MsCharlotte's Stuff: Christmas

Chapter 13: The Pigwidgen

The pygmies stared at Patrick Tweedleknees.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?" they demanded.

The elf glared back but he had never been so scared. He could not imagine how he had found the courage to face the fierce pygmies.

He saw the reindeer flying overhead. They rose and dipped, round and round, like horses on a merry-go-round.

"You said you were going to have reindeer meat for supper," growled Tweedleknees.

"And why not?" demanded the pygmies.

"You ought to be ashamed!" exploded the elf.

The pygmies burst into laughter. "Very well! We'll have elf meat instead!"

They pounced on Tweedleknees. He twisted and writhed and bit and clawed and wormed out of their hands. He snatched up a sword and threatened the pygmies.

"You are a wild one!" a pygmy said admiringly. "We'll take you to our king."

"And who is your king?" asked someone. It was Claus. Unseen he had come into their midst.

"The Pigwidgen," said the pygmy. "The most powerful creature on earth."

Claus' knees shook. He wondered how he could conquer creatures who die and then come back to life.

He tried to speak but before he could find his voice Patrick Tweedleknees said grandly, "Claus is more powerful than your old king!"

"Oh ho!" shouted the pygmies. "We shall see!"

They seized Claus and Tweedleknees and carried them off to the castle. "We will eat while we wait for the king," they announced.

Tweedleknees wondered if they meant to have him for dinner but the pygmies bent over a tiny pot of stew. They filled their bowls and ate greedily. The pot was so small Claus could not understand how it could feed so many.

He leaned over the pot. To his surprise he saw it was as full as it had been at the start. The pygmies had seconds and thirds and fourths and all the time the pot stayed full.

"Does the pot ever empty?" asked Claus.

"Never," boasted a pygmy. "If you are so powerful surely you have such a pot, too."

Claus shook his head and Tweedleknees exclaimed, "He could have if he wanted but it so happens he does not care for stew."

"What then does the great Claus like?" aske the pygmies with interest.

Claus turned on Tweedleknees. "Say no more!" he begged, for he knew not what awful boast the elf might make.

But Tweedleknees would not be quiet. "He likes roast pig!" he blurted. "And he can eat more than you or your old Pigwidgen can any time of day!"

At that moment the castle door slammed and the Pigwidgen himself entered the hall.