The Life Story Of Santa Claus

copyright Bryan Griffin 1989 email...bryan at bryangriffin.info

The Storm

Long, long ago, in a tiny village on the shores of the Baltic sea, a fisherman and his wife lived in a simple stone cottage with their two children, Nicholas a boy of five and his baby sister Kathy.       One afternoon, as Nicholas sat by the window carving a small piece of driftwood, he watched the fury of the storm clouds building. In the distance he could hear the roar of the waves breaking on the shore and his thoughts were for his father who must be being tossed about in his frail fishing boat. It was not long before Nicholas could no longer hear the waves above the rattle of wild hailstones hammering at the window panes. It was growing dark as Nicholas asked in a concerned voice, "Mother, do you think father will be safe out there?" He received no answer. His mother was too busy looking after baby Kathy who was lying in her cot tossing feverishly. Eventually she rose from beside the cot and with a worried look on her face confided in Nicholas.       "Your sister's fever is becoming worse and I can't wait for your father any longer. Nicholas, I want you to stay by Kathy and wipe her forehead with this damp cloth. Oh, and make sure she stays covered. I'll be as quick as I can." she said patting Nicholas' head absentmindedly. After putting on her long overcoat she hurried out into the cold, wild, black night, a flurry of snowflakes rushing in through the door as she left.       Patiently, Nicholas watched Kathy for many hours until she stopped pushing the covers aside and her face became white and her hot little forehead grew cooler to his touch. As the ashes in the fire turned from black to grey Nicholas' head nodded and he fell asleep on the floor beside the cot.       That was the way the villagers found him next morning when they brought the sad news that his father had been drowned in the storm. To make things even worse they also had to tell him that his poor mother had been killed by a tree falling on her on the way to fetch the doctor. Now of the once happy family of four, there was only Nicholas. He was an orphan. Return to index To next chapter Statcounter