s Village...................................................140
Chapter 16 Algar the Elf………....…….....................................................152
Chapter 17 Back to Growlar’s Lair..............................................................157
Chapter 18 Nebuka the Terrible...................................................................163
Chapter 19 Black Jack Tilly and the Great Hall..........................................170
Chapter 20 The Great Wrapping-Machine…..............................................179
Chapter 21 Friends Reunited.......................................................................191
Chapter 22 Louis the White……….............................................................197
Chapter 23 Santa Returns to Centerville……........……..........…................206
~Book Three~
Preview ..…………........................................................………...............218
Chapter 1 Meet Big Sal...............................................................................220
~Chapter 1~
A Square Dance
“Ex-ta-ra! Ex-ta-ra! Read all about it!”
“Charlie “The Great White Horse” has taken ill at the North Pole!”
“The “Missouri Rats” run by their notorious leader Black Jack Tilly is running Santa’s Village.”
“Five cents a copy!”
“Read about it here in the “Centerville Gazette”.”
“Ex-ta-ra! Ex-ta-ra! ”
“I’ll take one of those copies right here”, said Louis as he took a shinny new nickel out of the top pocket of his light blue coveralls, and handed it to one of his friends, Sammy the Paper Boy.
“Look at these headlines Chug! Our Charlie is sick…I can’t believe it.”
“What’s it say Louis? What’s it say...?”
“Chug, hold on a minute...hold on and let me read it already...
“Well...?”
“I can’t read the newspaper with you grabbing on me at the same time. It says here that one of the “Magic Jingle Bells” had fallen off the magic string of bells on Christmas Eve, when Charlie took over for Rudolf last year, when he flew out of Mr. Beamer’s barn. It also says that that night somehow the bell was lost in flight, and they have no idea what happened to it, or where it could possibly be. Charlie is: slowly losing his magical powers, most of his strength and is now reverting back to the old-“Charlie the Barnyard Horse”.”
“Continue on Louis. What else does it say...?”
“Well it says here that: the spell of the “Magic Jingle Bells” has been broken and that he’s been laying sick in his hay bed for almost two months, and he’s not getting any better and in fact he’s…getting even...worse.”
“Louis what about all the Christmas toys for all the kids? Are they still being made this year and what about the all the elves? Are they still working? Where’s Santa been when all this has been going on? Read on...read on Louis” asked Chug as he kept trying to peer over Louis’s left shoulder, to get a better look at the newspaper.
“Chug calm down and let me read...already...”
“Louis...”
“Now look...it says here: Santa’s Village is in complete disarray and a big mess with no children's toys being made or wrapped for Christmas this year, and that the “Great Wrapping-Machine” has been shut down and has not been used for well over …three months. Cool Joe Biggs, Rags Martin, and Black Jack Tilly are in charge up there in the North Pole, and all manner of troubles have come to Santa’s Village. All of the elves, workingmen, and working-animals have been locked out of the “Great Hall”, or have been laid off work, and that no one cares anymore about Christmas!
“Man…oh…man Louis!”
“I know can you believe it Chug? Charlie’s sick and Christmas might be lost forever.”
“Louis let me see that newspaper.”
“Chug, you better read on...I can’t stand to look anymore.”
“It says here that: Santa, Mrs. Claus and Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer and his troop of reindeer have been on vacation in Greenland for almost a year and they can’t get a hold of em. Man this is terrible Louis. Santa and Rudolf are nowhere to be seen and there is no way to get a hold of em. That horrible old, Black Jack Tilly must have broken out of the Saint Louis jail again, and is back up…to no good.”
“Keep reading Chug,” said Louis as he sat down on a nearby city bench to ponder over, all that Chug was reading to him “read on.”
“Look here, just like I thought...those three crooks were broken out of the Saint Louis city jail again, for the second time in three years and this time they were sprung by those guys that were, going to buy “Jupiter the Show Horse” last year. Remember them Louis?”
“Yes I sure do...”
“Remember old “Squint-Eye Pete” and his two good-for-nothing boys “Grease Ball Tom and Big Belly Bill and of course Big Sal, Pete’s mom...helped break em out”?”
“Yeah, I remember em Chug. They were all just as ugly and despicable, as that Black Jack”, shot back Louis with disgust showing in his eyes.
Chug climbed off his bike and now sat down on the city bench next to where Louis had slumped, dropped the newspaper to his lap, and kind of starred off into space to contemplate what he and Louis had just read.
Louis’s mind was: lost in a deep marsh of thoughts about poor old Charlie being ill, about that horrible Black Tilly being up to no good again and that Squint-Eye Pete now in charge of a gang of crooks who are trying to muddle up Christmas for all the kids in the world this year; and maybe...forever.
“Chug, why is it that there is always somethin going on in this town?”
“I don’t know Louis.”
“Can’t we just play baseball, go to school, do our home work, and just be a couple of kids growing up, like all the other boys around here? I swear Chug this is starting to get old.”
“Ah don’t worry about it Louis. There ain’t nothin we can’t handle, remember we’re both “heroes” and “famous” in this town for what we did last year,” said Chug as he gave a reconfirming pat of confidence on Louis’s back “you know…by breaking up that, horse-thief ring”
“Awe we ain't famous Chug. We did what we had to, that’s all. We just got lucky and things went our way. It could have been worse and we were down right fortunate when, we foiled that plot; don’t you forget it Chug.”
“Well, heroes or not we sure were brave.”
