Late in the season at the North Pole, the city was bustling with the fast approaching holiday. Elves and reindeer everywhere hurried with last minute details. It is the craziest but most wonderful time of the year and every one works hard to do their part.

As was the case with two of Santa’s funniest little elves, Wilson and TJ Artifacts. The brothers had spent the last 237 years working in the North Pole’s "museum," as the other elves affectionately referred to it. The museum is the green striped building on LaFontaine Drive just to the left of the gift wrapping center, where the toys of Christmas past are kept. Toys that are no longer requested by children, but hold a special place in the history of the holiday. It features all of the classics; Yo-yos, Big Wheels, Raggedy Ann …

The brother elves, that received their last name from the job they held, were approached earlier in the year by the mighty commander himself… the head elf, James.

"TJ… Wilson!" he echoed through the building as he tripped over fallen Hula-hoops. "Its time to mix things up a bit. Ya gotta be a little more diversified, Artie," as he often called the boys for short. "You’re being promoted."

The elves grinned as a twinkle glimmered in their blue eyes.

"I’m giving you the opportunity to try something different. This season you will be moved to the Snow Globe Room."

Wilson was overcome with pride, while TJ twisted in his red turned up shoes. This job was very important, and held the present fate of each little boy and girl. James took the boys out for a cup of Choco Royal Cocoa, a special chocolaty blend that the beautiful dark haired elf Kaberle’s prepares with a secret ingredient (a touch of Magnolia leaf) James explained to the boys the details of their new assignment. Specifically they were to help keep the ‘belief’ alive in the children who were starting to waiver. TJ began to sweat in his museum uniform… was it all the pressure of his new job, or just the cocoa… it was hard to say.

The brothers went right to work in their new position. They spotted the children who were starting to lose their faith and took the necessary actions to help them continue to believe in the miracle that is Christmas. They went on special missions to visit doubtful children, sent Santa to Christmas parties, and occasionally surprised them with little bits of magic that could only be explained by the spirit of the holiday. Wilson and TJ were becoming quite proficient in their new role and loved having something new in their own lives. TJ even found himself becoming rather comfortable with the heavy responsibly.

By Christmas Eve, the elves had accomplished all of their assignments. They had kept the dream alive for so many children. Everyone was pleased. Santa’s sleigh had been packed, the reindeer readied and the bustle had slowed to a quiet heavy sigh, as everyone had pulled off one more successful Christmas.

The launch was next as the flight tower prepared and everyone gathered in the center of town.

As they were closing up the Snow Globe Room, TJ ran back for his elf hat he had set tirelessly on his desk. As he pulled it off the edge a sheet of paper with a small boy’s photo on it blew to the candy cane swirled floor. TJ stopped. He read through the boy’s sheet as his heart dropped and he began to sweat yet again…

"Wilson!" he yelled as he darted from the room after his brother.

Wilson took the sheet and read through it quickly. He stared at his brother in disbelief.

"We missed one," TJ said with great concern.

Elliot was a 6 yr old boy living in a town called Carson. A small town that was divided by poverty as well as great wealth. A town that looked like it fell out of a Charles Dickens novel. Half the population had barely enough food to eat, while the other lived like kings.

Elliot’s family was poor, and moved often, usually living with other families, and on most days, Elliot was lost in the shuffle of their lives. Elliot felt as though he just never fit in. He was a misfit of sorts. In a world of robots, and video games, all Elliot ever dreamed of being was a cowboy. He spent his days in dusty blue jeans, a poncho and a cowboy hat that was quickly becoming too small for him. Elliot was a good cowboy… with nowhere that he belonged.

Elliot had never once received a Christmas present. Not a true present that is. Nothing he ever believed came from the jolly elf known as Santa Claus.

Presents he had received in Christmas past he knew were donated to his family by other people, and on one occasion he remembers his mother making him a reindeer hat. It would be accurate to say that Elliot’s belief in the magic of Christmas was not wavering… it was all but gone.

"We have to help him believe," TJ told his brother.

"But how? The sleigh is packed… it will leave any minute now."

The elves gazed at the picture of the little boy who dreamed of being a cowboy, and in one moment, their connected thoughts shifted to the perfect toy for this particular little boy.

They dashed to the Christmas Toy Museum! Wilson rifled through the xylophones, moved aside a Charlie in The Box and found what they were looking for! They stared for a moment at the perfect gift, turned to each other and smiled with certainty. They grabbed the present and darted for the Reindeer Barn as fast as their two small legs would carry them!

"The team is gone!" Wilson exclaimed to TJ as they ran.

TJ uncovered the rusty old machine Santa had attempted to travel with in the 1980’s, but like much that came from that decade it was loud and shiny, but did not last. TJ jumped in and played with the buttons. "That thing only runs on diesel," Wilson told him, something that the North Pole had been without for years. "We need something fast if we’re going to give this kid a Christmas."

Wilson suddenly spun around, "Who’s the fastest little buck in the herd?" his voice with great excitement!

TJ thought for a moment, "that light colored little guy, with the white on his face…"

"Sundeen!" They yelled together, as TJ leapt from the old rig and together they dashed for the Reindeer Game Lounge!

Sundeen was the fastest reindeer on record. In fact he was so fast that Santa could not use him… the other reindeer couldn’t keep up. He was quickly bridled and the elves climbed aboard. Wilson was the captain at the reins while TJ held tight to the boy’s gift.

They arrived in Carson as the whole town slept, undoubtedly with sugar plum dreams. They found the house on Dunny Road, parked their reindeer and peeked in through the window. The small boy was fast asleep in his tiny little bed.

Wilson pushed the window open as his brother squeezed through the small opening. His small elf sized Hanes underpants got caught on the window though and he was stuck! He twisted, and turned, and finally, with one good move his waistband ripped! The Elf shot through the room like a rocket, arms outstretched, he smashed into the wall with a thud and he dropped the present. The boy sat up in his bed… TJ slid down the wall. As he lay on the floor, he opened his eyes, reached up and straightened out his nose, and saw the wide eyed boy starring at him from the foot of his bed.

"Santa?" the boy asked.

Wilson watched silently from the window as TJ scrambled to his feet. In all the reassurance they had offered this season in their new job, he had never actually spoken to a child before. He was frozen only for a moment before quickly ushering the boy back into his bed.

"No child," he said quietly.

He tucked him in snuggly, then went back for the gift. Whispering up close to the boys ear so only he would hear, he said, "I know you aren’t sure what to believe in… but Elliot, there is a Santa Claus." and he tucked the stick horse in bed beside him. "Believe in the magic of Christmas. And listen to me Mr. - remember me - always…"

The boy glanced down at his toy, grinned a wide smile and looked back up at the elf… but he was gone. TJ had snuck back out the window and as quickly as they could, he, Wilson and Sundeen were on their way back to the North Pole.

The flight tower had seen these three leave the enchanted city earlier in the evening and word had spread quickly of the great lengths they had gone to to secure one little boys belief in the spirit of Christmas. When they arrived home the city was deafening with the cheers of the other elves who welcomed them back the way they always did for Santa himself.

They ran to the Snow Globe Room just as the sun was rising in Carson and young Elliot was opening his eyes. They all watched together as the boy smiled once again at his toy and hugged it closely. Then he noticed the package at the foot of his bed. Wilson and TJ were equally surprised! The little boy crawled to the edge of his bed and read the note attached to the top of the package;