Woodsterman Gets a Call from Santa ~ Part III ~ by Skip

Arriving at the North Pole was like stepping into the set of every Christmas fantasy movie ever made. There were snow-covered roofs, candy cane lampposts, and gingerbread cookies stacked taller than his house. But there was no time for sightseeing.

Inside the workshop, elves were buzzing with frantic energy. Some were pulling wooden blocks from shelves, while others carved, sanded, and painted them into shapes that would soon become holiday toys. There were wooden dolls, toy trains, rocking horses, and intricate puzzle boxes—every toy you could imagine, all made by hand with skill and precision. The noise was a symphony of saws, hammers, and cheerful chatter.

Santa led Woodsterman to a workbench where a large pile of uncarved wooden blocks sat.

“Here you go, Woodsterman. Your mission: make wooden toys that will dazzle and delight children all over the world. And, uh, try to keep up with the elves!”

As Woodsterman got to work, he couldn’t help but notice the elves’ strange, yet somehow charming, eating habits. Tinsel, an elf with glasses too big for his face, popped over to Woodsterman’s bench, offering him a gingerbread cookie the size of a dinner plate.

“We’re fueled by sugar and holiday cheer!” Tinsel grinned, his cheeks rosy from the heat of the furnace. “Gingerbread, peppermint bark, cocoa—don’t forget the candy canes. Oh, and reindeer chow. It’s the only thing that keeps us going when we’re running on fumes.”

“Reindeer chow?” Woodsterman asked, confused.

“Basically, it’s just magical protein powder,” Tinsel explained, shrugging. “Don’t ask questions, just eat. It’s the secret to elf stamina.”

The longer Woodsterman worked, the more he began to admire the elves' unshakable enthusiasm. Despite the long hours, their creativity seemed boundless. Elves worked in synchronized chaos, their hands moving like clockwork, expertly crafting everything from wooden toy trains to elaborate puzzles and dolls with perfectly stitched clothes. Every single toy was made with painstaking attention to detail.

“Don’t worry about being perfect,” Tinsel advised between bites of a giant candy cane. “The magic comes from the love and joy we put into the toys. Oh, and don’t skimp on the glitter. You can never have too much glitter.”

After several hours of nonstop work, Woodsterman realized that time at the North Pole worked differently. Here, there was no such thing as “overtime”—it was just one endless, merry workday. Elves were always on their feet, moving in tight quarters, but somehow still managing to keep their spirits high, no matter how many toys needed to be made.

“Keep those wooden blocks coming, Woodsterman!” shouted Sparkle, a particularly energetic elf, her green hair flying as she hurried past with a tray of freshly-baked cookies.

Woodsterman was starting to get the hang of it—sawing, sanding, and even carving intricate designs on the toys. Yet, despite the elf-driven chaos, there was a sense of community. The way the elves cheered each other on, collaborated, and found time for quick cookie breaks made it clear that this was more than just work. It was holiday magic.

Santa inspecting Wood Toys I made 

“Well done, Woodsterman,” Santa said, patting him on the back. “We couldn’t have done it without you! You’ve got the right stuff.”

Woodsterman grinned, wiping the sawdust from his clothes. “I don’t know how you do it, Santa. This place runs on an insane amount of cookies... and creativity.”

Santa laughed heartily. “Exactly! And remember, Woodsterman—holiday spirit isn’t just about giving gifts. It’s about making magic, together.”

It was the kind of place where, no matter how long the hours or how tight the quarters, the jolly magic of the season never faded. And, as for Woodsterman? He was already looking forward to next year, when the elves would no doubt need his help again—and maybe a few extra cookies.

“Next time,” he muttered to himself, “I’ll bring my own reindeer chow.”

Thanks Skip!

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