“Well I agree with that Chug. For once in our lives we were brave and it looks like we might have to get, down right brave again.”
“Let’s take this newspaper back to your mom’s house Louis and read everything we can about, what’s goin on up there in the North Pole, and figure out what needs to be done. I’m sure everyone’s going to be talkin about this, and working on a way to help Ole’ Charlie out. I mean Louis this is our Charlie were talkin about here. If he’s getting sick and the future of Christmas is at stake, then something’s gotta be done about it...and I mean...in a hurry Louis.”
“You’re right Chug; grab your bike and let’s get going, for we gotta find Hattie May and Mr. Beamer as soon as possible, and see what they think about, all this mess as well.
“Good idea Louis.”
“This is just terrible Chug, just terrible.”
Louis and Chug rode their bikes like the wind unleashed and headed straight out of town, up the road towards Louis’s house.
“Hey where are you two guys going in such a hurry” yelled out Molly as both boys flew right by her and her best friend Tessie Whitman, who were standing in front of Tessie Whitman's dad’s, Five and Dime store.
“I can’t stop now Molly; didn’t you read the newspaper this morning? Our Charlie has taken ill and that stinkin, filthy rat Black Jack Tilly is up to no good, in the North Pole. Seems that there is big trouble brewing again and we’ve got to find out, what to do about it. I’ll talk to you at the “big square dance” tonight down at the town’s main-square,” cried out Louis as he and Chug streaked by, peddling their bikes just as fast as their legs could go “ok, Molly...again see ya tonight?”
“Ok Louis we will see you tonight then,” said Molly as she grew worrisome that something alarming had just happened, and that Chug and Louis were back in the middle of a “big stew”, of “big trouble”...again.
Louis and Chug often found trouble; or trouble just often found them. Neither one of the boys was sure what had to be done but they knew one thing for sure, that their Charlie un-doubtable needed their help.
By the time the two boys got to Louis’s house the noontime summer sun had taken a hold of Centerville. Summers in the heartland of Indiana were known to be hot, muggy and humid, and today it seemed to be especially so.
Hattie May, (Louis’s mom), was hard at work, as most country folk are known to do and was busily pumping some fresh drinking water up from the water-well on her back porch. Louis and Chug, after dashing their bikes in the rear yard came sprinting up the walkway, with a look of shear panic on their faces.
“Hattie May, where is Mr. Beamer? I gotta find him. Something bad has happened and I gotta talk with him? Did you see the newspapers this morning mom? Charlie the “Great White Horse”; our old Charlie is in trouble at the North Pole. Mom where’s he at? Where’s Mr. Beamer?”
“He’s most likely taking his afternoon nap with his buddy Mr. Turkey out in the cornfields, which he does every afternoon around this time. Louis calm down. What the heck are you talking about now? What happened to Charlie?” inquired Hattie May as she dropped the bucket of water back down the water-well, and started to run out to the front of the farmhouse after Louis.
“Louis, it better be important, because Mr. Beamer doesn’t like being woken up. Did you hear me Louis?” asked Hattie May as Louis with Chug trailing close behind, quickly disappeared in a big cloud of dust, down the earthen pathway, towards the back of Mr. Beamer’s barn, and well out of sight.
Chug and Louis came tearing though the large rows of yellowish green cornfields yelling Mr. Beamer’s name over and over again at the tops of their lungs. And with such volume that a murder of crows sitting on a nearby tree branch started squawking a loud alarm and then straight-away, took flight overhead as quickly as possible...off in the other direction.
Mr. Turkey who was in a deep restful sleep was suddenly stirred awake as well and immediately began to squawk right along with the crows-uncontrollably. Mr. Turkey being always so nervous didn't even wait around to find out what was going on. He kicked off his red snickers (that Santa had given him last year) and instantaneously took off as well, and shot right over the heads of Chug and Louis, and as far away from danger as he could possible get.
Chug and Louis were running so fast that they kept falling, tumbling, and stumbling over rows of cornstalks as they scurried along, until they finally heard Mr. Beamer’s voice calling back to them.
“Kids I’m over here. Over here...” shouted out Mr. Beamer as he began wiping the afternoon sleep out of his eyes.
“What’s going on? What is it Louis?”
“Mr. Beamer we’ve just read the morning newspaper and it says, Charlie is sick and the “Missouri Rats” with Black Jack Tilly have taken over Santa’s Village. There’s real trouble Mr. Beamer, real trouble I tell ya” cried out Louis as he finally reached Mr. Beamer and grabbed him by the arm in a deathly grip, to get his full attention.
“Mr. Beamer, we gotta do something and I mean quick,” said Chug as he uneasily bent over, grabbed his aching side and tried to catch his breath after such a long run.
“All right, all right calm down kids, let’s get back to the house and you can show me the morning newspaper, just slow down”, said Mr. Beamer as they started off towards the pathway at the edge of the cornfield and back towards the farmhouse.
Chug and Mr. Beamer being dragged by Louis hurried along just as quickly as they could go, up to Mr. Beamer’s farmhouse. Mr. Beamer found his copy of that morning’s Centerville Gazette lying on the front porch, advanced into the kitchen, sat down at the kitchen table, and started to read all about, the considerable trouble stirring at the North Pole.
