A New Era in the Christmas Workshop
“This year, everything is running like clockwork.” Victor leaned back, sipped his hot chocolate, and admired the new wonder machine. The Amazing Inventor 3000 was simply incredible.
“Will we make it in time for Christmas?”, one of the Christmas elves asked curiously.
“Even better.” Victor laughed. “The toys are as good as finished, and we can even put our feet up before things get started. I just enter the children’s names, birthdays, and preferences, and the most beautiful toys are created. The days of rushing hectically around the workshop before Christmas are finally over.”
“But wasn’t that nice too?” Geoffry asked. “Don’t get me wrong. I think the new machine is great, but somehow I miss your clipboard and that thrilling feeling of crafting each toy by hand for every child.”
“Nonsense. You yourself told me last year that we should try something new. And that’s exactly what I did.” Victor smiled blissfully and turned back to the Amazing Inventor 3000.
Geoffry sighed. Was this really such a good idea? Victor was utterly in love with the new machine. But Geoffry didn’t want to worry about the Head Elf any further. After all, Matti was visiting today. Geoffry ran out of the workshop into the courtyard of Christmas Town at the North Pole. The silver glittering snow crunched under his thick winter boots as he dashed across the square to the reindeer stable.
“Is Matti here yet?” he asked the stable elf.
“Not yet. But he should be on his way.”
Geoffry was already excited. The two friends hadn’t seen each other since last winter. Matti had spent most of the year at school, and in the summer, he and his siblings often went to the mountains with their parents to visit their grandparents. But now it was time for a reunion. Geoffry had sent his favorite reindeer to pick Matti up. Moments later, he heard the familiar crackling in the air, and soon the sleigh, with Matti aboard, zipped through the open barn door.
“Matti! You’re finally here!” Geoffry ran to the sleigh, and the two immediately hugged each other. Who would have thought that a Christmas elf and a human boy could become such good friends?
“Edgar is the best reindeer of all times,” Matti gushed as he hopped off the sleigh. “I waited until my parents were in bed, and just as I was heading out to the meeting spot, I saw him already waiting for me in front of the balcony. And the flight was amazing—over the lake, past the mountain peaks, almost up to the stars.”
“Glad you had fun,” Geoffry laughed.
“So much!” Matti beamed. He wore the elf hat that Geoffry had given him as a gift. “What are we doing now?” he asked. “Making toys? Wrapping gifts? Planning new strategies?” He winked at Geoffry, who also grinned as he thought back to last Christmas.
“There’s actually not much to do,” Geoffry shrugged. “We have a new toy machine. It handles most of the work.”
“Hmm, too bad.” Matti thought for a moment. “Can I see the machine? Can it make really cool stuffed animals? My friend Jonah has a deer with huge antlers. I think his grandma made it. I’d love to have one like that.”
“Of course you can take a look. But I’m not sure about the deer,” Geoffry replied.
Together, they returned to the Christmas workshop, and Head Elf Victor proudly demonstrated all the features of his new favorite toy.
The Challenge Emerges
“And these are the stuffed animals you give to the children?” Matti lifted a small, blue plush bear and then a giraffe with a flowing plush mane.
“Nice, aren’t they?” Victor held his cookie-filled belly and looked at Matti expectantly.
“Uh, well…” Matti didn’t really know what to say. There wasn’t a cuddly twelve-ender in sight. Finally, he decided to tell the truth. “They all kind of look the same, don’t you think?”
“What do you mean? A bear and a giraffe don’t look the same,” Victor shook his head, but Geoffry now looked more closely at the stuffed animals too.
“The faces. They all have exactly the same expression,” Matti explained, and Geoffry nodded in agreement.
Victor didn’t seem convinced yet. “Nonsense. That’s ridiculous. One is small and blue, and the other is long and yellow.”
“But the faces look the same.” Geoffry held the two animals up to the Head Elf’s nose.
Victor blinked a little and then let out a sigh as he sank into a chair. “Do you think the children will notice?” he asked, dejected, though he already knew the answer. Matti simply raised an eyebrow. Then he told Victor about his idea for the stuffed deer, but the Head Elf just shook his head. “The machine can’t make something so intricate. You need a delicate touch for that, and only elves—or humans—have that.” He smiled.
“We’ll figure it out,” Geoffry said quickly. He ran to the kitchen and brought Victor a second mug of steaming cocoa. The Head Elf nodded gratefully. But he didn’t look happy anymore.
