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Once upon a time - not long ago or far away - lived twenty-five political
elves and a handsome (more of a frog really - but for the sake of the
story, handsome) Mayor. And they lived in a beautiful glass palace,
designed by the most famous architect in the land, which stood glistening
on the banks of Old River Thames.
And everyone in the land loved The Mayor and his elves.
The people had believed that when the Mayor came to power he would bring
light and goodness to their darkened and difficult land. They believed
that he would solve the problems that beset them as they tried their
hardest to survive against the grinding, bleak reality of their daily
life. The streets were dark and dangerous. Vicious criminals lurked in
corners waiting to pounce on unsuspecting victims. The streets were
filthy. Travel was well nigh impossible - particularly underground, where
human beings were packed like cattle being taken to market. Life was grim
in old London Town.
At the same time, there was another force in the land. This was an even
more powerful force - which ruled over many lands with an iron grip,
controlling everything that went on in every single household in the land.
This ruling council was led by a strong-willed young prince who would not
listen to his advisors or his people.
Years before, the Mayor had been a member of this ruling council - but
they had cast him out as a traitor and a villain. The Mayor was sad. He
felt friendless and alone and wanted so desperately to be back in the fold
that he would do anything they demanded of him. He even let them take away
all the wealth from his people and use it for their own diabolical ends in
far flung regions of the North.
As the snow fell on Christmas Eve, a great darkness swept through the
Mayor's domain and a great silence fell on the City. Everything stopped.
The people were afraid, for they did not know what had happened. They
could not see. They could not get home to their families for their Xmas
Eve cheer. It was cold and dark. In their hour of need - they cried out to
the Mayor, "Save us! Save us!" But where was the Mayor?
The Mayor was nowhere to be found. "The Mayor is missing": the cry went
out across the snowy landscape. The twenty-five political elves, who
nobody took much notice of as a rule, held an emergency meeting to decide
what should be done in his absence. But they couldn't agree amongst
themselves.
The little red elves all did as they were told by the ruling council. The
little blue elves didn't want to find him anyway. The little green elves
didn't even turn up to the meeting. And the golden elves flew all across
the land delivering leaflets asking people if they'd seen the Mayor.
But where was the Mayor? Well, a sad fate had befallen him. He had turned
to solid ice on the steps of a very nice house at 10 Downing Street,
London - where he had been knocking for many hours begging to be let in.
In fact, as a reminder to future Mayors who failed to be there for their
citizens, he was placed on a vacant plinth in Trafalgar Square for all to
see.
And the people, in their hour of need, came out onto the streets in their
thousands, and turned to each other for comfort and warmth - and as they
did so, they joined hands and a great force was created that breathed life
into the City. And the lights shone out. And there was much rejoicing in
the land as the old order died. And peace and good will and prosperity
returned to the people.
And I'm the Christmas Fairy!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
(c) Lynne Featherstone, 2003
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The twenty-five political elves, who nobody took much notice of as a rule, held an emergency meeting to decide what should be done.
