MsCharlotte's Stuff: Christmas

Chapter 15: The Drinking Contest

The Pigwidgen could scarely believe it. While he had eaten five roast pigs leaving only the bones, Claus had managed his five roast pigs, bones, tails and all.

"I have won the contest," said Claus. "You must now lift the curse."

"No, no!" cried the Pigwidgen. "There must be a drinking contest. If you can drink more than I, perhaps I will lift the curse."

He rushed out to the great hall and ordered the pygmies to bring two urns of chocolate milk. The urns were so large and so heavy it took 15 pygmies to carry each one. They set them on a cloth-covered table and went off to get the milk.

While they were gone Claus said, "Before we begin I would like to step outside for a breath of air."

"By all means," agreed the Pigwidgen. "Take your time."

Claus went out with Tweedleknees. He told the elf that it was the fire and not he that ate up all the roast pigs. "But how can I drink so large an urn of milk!" he groaned.

"Drink what you can and do not worry," said the elf. "I shall use my wits as you advised and I am sure I will think of something."

The elf scurried back to the castle and left Claus walking gloomily by the lake. Meanwhile, the Pigwidgen had been busy. While Claus was away the little creature secretly inserted seven hot water bottles beneath his shirt. Then he called for the contest to begin.

Claus sat at one end of the cloth-covered table and the Pigwidgen sat at the other end. Patrick Tweedleknees was nowhere to be seen.

"Where could he be?" wondered Claus anxiously. "If ever wits were needed it is now!" He thought he might somehow dump out his milk if only the elf were there to distract the Pigwidgen's attention.

The two great urns were filled with foaming chocolate milk. They were too heavy and brimming to lift from the table. The only way to drink was through large rubber straws.

"Begin!" ordered the Pigwidgen.

Once more Claus looked around for Tweedleknees. The elf was gone. There was nothing to do but drink. He bent over his urn and sucked desperately on his straw. He drank and drank and drank. Slowly the milk went down until half the urn was empty.

Try as he would Claus could not swallow another drop. He sank back in his chair and gasped. "I am done."

The Pigwidgen bent over his own urn and made mighty sucking noises. Actually the end of straw led to the seven hot water bottles under his shirt and not to his mouth at all.

The milk flowed from the urn until all the hot water bottles were full but when the Pigwidgen looked up the urn was still full. The Pigwidgen blinked in surprise. He began to drink the milk himself. He sucked and he huffed and he puffed and he swallowed and he gasped and still the urn was full.

The Pigwidgen's face turned blue and his stomach swelled. Suddenly there was an awful explosion. The seven hot water bottles burst open and spattered chocolate milk all over the table.

The Pigwidgen stared popeyed at his urn still brimming with milk. Claus leaped to his feet crying, "I have won!"