Hattie May hearing all the fuss and knowing that Louis and Chug had found Mr. Beamer, without haste came rushing out of her nearby farmhouse and over, into Mr. Beamer’s kitchen. She sat down next to Mr. Beamer and listened as intently as she could, as the boys and Mr. Beamer went over and over, all the details of what was happening with Charlie and all the terrible things going on at the North Pole.
Mr. Beamer, Hattie May and the two boys must have sat at that table for well over two hours, trying to decipher truly what had happened and what needed to be done.
Out of the blue...Louis all of a sudden stood up at the table with a look of complete exhilaration and conviction written across his boyish face.
“Mr. Beamer, I’ve got it! I know what needs to be done. It’s all so simple. We’ve gotta go to the North Pole and find Charlie and get those Magic Jingle Bells working again.
“Wha-t...?”
“That’s it!!” blared out Louis.
“Louis what are you talking about,” said Hattie May “you’re not going to the North Pole!”
“Mr. Beamer, mom we gotta go up there and help Charlie out. He needs us and Mr. Beamer is the only one who knows how to get there. You’ve been there Mr. Beamer. Remember, you told us that story, one night last summer, on the back of your porch, how you had traveled to the North Pole, once as a young man?”
“Yeah, Louis is right we gotta go to the North Pole, to save Charlie and you gotta show us the way to get there Mr. Beamer” cried out Chug with great passion in his voice, as he echoed Louis’s sentiments.
“Wait a darn minute you two boys, aren’t going anywhere. Last time you two got involved with that Black Tilly: he almost skinned you, both alive then he kidnapped Louis, and almost took him to Saint Louis to who knows what dreadful ending. You two get those silly thoughts out of your head right now. This is a job for Turk or the Chief of Police or Mr. Penneywell the Mayor”, said Hattie May as she looked squarely into Louis’s face and pointed her thin index finger directly at him, to make sure that he knew, that she meant business this time.
“Mom I ain’t afraid of that Ole’ Black Jack Tilly, Rags Martin, Cool Joe, or even that horrible Squint-eyed Pete. Man, when it comes to my Charlie I’ll do whatever I gotta do to, to help him out.”
“Now...Louis...”
“Come on...mom...” said Louis with a voice that rang out with shear determination that belied his tender age.
“We ain't talking about it no more. You heard what I said Louis. Well, I’m going to go get ready for the “Big Square Dance” tonight over at the town square. Now you two boys and Mr. Beamer are all suppose be there as well. So let’s just drop all this talk about fixing “Magic Jingle Bells”, traipsing off to the North Pole and rescuing Charlie” said Hattie May as she slowly rose from the kitchen table, straightened her dress a bit on her thin frame and carried on towards Mr. Beamer’s rear kitchen door.
“But mom...”
“Mrs. Parks...”
“I will be over in my bedroom for a while getting ready for the “big square dance” tonight, so if you need to find me that’s where I’ll be and again Louis you and Chug are not going to the North Pole no matter what. So get that thought out of your mind right now.”
With this firmly said she politely said her goodbyes to all, exited Mr. Beamer’s kitchen and disappeared down the path and into her own house next door, not to be seen again until later that night.
As soon as Hattie May left the kitchen Mr. Beamer began to talk again in earnest.
“I can’t believe I am even thinking or saying this to you boys, but you know you're both right. I am the only one who knows how to get to the North Pole because I have been there, but Louis I am just too old to go on any more great adventures like this one. Heck, I’m over sixty years old now and I got a farm to run. I can’t be gallivanting and running through the wilds on any long and dangerous journey, but you two boys...with the proper equipment...grit...resolve and guidance from me, could surely make it. Let me think a minute...let me think...”
With a strange and perplexed look on his face and after a few moments of silence and deep thought Mr. Beamer spoke again.
“You know, I could look after Hattie May, and Chug...your mom Rosalind, while you’re both gone. Moreover, you two now know enough about Black Jack and those two other “Missouri Rats”...that you could surely outwit them again. Remember like you did last year when you came across them at the train depot in that snow storm.”
“Do you really think we could do it Mr. Beamer?”
“Well I...”
“Do you really think we could go to the North Pole?” asked Louis emphatically as he started his uncontrollable daydreaming again.
Louis immediately began to imagine himself: all dressed up in a fur-trapping hat, a walking stick in one hand and wearing a large over-sized fur coat, and stepping along in out-sized snowshoes, with Chug at his side heading towards the North Pole.
“Louis, let me think again for a moment. Now if I got together all my old topography maps of the North Pole. Find that spiffy compass of mine and all that other gear I got packed away up in the attic from my last trip up north all those years ago, and showed you how to use all the gear, then I’m sure that you two could make it on your own. Oh, heck with a little luck on your side...I don’t see any reason...why you two couldn’t make it up there.”
“Really, you think we could...?”
“You could get Charlie well again by finding that missing bell or by fixen the string of “magic bells”, and I bet in no time...Santa’s Village could be up and running and back to normal again...just like it always has.”
Louis and Chug were both so excited they yelled out almost in unison.
“You think we could make it Mr. Beamer?
“Do you think we could?”
“Yeah I think you could make it. Matter of fact I am darn sure you could. You know, I’m going to pass on that square dance tonight and see exactly what I got up there in that dusty old attic. Louis and Chug why don’t you make Hattie May happy and go get ready up in Louis’s room right now, and go over to that dance tonight around nightfall?” said Mr. Beamer as he quickly arose from the table and hastily headed up the back stairwell, off of the kitchen that lead towards his attic.