Matti and Geoffry retreated to the gingerbread bakery to discuss their next steps. It was the best place to think—and, occasionally, to snack.
“First, we need someone with new ideas. Someone who can give the stuffed animals unique faces,” Matti pondered.
Geoffry nodded. “And the toy cars don’t look any better. They’re all the same shape. Sure, they’re different colors and sizes, but that won’t work in the long run either.”
The friends brainstormed until Geoffry suddenly shouted, “Old Nick! Why didn’t I think of him sooner? He can help us!”
“Who’s that?” Matti asked.
“He was the Head Elf before Victor took the job. Nick was the most talented toymaker in all of Christmas Land. He had the best ideas. If a child had a special request, he’d come up with something.”
“And what happened to him? Why would they let such talent go?”
Geoffry shrugged. “Maybe he just wanted to retire. I don’t really know.”
“And where is he now?” Matti asked.
“I heard he lives out in the Crystal Forest. All alone and abandoned. But that’s just a story they tell the younger elves. I can’t say for sure if it’s true.”
Matti grinned broadly. “Then there’s only one solution. Let’s find out!”
Geoffry nodded in agreement. “Let’s go!”
The two friends dashed out of the gingerbread bakery and hopped into the sleigh. Edgar lifted his head in surprise; he clearly hadn’t expected another task today. It was already getting dark. Luckily, Edgar knew everyone and everything, and after a short flight, Geoffry and Matti landed in front of a small cabin nestled cozily beneath snow-covered pine branches in the middle of the Crystal Forest. A chimney puffed smoke, and light from the windows illuminated a narrow path that wound through the front yard.
Geoffry knocked confidently on the wooden door. Inside, they heard creaking and soon the sound of footsteps in the hallway.
“Who are you?” asked the old Christmas elf, peering curiously at them through his round glasses.
“We’re from the workshop,” Geoffry said, bowing awkwardly, and Nick laughed so heartily that his long gray beard shook.
“Come in,” he said, stepping aside.
Over spiced cookies and hot punch, Geoffry and Matti told the whole story. Nick groaned. “Oh dear,” he said, shaking his head.
“We need new ideas and someone to bring them to life. Victor has completely relied on the Amazing Inventor 3000. That was bound to fail.” Matti looked pleadingly at old Nick. “Maybe we could make a stuffed deer. With huge antlers. What do you think?”
“I’ve got ideas,” Nick grinned, “but we don’t have enough time. The toys still need to be made. We’ll never finish by Christmas. And a deer like that takes far too long.”
“We have to at least try,” Geoffry decided resolutely.
The three climbed into the sleigh, and Edgar soared into the night sky.
Back at the workshop, they got to work immediately. The other elves were, of course, eager to join, and together they sawed, sewed, hammered, and glued. The most beautiful toys Matti had ever seen came to life. Every child would surely love them.
But as hard as they worked, time ran out. They finally had to admit they’d never finish all the gifts by Christmas. It was hopeless.
“That’s it,” Victor said despondently.
But Geoffry and Matti weren’t ready to give up so easily. They retreated once more to the gingerbread bakery to think.
Saving Christmas Together
“I think I’ve got it,” Geoffry finally said. “The new wonder machine works. We just have to make sure it implements Nick’s ideas properly. It’s not enough to just input names, birthdays, and so on. I think if we read the manual, we can figure it out. As far as I know, that thing can do a lot; you just have to use it right.”
“Of course! That’s it! That’s how we’ll save Christmas!” Matti clapped his friend on the shoulder.
Hand in hand, they got to work. Old Nick provided the ideas and handled the initial steps, Geoffry and Matti diligently fed the Amazing Inventor 3000 with blueprints, and Victor excitedly sipped one hot chocolate after another.
And it worked! The new wonder machine refined the gifts here and there, and the final results were truly impressive. Just in time for Christmas, every child received a gift perfectly suited to them—each one unique, just like the children themselves.
At home under the Christmas tree, Matti eagerly opened his package. Inside was a small stuffed deer with a magnificent set of antlers. Matti beamed with joy. At the bottom of the box, he found a card:
This is the first stuffed animal I’ve ever sewn. Without a magic machine. Best, Nick
We hope you enjoyed the Datentreiber Christmas Story.
Have a wonderful Christmas to you and your families, and a Happy New Year from the whole Datentreiber team.
Thank you for your support and trust.
