the polar express

The train was wrapped in an apron of steam. Snowflakes fell lightly around it. A conductor stood at the open door of one of the cars. He took a large pocket watch from his vest. "All aboard!" the conductor cried out. "Well," he said, "are you coming?" "Where?" we asked. "Why, to the North Pole of course," was his answer. "This is the Polar Express." We took his outstretched hand and he pulled us aboard.

Waiting for our 5:30 p.m. departure to The North Pole.

Complete with elves and all. This elf, Peanut, asked us all what we wanted for Christmas, jotted it down, and promised to pass it along to Santa.

The conductor punches our tickets.

The train was filled with other children, most in their pajamas and nightgowns. We sang Christmas carols and ate chocolate chip cookies. We drank hot chocolate as thick and rich as melted chocolate bars.

Outside, the lights of towns and villages flickered in the distance as the Polar Express raced Northward. We traveled through cold, dark forests, where lean wolves roamed and white tailed rabbits hid from our train as it thundered through the quiet wilderness.

As we climbed mountains so high it seemed as if we would scrape the moon, we read one of our favorite Christmastime stories - The Polar Express.

Finally arriving at The North Pole, Santa boarded our train. He marched over to us, and pointing to Adam said, "Let's have this little fellow here. Now what would you like for Christmas?"

Adam knew he could have any gift he could imagine. But the thing he wanted most was not inside Santa's giant bag. What he wanted more than anything was one silver bell from Santa's sleigh. He gave Adam a hug and told the elf to cut a bell from a reindeer's harness. Santa stood, holding it above him, and called out, "The first gift of Christmas!" then he handed it to Adam.

Soon the train gave a sudden lurch and started moving again. We were on our way home.

Our journey had come to an end. When the train reached the station, we sadly left the other children. We stood and waved good-bye. The conductor cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, "MERRY CHRISTMAS!" The Polar Express let out a loud blast from its whistle and sped away into the dark polar night.