“All right Mr. Beamer, we can talk about this later, tomorrow or tonight after the square dance. I’ll see you later Mr. Beamer,” said Louis as he saw the last of Mr. Beamer at the top step of the stairway, then he rapidly disappeared out of sight with the squeaky attic door closing quickly behind him.
“You know Louis we gotta do this. We just gotta,” said Chug as he reached out a hand to Louis’s.
“Chug your right. Charlie saved you and me once, at that old train station last year and we owe it to Charlie, to return the favor. We must do this Chug. I’ve got an idea.
“What’s that Louis?”
“Blood brothers to the end..., OK?”
Louis took a small pocket knife out of his front pants pocket, unfolded the little metal blade, he then went on to make a small scratch on the palm of his upturned hand, which quickly produced a few tiny droplets of red blood. He firmly took Chug outstretched hand and gripped the palm so that it shown face upwards as well, and with one small quick poke of the pocketknife...made a small scratch on Chugs right palm.
Both boys grimaced a little in pain from the small scratches in their palms. They both looked each other squarely in the eyes, then down at their hands. They shook hands “as only best friends are known to do” then said in perfect unison as if they had done this type of thing a hundred times before.
“It’s done then...”
“It’s done...”
There was a look of pure untouched, excitement on both of the boy’s faces. This echoed deep down into the very depths of their two youthful souls. A new task had been bestowed upon them and danger was again at hand. Both knew that destiny was calling on them and that only the truly courageous of heart...would hear its voice. This calling was to be answered by two small boys with wonderment in their eyes and a love for Charlie that only, true trusted friends could feel for another.
Hattie May was up in her bedroom-and had been there for about a hour-singing the most bright and lovely of tunes, as she ever so patiently got ready for the “big dance” that night. She went all through her clothes closet looking for the perfect dress to wear that evening, as the late afternoon sun shone in through her lone bedroom window. Finally in the very back of the closet (in a box that was covered with a large dust cloth) she found the perfect dress to wear, for the upcoming evenings activities. Santa Claus had given the beautiful dress to her last year on Christmas Eve in Mr. Beamer’s barn-the night of Charlie’s magical transformation. She had not worn it yet. Not even once. She had waited patiently all year for a special occasion to wear it and finally...that special occasion...had arrived.
The Mayor George Penneywell, and his wife Bernice would be there, along with the Chief of Police and his wife Beatrice, and all the other fine “High-Society Girls”, so Hattie May would certainly have to look her very best. Everyone in town had been invited for the “big dance” and of course Turk the Blacksmith, her best friend would be there as well.
Hattie May was getting along in years now and was mostly found to be spending a lot of time alone, which did not sit to well with her. Turk was always so helpful around the family farm: fixing things that had been broken-or was worn out-and, of course he was so very kind. He was especially polite to her and above all else, he loved Louis like a son.
Hattie May thought the world of Turk and she was starting to think that Turk should play a larger roll in Louis’s life, since Captain Jeremy Parks, (Louis’ father) had been missing and not been heard from, in such a long time. After all the war overseas had gone on for so many years now, and no one had heard a word of his whereabouts for about five years.
Every time Hattie May went to town she always stopped by the blacksmith shop to say a kind word or two to Turk. Turk would always stop working and take time for her and show his appreciation, for her kindness. They would take an afternoon walk down to the town square, go to the soda shop, or share a cup of coffee over at Mr. Whitman’s Five and Dime.
“You know, I am going to dance with that Turk tonight and let him know how much his friendship and his kindness, means to Louis and I” said Hattie May to herself as she stood in front of the full length mirror, found at the foot of her bed. She held up the new beautiful full length, white cotton dress-that was perfectly pressed-and draped it across her lovely shoulders. Then after a moment more of leisurely gazing into the mirror, she placed the dress softly on the bed and preceded over to the night stand-in the corner of the room-and began to fix her beautiful hair for the evening. A moment later and her hair, was adjusted just right, up in the familiar tight bun at the back of her head. She gently wrapped a delightful, small red bow firmly around the bun.
She sang a few more fanciful notes (of the song she had been singing earlier) then rose from the desk, twirled about the room twice more then sprayed on some of her finest and fanciest perfume as she quietly spoke out loud again.
“I think I will dance with the Mayor George Penneywell and the Chief of Police as well tonight, just to stir some things up. Sometimes it’s just plain fun to be girl, even if this girl: has a little more, gray in her hair, wears support hose and goes to sleep a little earlier, than she use to every night”
Molly, Tessie, Janie, Margret and all her other girls who lived in town were going to the “big dance” tonight as well, and of course Louis would be there. Molly wanted to dance with Louis under the moonlight, share some lemonade with him and take a long stroll, under the illumination of the stars.
Molly and Louis had been seeing more of each other, over the course of the year and tonight’s dance, both of them had been looking forward to...for the longest time.
Tessie had come over to Molly’s house early that afternoon to catch up on all the local gossip around town and jabber between them about all their girl friends, and to do all types of girly things with her best friend, as most girls her age are known to do...when a big social event is about to take place.
“Tessie what do you think of this dress?” Molly asked as she began taking a few beautiful summer dresses out of her cloths closet.
“Oh that one is divine and I like that one as well. Yes wear that one, no this one, no that one” said Tessie as she pointed to the loveliest of the three dresses lying on the bed in Molly’s room.
Both girls talked for hours that afternoon as they got ready for the evening and both were as about excited as two young girls could get. They each had very high expectations about what the big night ahead, would hold for them.
