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We find more than we bargained for and even feel forced to tell the truth -o*
Jordana couldn't quite manage to be polite to me. And I must admit that I wasn't quite sure what
to say to here either. So we just sat there listening to Johnny doing his very best to charm Santa Claus.
Which actually
wasn't at all difficult for my charming man *O*
Luckily - although I didn't see it like that at first - Jordana wanted
to charm Johnny in return and suddenly and rudely interrupted Santa with the question "Have you ever seen such a fine jewel,
dear Johnny?" Then added as an afterthought "Santie here gave me that ... Isn't it just gorgeous?"
And the Spirit of Christmas
really is gorgeous. But it was the dowdy belt made of twined rope and wooden beads looking very 70s-ish it was attached to
that made me catch my breath and grab Johnny's arm almost spoiling the whole thing then and there.
I got only saved not
by any bell but by the sweet Legolas who came over and asked Jordana if she'ld care to dance. ... the little chit had enough
sense to pout and look appealing at Johnny - prefering him to the poor young bloke *O*
But somehow - I am not sure how
- Johnny and I between us managed to get them to go downstairs and dance. ... I even noticed that Santa looked somewhat relieved
when she left - the love between them was clearly not so hot as we had thought.
While Jordana got up and left I whispered
excitedly to Johnny "That belt the jewel is attached to - it is MUMSY'S !!! The one she lend Grandie Hera back when old Achilles
pouted in front of Troy and - and ... Ups?"
That "Ups?" I clucked because Santa had clearly heard what I said - he must
have very sharp ears for a man his age *O* - and now look with narrowed eyes from one to another.
Now if I remember correctly
one of Johnny's characters once said something to the effect of 'telling the truth is a very bad habit to get into' - it also
sounds like an Oscar Wilde quote to me - but now my sweet sweetie sat himself down again with a sigh, asked if he was allowed
to smoke and when he was went on to explain why we were there and that we hoped to leave with the Spirit of Christmas - and
Santa too if he wanted.
"And Mumsy's belt!" I added. But then shut my beak. No matter what Johnny so very sweetly claims
I don't have his charm and way with people and so left the 'negotiations' to my sweetie.
Santa thought about the whole
story for a bit nodding to himself. He didn't look at all mad - more a little sad - and I could feel Johnny relax a bit beside
me.
"Aphrodite's belt" Santa mused out loud. "Well, that certainly explain why I at one hand know very well that Jordana
and I doesn't fit together like - like you two kids for eksample - while I on the other hand can't keep away from her"
Here
Santa buried his face in his hands and sat like that for a little while while Johnny and I kept quiet. Then all of a sudden
he looked up not looking so grandfatherly and nice as he normal do.
"If I had known back in Myra that there'ld be so much
trouble I wouldn't have help those girls - or the sailors Poseidon wanted drowned!" Santa said hammering his fist in the table
making the glasses and such jump.
"M-myra?" Johnny asked - looking first quite scared but then when his great curiosity
kicked in added "What girls - and what sailors, sir?"
So Santa told us that back when the Roman emperor Constantine
around the year 325 BC had decided that Christianity was to be the empire's official religion there was of course no need
for Saturn and the saturnalia so Santa - having had a tremendous row with his wife Rhea about the situation too - left Rome
in high dungeon and settled in a smallish town called Myra - in what was then Greek speak territory. Where he a bit later
got elected as Christian bishop ...
"A weird situation for an old fertility god, right" Santa smiled.
Then continued
"But there I was able to do some good so I tried. Like giving money to young girls so they could get married. At the time
the woman had to come with money - a dowry - in order to get a man to marry her. ... crazy custom! Like she wasn't anything
worth on her own! ... but these poor girls had no dowry money so I gave them some. And then I saved those sailor Neptune -
your uncle Poseidon, that is - grumpy old guy ... But I got those sailors the god of the sea lord Poseidon/Neptune/what ever
- wanted to drown because they didn't believe in him anymore safely back at the shore. ... What is it with him anyway? The
world moves on, doesn't it! But such friendly deeds were apparently so unusual that the good people running the church back
then made me a saint after my 'dead' Imagine that ..."
"So - Santa Claus should really be saint Claus?" Johnny asked. Then with a frown said "No, that
can't be right! Claus doesn't sound Greek ..."
"No, sweetie" I smiled "It's Nicholas. It was much later that saint Nicholas
got changed into Santa Claus. In the Netherlands, right? And then the Dutch took that with them to New York - back when that
town were still called New Amsterdam, I think. Yes. ... but - people still need saving from the - waves of life. And other
kind of help. Please, Santa ... Even if you don't want to go on as 'Santa Claus' - could you not help us get the Spirit of
Christmas back from Jordana? If I am right and she is gonna give it to Loke later ... He is not your typically evil god -
but he ain't nice either and he could use the jewel to do mischief, couldn't he?"
"He could" Santa said slowly "Love can
always be turned to hate. And such a powerful thing can do much trouble in the wrong hands. Plus you say she has Aphrodite's
Belt of Love which can be used to seduce any number of people into doing this and that and - and ... Well, just look
how such an old hand as me fell for it hook, line and the kitchen sink!"
Johnny opened his lovely lips to tell Santa it
was only "hook, line and 'sink'" but I shook my head at him and we let Santa stew for a moment in peace.
Then suddenly
he hit the table again and said forcefully "I want to get to the bottom of this! NOW! Let's go and find the little ..... lady
and find out if you are right, young Miss Meeps! ... no wonder I felt dizzy and strange and ... That silly Aphrodite should
keep her 'gear' more under control so not every little chick can run around and - and ... Well - O.K. ... I admit that I am
of course not quite an innocent in this matter. If I haven't been so .. unhappy with everything I wouldn't have succumb so
easily. I wanted to do something I knew would hurt Rhea ... That was one of the reason for running around and playing a teenagers
with Jordana. You were attracted to her, dear boy. But didn't leave Meeps because of that"
"No, but she might leave me
because of it" Johnny said half in jest half nervous. But I just shook my head and then kissed the beaming boy.
"Right!"
Johnny said - perhaps feeling twice the man -o* "Let's get going. And yes, I will try to get the belt from Jordana, Meepsie
sweet. Try, mind you ... But try with all my little might"
So we all three got up and moved towards the door leading out
onto the stairs.
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