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“Are you sure it’s the Christmas star Mango?” asked Sherbet.

“I’m not sure but I think so! It’s too bright not to be” he shrugged.

Just then they heard a crash! They looked up and to their amazement they saw Santa Clause! His sleigh had just come crashing down onto a nearby roof.

“Oh, ho-no!” cried Santa.

“Rudolph, it must be that nose of yours sonny!”

Rudolph looked at Santa and then shook his head and peered down to have a look at where they had landed. It was then that he spotted the Loopies looking up at him and Santa and the crash landed sleigh. Santa peered down to, to see what had caught Rudolph’s attention and he saw the Loopies too, looking up at him with gaping jaws.

Santa blushed, “Shouldn’t you be in bed?”

The Loopies just continued to stare.

“In all my years of delivering presents,” he said as he began climbing off the roof.

“I’ve never been spotted once! Until now that is!” he said with a twinkle in his eye.

“So you really are Santa?” asked Tubblie in surprise.

“Who’d you think I was, Billy the Kid?” he said with a jolly laugh.

“Not so! Yur beard is too white for ye ta be going by a name like kid.” said Patch.

Santa starred at Patch, “Is he for real? Or have I just entered into a time warp and gone back to Halloween?”

Santa looked very confused.

“Why did you crash Santa?” asked Sherbet in dismay.

“I dunno, I really think I may have hit a time warp as we were following The Star.” He replied, still trying to understand why Patch was dressed up in a Pirate suit.

“He really is a Pirate Mr. Clause!” said Wusky helping to clear Santa’s confusion.

“One of my closest friends too, along with his piratey crew Wallace and Woody here.” He pointed to the other pirates hidden among the other Loopies of Acersville. They had all been on their way home from Granny’s house after their annual Christmas Eve Dinner trying to spot the Christmas Star.

“And you certainly didn’t hit a time warp, our very own Professor Astro would have been aware of that I can assure you!” explained Rufus, as he slapped the Professor on the back.

“You said you were following the Star?” asked Mango, very interested to learn more about Santa’s Christmas travels.

“Yes! You see that very bright, very pointy one, high up there?” he asked.

“Mango! It is the one you spotted, bravo!” cried Sherbet who was very proud of her brother!

“Well done! Maybe I should down load your GPS system and give it to Rudolph; it might make it easier tracking the Star next year.”

Santa edged toward Mango and tugged his nose. Mango giggled.

“What are you doing that for?” he asked.

“Where do you keep your GPS? Rudolph has his in his nose.” He replied.

The Loopies grinned a little. They thought Santa was very funny.

“We don’t have GPS systems but we could always repair Rudolph’s one for you?” offered Rufus.

“Would you be able to do that?” asked Santa a little surprised.

Professor Astro grinned at Rufus.

“Of course, don’t worry a second longer!” replied the Professor, excited at the fact that his scientific knowledge could help at such an important time.

“Well we’ll have to hurry we only have 6 hours till everyone wakes up to open their presents on Christmas morning and my reindeer are fresh out of Brandy.” said Santa.

“Brandy?” said Tubblie, his eyes getting their naughty Tubblie gleam.

“Yes, it keeps them warm in the cold winter air and helps them to run faster so we can deliver all the presents on time. I’m already way off schedule!” he said grimly, looking at his watch.

“We’ll soon have you on your way! Mango and Sherbet, take Santa for Mince pies at Granny’s and we’ll sort out the rest!” said Rufus, eager to get started on repairing Rudolph’s GPS.

So the twins excitedly showed Santa the way to Granny’s house while the other Loopies set to work on fixing Santa’s sleigh and repairing Rudolph’s nose!

The Loopies worked so fast, in no time at all Santa’s sleigh was ready to leave Acersville.

“Here you go Santa.” said Leechie handing the jolly man a remote control.

“That’s for turning Rudolph’s GPS on and off.” explained Rufus.

“I have fitted the GPS with an extra magnet so it’s pull toward the Star will be stronger.” smiled Astro as he patted Rudolph on the nose.

“You’ve all been so kind.” Smiled Santa as a small tear formed in his eye, he then bent down to give them each a gift.

“Now those are for Christmas morning, and sorry I couldn’t place them under your trees and in your stockings, but you do understand, the sun’s nearly up and I still have so many deliveries to make.” He said brushing the tear away with his red glove.

The Loopies nodded and thanked Santa for their gifts.

“Now!” he said taking a deep breath to settle his emotions.