Tessie had a crush on Chug and just thought the most of him after all he was of course, so very handsome and very tall. Tonight was the night for sure that, Chug would finally find out about her feelings for him.
Tessie had decided to tell Chug that she was ready to go steady with him and that she thought that they could be...even better friends...if he would give her a promise ring, or maybe even a nice pin or broach. Tessie knew that Chug felt the same way about her as well.
Girls just know these things.
As Tessie swooned over Chug and Molly over Louis they playfully pushed and shoved each other about the room all the while trying to admire themselves’ in the mirror in the corner of Molly’s... well kept bedroom.
The whole town was expected to be at “the big dance” tonight, and of course all the young girls wanted to be there. Cindy, Becky, and Sally were coming and of course all the young boys would be there as well.
Growlin Harry would be dragging his feet around the dance floor and hopefully he wouldn't be wearing too much of that horrible heat-balm of his. Even the new stuff Santa had given to him last year on Christmas Eve smelled awful, but it never bothered Harry.
He was so single-mined in his thoughts, at playing baseball in the “big leagues” when he grew up, that anything he had to do to get there, was just what he had to do. Even if it meant, wearing stinky heat-balm like the big league players do. Tonight would be no different...dance or no dance...heat-balm was in store and ready for smelling, to anyone who was unfortunate enough, to get too close to Ole’ Harry.
Turk was coming to the big dance as well.
He was not to keen on all these fancy dances and social events, but he tried to clean up the best he could. He had been down in the blacksmith shop most of the day, so he needed quite a bit of cleaning up-to be respectable. He put on a fine white newly starched shirt, found his fanciest cowboy hat and boots (in the closet) and then slipped into his favorite old blue jeans, with that large silver belt buckle of his-with the picture of his favorite horse, Bessie on it. Turk was such a hard working and stable man and that was something that Hattie May, admired and adored most about him.
Most of the town’s people were coming to the dance and of course the “Ladies of the Red Hat Society” were going to be there. This wonderful society of older distinguished Ladies from Centerville, always attended the “big galas” in full regal attire.
This was a special and “secretive society of Ladies”. Who wherever they went, wore the fanciest of large brimmed, red felt hats. All the hats were of the same color but each Lady had her own special style or design of hat. Each and every hat took on a personality of its own. Most of the Ladies wore: colorful large silk-scarf’s draped off to the side or back of the hat, or had a large boa feather inserted in it, at just the right angle. Alternatively, they wore the hat with a colorful flower arrangement on top, to match the eyes of the wearer. This society of sophisticated, well-educated Ladies always attended the cotillions and dances in utter and complete style.
Hattie May and Mrs. Beamer had always wished that they would someday be invited to join the coveted society. This year at the annual new member’s secretive selection committee meeting, they were disappointed that they again, were not going to be voted in as members, but at least their names were being considered for the next meeting, to be held two days before Christmas this year. That is the first step towards becoming a “full fledge member”. With a vote to be taken at the next secretive meeting they thought that they would most surely be accepted then.
A large wooden dance floor was built with the help of Turk and a few of the boys from the local horse stables, right in the middle of the main town square.
Long picnic tables had been brought over from the fair grounds and were covered with crisp, newly starched white linen tablecloths with red interlaying trim. The tables were all piled high and filled with all kinds of enjoyable treats and delights for the nights gathering.
There were apple pies and pastries that Miss Hattie May and Mrs. Beamer had baked that day. Mrs. Penneywell, the Mayor’s wife and the Fire Chief’s wife had brought freshly made delicious apple cider, and some of the other girls in town brought: buckets and buckets of heavily battered country deep-fried chicken, apple-dumplings, heavy brown gravy, homemade biscuits, and fresh-buttered green peas. Tonight's feast was shaping up to be the best of the year.
All of the town’s folks and of course the “Ladies of the Red Hat Society” would find a place to sit around the dance floor, as the evening would start to unravel before them.
At one long table there would be over thirty Ladies sitting together wearing their bright red, silky, stylish hats with the large colorful feathers. What a wonderful sight it will be to behold. It would be as if a whole family of peacocks had come to town. To roost and enjoy the wonderful evening that soon would be starting.
Old Arty the pig, the Henderson Family of chickens and Mr. Turkey had not been seen for over a week now since the “big event” was getting near. Mr. Turkey up was to his old magic tricks, by disappearing again this year before for the big dance.
He was the eternal pessimist.
Mr. Turkey was always thinking the worst even when the worst never included him.
Even Old Miss Harriet the milking cow who lived in Mr. Beamer’s barn, decided to get involved this year. She chipped in for the “big party” and gave a few extra pints of milk for the kids.
It was shaping up to be a grand event indeed!
The band that night was a few real good guitar players, brought in from the nearby town of Muncie. They were called the “Cornfield Pickers”. They were the best band in the area and known for playing some of the liveliest dance music you ever heard.
Tonight would be a square dance and a country-dinner under a moonlit filled night in Centerville.
Could anything be more delightful?
There were warm summer breezes blowing down from the north, a pale white sickle moon rising out of the west and a few tiny fireflies took to flight in the nearby forest of pine trees, as the moon waxed higher and higher into the evening sky above.
All of the “High-Society Girls” finally began showing up that night, right on time and just looking resplendent: in their summer dresses, open toed high-healed shoes, and over-sized straw hats. The men from town all started to show as well: wearing there finest country boots, cowboy hats, blue jeans, and out-sized belt buckles. It looked like Turk’s entire extended family showed up.
The music had just started; the BBQ was fired up with the smell of roasted chicken and beef ribs on the spit; all the food was laid out on the long elegant picnic tables.
Chug and Louis had washed and primped up the best they could with Louis putting on a clean white shirt and freshly pressed trousers. Louis wore his favorite and trusted light blue baseball hat tonight, that fit snuggly over his bright red hair. He was seldom seen out about town without it on and Louis always wore the cap, with such a style and grace that he easily looked very handsome, at any occasion, even if the occasion seemed wrong for the hat. Boys just have that special charm sometimes that whatever they do...or wear...appears to be heart-warming.
Chug wore: his best blue and white checkered over-sized shirt, and large blue coveralls; and was just as charming and delightful to look at as Louis was.
Both had ridden into town with Mr. Beamer and his wife Abigail by wagon, with Apollo volunteering, to do all the pulling.
Apollo was a one time fanciful racehorse who retired out of racing a few years ago and now resided, full time in Centerville. Apollo had run off out of town one night after the great “Gazette Stakes” horserace during the horse napping of Jupiter the Show Horse.
It was from just the sheer fright at seeing Cool Joe Biggs horrible teeth that had made him scatter. Eventually Apollo overcame his fears and made his way back into town to find employment. He looked in the want ads and found a job perfectly suited for him. In the want ads there it was, “Charlie the Barnyard Horse’s” old job; delivering the summertime ice for Mr. Beamer. He had placed the ad for a new horse and low and behold, Apollo was hired and he has been living happily in Centerville ever since.
Apollo was a sleek black horse who was very even-tempered and friendly to all the children in town, which you have to be if you deliver the ice in Centerville. Apollo was still a young horse who was full of spirit and enjoyed taking to a regular routine in his work, just as Charlie had. Apollo had raced on the county horseracing circuit for over four years, until he was beaten in a great horserace by his now good friend, “Jupiter the Show Horse”.
Jupiter went on to win the great “Gazette Stakes”, last year in that now famous race that has forever been written about in local lore and sung about in song. Apollo has not seen Jupiter since Christmas night last year when Charlie flew off with Santa Claus, to deliver presents, to all the children of the world, but he still thinks of Charlie and Jupiter often, as all very good friends are known to do when their friends are not around.
“Molly I’m...glad...to...see you made it tonight. We gotta...talk,” said Louis upon arriving at the town square, and seeing Molly sitting at a long table by the dance floor, in her beautiful soft white and yellow summer dress.
“Louis you look wonderful all dressed up, but you appear to be very nervous and it looks like something real important is on your mind.”
“Something’s happened Molly!”
“What’s the matter? What’s happened Louis?” asked Molly as she grabbed Louis’s hand and pulled him closer to her; motioning for him to sit down at the table with her.
“I...can’t...ah...talk...here...”
Louis was so wound up from thinking about Charlie on the ride down to the dance that he could not sit down or hardly get the words out fast enough.
“Louis hurry up, over this way...with me.”
Molly finally shuffled Louis away from all the hustle and bustle of the square dance-that was now under way-and took him over to a park bench, at the far end of the square, to find out just what was the matter with him.
“Louis what’s wrong with you? You look like you’ve seen Mr. Harvey the old ghost that lives in Ms. Trumble’s attic.”
“Molly, as...I...ah...I said when I passed you this afternoon in town, Charlie’s ill and...is not doing very well...up at the North Pole. Look here, ah...at this article in the newspaper today. It says the three “Missouri Rats” with Black Jack Tilly are running Santa’s Village.”
“This is just terrible...Louis...”
“My Charlie is real sick...”
“Oh...no Louis!”
“I talked with Mr. Beamer today for a couple of hours. He thinks...Chug and I...could make the journey to the North Pole to find out what’s really going on up there” said Louis as he gently pushed the newspaper out of her small hands to look deeply into her lovely, almond colored eyes.
“Louis are you out of your mind?
“I don’t think so...”
“You're way too young to be going up there. Do you have any idea how dangerous that would be? Just look what happened to you the last time you tangled with that horrible Black Jack Tilly.”
“Molly that’s what my mom said. Why is everyone so worried? I can handle myself anyway, and Chug wants to come along with me. Chug and I took a blood-brother pack today, promised each other we were going up north and we ain’t going to break that pack now...and...not go.”
“No way Louis, it’s too dangerous.”
Louis took Molly gently by her thin waist and turned her ever so gently back into his gaze. Giving her a very heartfelt hug he began to speak quietly into Molly’s ear.
“Molly...don’t worry we haven't even left yet so don’t go getting yourself all worked up now. We know what were doing; Chug, Mr. Beamer, and I are planning the whole thing. Everything is going to be just fine. Plus...there’s this one thing more important than any old trip to the North Pole to try and save Christmas...”
“What’s that Louis...?”
“I haven't even told you how pretty you look tonight. You put your hair up just the way I like it and is that a new dress you're wearing?”
“Oh Louis you sure know how to cheer me up. No it’s not a new dress, but I fixed my hair special for you, and I made sure I hardly wore any lipstick at all. Do you really like the dress and my hair Louis?” asked Molly as she raised her hands up to her hair and tussled it about a bit and then ever so wistfully, she smacked her big red lips in Louis’s direction.
“Man, you know I do Molly.”
Molly blushed.
“What about the North Pole Louis?”
“Well, we can talk about that later...”
“Are you sure...?”
“Molly. Let’s go back over to the square dance and have some fun tonight and forget about all this talk about the North Pole. I don’t want to get you upset,” said Louis as he took Molly by the hand to lead her back to the square dance.
“Ok Louis, you know...I would sure like to dance tonight.”
“Ok Molly, we can dance if you like.”
As they were both heading towards the large dance floor and as they crossed over the large open grassy town square, Molly jumped upon Louis’s back where she hung on for what seemed like eternity.
She was just as happy as she had ever been before. Both Louis and Molly realized at that moment that they would remember this night and this moment for the rest of their lives.
Louis and Molly danced almost the entire night away.
They drank a few cups of hot apple cider and ate all the delicious fried chicken they could. Louis even got up and sang a few lively songs with the band that just brought the house down. Louis was a wonderful singer and would sing any chance he could which only impressed Molly that much more.
Chug was off dancing with Tessie Whitman all night and Turk even got up the courage to dance with Hattie May. The band played on till well past midnight before all got tired and retired for the evening.
Molly, Tessie, Louis nor Chug spoke another word that night about Charlie, the North Pole or the about great journey that possible lay ahead.
Mr. Beamer never made it to the dance that night, and had lost himself up in his attic, anxiously going through all of his old steamer trunks and duffel bags, trying to find his fanciful and trusted walking stick, faithful compass, old maps of Canada, Russia, the North Pole and his old cold weather clothes.
Mr. Beamer knew what an epic journey the two boys were contemplating in their near future, but little did he know that a pact sealed with blood had already been made. Two best friend’s minds were already made up that “Charlie the Great White Horse and the future of Christmas” was to be saved.
Moreover, that they were just the ones to take up the mighty task.
~Chapter 2~
Mr. Beamer’s Attic
“Good morning Louis and welcome. I’m glad you took me up on the offer to have breakfast at my house.
“Why, good morning Mr. Beamer.”
“Will Hattie May be here soon and how was the dance last night? You must have had fun. I heard you danced all night long with Molly” said Mr. Beamer to the sound of hot percolating coffee on the stove top and the smell of burning birch firewood, perfuming the morning air, inside of his old farmhouse.
“Hattie May will be here soon and yeah, I danced most of the night with Molly and I even sang a few songs with the band. You should have seen how pretty Molly looked last night Mr. Beamer. As long she does not wear all of that fancy lipstick and make-up, she just looks so cute and...so-ooo-ooo...very...demure.”
“Yes, I have seen her before all fancied up Louis. She is a young girl. Yes, very proper...and raised by a fine family.”
“Well thank you Mr. Beamer and you should have seen Hattie May last night. She looked wonderful. She danced with Turk, the Mayor, and the Chief of Police-all in one night. She was having the time of her life,” said Louis as he started to dive into a plate of fresh scrambled eggs with biscuit and gravy that Mr. Beamer had just cooked for him.
Mister Beamer was just about to pour another cup of coffee for himself when Hattie May entered into the kitchen through the rear door.
“How about that morning sun Hattie May? Boy what a pleasant day outside” said Mr. Beamer as he handed a cup of freshly brewed cup of hot coffee to Hattie May.
“Thanks for the coffee and those eggs sure smell good. Could you fix me a plate and maybe toss some bacon on the grill as well?”
“Good idea mom.”
“Now you're not still thinking about the North Pole are you Louis. And Mr. Beamer you're not still filling his young impressionable mind, with any thoughts of going to see Charlie are you?” asked Hattie May as she sat down at the kitchen table and started to sip on her coffee.
“No we haven't been talking about the North Pole or Charlie at all this morning.
“Well good, because I don’t want Louis and Chug getting into any trouble or taking any long, dangerous trips by themselves. They are just too young to be going off trying to help Charlie and saving Christmas and by the way, early summer is here and we have to get the north fields plowed and plant some more corn-seed, before the sun starts getting too high overhead and we lose the planting season this year. We have: fences to mend, firewood to chop and the vegetable garden has weeds growing in there that are as tall as wild jackrabbits. And remember Ole’ Hair Rabbit who keeps stealing all of my vegetables. One day you need to catch him Louis.”
Louis quickly spoke up.
“All right mom I hear ya. One day I will meet that Mr. Hair Rabbit and have a long talk with him about stealing your vegetables but me and Mr. Beamer, we have to go up into his attic for a bit this morning and talk. Then I will hitch up Mr. Belvedere the Plow-Horse and start plowing that field like you want me to, and we’ll start on some of those other chores later this afternoon...”
“Yeah I gotta show Louis something in the attic that I found last night and then I will give him a hand...with that north field.”
“Ok Louis but you gotta promise me you will get that field plowed and not spend all day up there.”
“I promise mom.”
“Hattie May I will make sure he gets those other chores done as well.”
“Good because I know you Mr. Beamer and I’ve see that attic of yours. You have some of the strangest things up there that I have ever seen before: ancient looking maps, boxes and boxes of old confusing and very strange looking books, and out of the ordinary looking-glasses, peculiar cooking pots and cauldrons, trunks and trunks of clothes, from...what looks like...they are from other-worlds; you name it and it’s up there.
“Well I was once a world-traveler Hattie May and I do like to collect things as you know. Nevertheless, I promise we will only be up there for a bit with Louis, and then I will help with that corn-seed and that north field.
“Yeah mom, don’t worry. We’ll get everything done just like you asked.”
Hattie May finished her wonderful breakfast, thanked Mr. Beamer profusely, grabbed the newspaper and headed outside to sit on the front porch, to read in the warmth of the morning sunlight before she starts her daily chores as well.
Mr. Beamer (with Louis’s help) cleared the breakfast table and washed all the dirty dishes. Louis peaked though the front window screen and said, “See ya around lunch time mom, and have a good day”.
“Thanks Louis and thanks for breakfast Thomas.”
Louis and Mr. Beamer quickly disappeared up the back stairway into the attic.
“Mr. Beamer did you find your old compass and walking stick last night? I could hardly sleep at all thinking about it. Did you find that map, showing the...ah...ah...way to the North Pole?” asked a now very excited Louis as he stumbled to get the words out of his mouth fast enough.
Mr. Beamer rubbed his well-satisfied and over-stuffed belly, of morning eggs and bacon, pulled out his old corn-pipe from his front shirt pocket, and lit a bowl of tobacco. He slowly turned about face, to look at a very young and receptive Louis.
Louis knew that Mr. Beamer was about to go into one of his famous stories about his travels and Louis could hardly wait to hear the words that would surely fall from his lips.
“Hattie May is going to kill both of us if she only knew what we were doing up here” said Mr. Beamer with a slight grin on his face that made him look like, the young traveler that he once was.
“Well, there are some things in the world that mother’s are just not supposed to know.”
“Well I’ll agree with that Louis, but only sometimes...”
“What did you find out last night? Do you have those old maps and books like you said you had?”
“You know Louis it’s too bad I am not planning this trip for myself, and I sure wish I was going to go with you and Chug, off to the North Pole on this most fine adventure,” said Mr. Beamer as he now stood in the middle of the dusty room, looking for one of his steamer trunks.
Mr. Beamer opened up the largest steamer trunk in the attic and waived Louis over to take a seat down next to him in an over-sized nearby rocking chair. Mr. Beamer began to speak as he opened the heavy worn lid, all the while watching the look on Louis’s face, as he wondered and gazed at the marvelous treasures that it held.
Louis being so young and easily influenced, his mind quickly filled with the thoughts of: wild animals, far-away places and of dangerous adventures he might encounter, crisscrossing the wilds of the Great North.
“Louis here it is my old bear-skin fur coat that I once wore when I was at the North Pole, well over forty years ago. Is that not the finest fur coat you have ever seen? It is very heavy and quite thick, to ward off the cold and it was custom tailored by some Russian Eskimo friends of mine to fit me to a tee. I tried it on and it still fits, although it’s a little tight in the middle, but that’s just old age creeping up on me...nothing more. Moreover, here’s my old trusted walking stick. Isn't it a fine one Louis? Look at that well crafted handle. I carved it myself, while on my travels.”
“It sure is a fine one Mr. Beamer.”
“The crest of the walking stick is made of walrus tusk. I carved it into the likeness of the head of a great and famous cave bear that guards the southern most “Nanulak Passage”, through the “Ingnok Mountains”, at the North Pole.
“You know a famous cave-bear?”
“Yes his name is “Growlar”. Have you ever heard of this ancient cave bear Louis?”
“No. He sounds scary. Just that name alone...”
“He is! Now look at the head of the walking stick very carefully, for this is what he looks like. He is just a terrifying looking beast. And this is no normal cave-bear Louis, no not in the least.”
Louis was just dumbfounded and appeared to be in a trance after hearing all that Mr. Beamer had just said. Mr. Beamer was the best storyteller that Louis had ever heard before and by looking at the all marvels now laid out before him, Louis just could not wait to hear another story. Especially if was about a ferocious cave bear.
Louis pulled his baseball cap a little tighter down over his bright red hair, opened his sparkling blue eyes a little wider and leaned back into the rocking chair to get as comfortable as he could, because Mr. Beamer’s eyes were now shining like that of a wizened and much younger man.
“This bear is the most dangerous and largest cave-bear to have ever prowled the face of the earth...past or present. He is half polar bear and half grizzly bear. This is a true feisty mix of bear, if there ever was before. His name again, is “GROWLAR the Cave Bear” and don’t you forget it Louis.
I had the misfortune to have him cross my path once and the lucky fortune to outwit him, when I traversed the southern “Nanulak Passage”...all those years ago. This secret mountain passage is where you travel out of the farthest tip of Russia above Canada and into the great northern most reaches of the North Pole. I did not want to tell you about Growlar, when I told you and the other children my tails last year of going to the North Pole, because I did not want to scare...the small animals...and the impressionable young ones...that were present that night; but be forewarned. He is the meanest and nastiest bear, the world has ever seen or known before.”
Louis leaned farther back in his rocking chair and took in a long deep breath of cool air; all the while, trying to image what Growlar looked like.
“Growlar has this gigantic rocky den, right at foot of the highest passage through the northern mountains and he alone, guards the only safe way by land to the North Pole. The only sure-fire way to get by him and through the passage is to be extra quite and hope he is hibernating. However, if by happenstance he is awake, then he will want to play a game with you, but in reality it is no game at all, because if you lose this particular game...you will also...lose your life! So be prepared to outwit him or pray that you die a quick death! The death would be by one swift, deadly bite. You are so small Louis that he would just swallow you whole.”