“Who was it that spotted the Christmas Star?” he said smiling a jolly smile.

Mango raised his hand slowly.

“Well then hop aboard son, don’t you want to see it up close?”

Mango could hardly believe it! Santa had chosen him to ride in his sleigh on Christmas Eve!

Mango climbed up and sat on the velvety seat and breathed in the Christmas smells of Santa’s sleigh. It was like being in a Chocolate factory that made gingerbread cookies too! Mango’s experience was interrupted when Santa said, “Don’t you have a sister son?”

“Huh, oh, yes! Yes I do, her name is Sherbet.” blushed Mango.

“Well then Sherbet, up you come too.”

So Sherbet jumped up and ran to the sleigh to join her brother. The twins were so excited!

Santa then took his place at the reigns and cracked his whip.

“On Dasher, on Dancer, on Prancer, on Vixen!” Santa began calling out all of his reindeer by name. The reindeer began to run, faster and faster, until they were moving at the speed of light.

“Oh my!” smiled Santa, “My reindeer don’t usually run this fast!”

Mango and Sherbet looked at one another and grinned. That Tubblie he must have fed the reindeer his Lighter Fluid from the Brandy Bottle he had handed Granny at dinner! That naughty rascal! But still they couldn’t blame him, it was the best way to get the reindeer to run extra fast to help Santa get back on schedule with his present delivering! So on they rode over the frosty sky all the while getting nearer and nearer to the Christmas Star.

© 2007 Ingrid Holtshausen. All Rights Reserved.

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“Oh deary me, I’ve forgotten about you Linky.” said Granny, bending down to stroke the ginger animal. Just then she caught sight of Scales, her gold fish. Oh bother now she was really in a pickle. She couldn’t go away, she had to look after her pets!

Granny sat down in her favourite chair, to think about what to do.

Coo-coo-awk-awk-coo-coo-jolly good-awk!

“What on earth is that noise?” thought Granny as she got up to have a look.

It was Professor Astro, he was the nuttiest Loopie in Acersville! He wore thick glasses and was always coming up with new inventions! The Professor saw Granny peering out of her window at him. He grinned and waved at her, motioning for her to open the door.

“Hallo Granny!” he smiled, looking very pleased with himself.

“Good morning Astro, what have you there?” she asked.

“It’s my newest invention!” he smiled proudly, “It’s a Parrot-Cuckoo Alarm Clock!”

Granny looked puzzled, “What does it do?” she asked.

“Well, it’s pretty neat if you need to remind yourself what to do next.” The Professor looked at Linky, “Like perhaps feeding the cat?”

“Oh!” said Granny, smiling brightly. “That sounds like a perfect invention, and I know just how you can test it!”

She quickly explained that she had been deciding to take a vacation and couldn’t go because she had pets to look after, but now with Astro’s invention, all that could change!

“I’d be happy to look after your house and pets while you’re away Granny!” said Astro.

“Good! Let me quickly write you a list of all the things that need to be done around the house each day, and then you can set your invention to remind you!” Granny was twitching with excitement.

“What a wonderful plan.” beamed Astro.

Granny wrote out a long list, placed it on the kitchen counter, picked up her bags and waved to the Professor, “See you in a week!” she called and was soon out of sight.

The Professor smiled and stroked Linky.

“Looks like it’s just you, me and Scales for the next few days.”

“Awk! And me! Coo-coo!” said the alarm clock.

The Professor smiled, what a good invention he had made! He quickly went to work setting his Parrot-Cuckoo Alarm Clock to remind him about his tasks for the next few days.

The next day the Professor was woken early by the squawking of his clock.

“Make the tea! Awk, make the tea! Coo-coo! Coo-coo!”

The Professor rubbed his eyes and got out of bed, he stumbled down to the kitchen, without his glasses!

The Professor reached for the tea bags and hot water, but without his glasses he was as blind as a bat! He knocked over the kettle, which sent boiling water all over the kitchen! The boiling water spilled onto Granny’s list dissolving half of her writing!

“Awk! Not good! Coo-coo!” screamed the alarm clock.

“It’s alright, quite alright.” said the Professor dabbing up the water with a soft cloth.

“You’re programmed to let me know when I have to do things, remember?”

But the professor had forgotten that he needed the list to tell him other things he hadn’t programmed into the Parrot-Cuckoo Alarm Clock!

“Coo-coo, coo-coo! Awk, whistle, awk, time for the laundry, wash the clothes, whistle!”

The Professor looked pleased with himself.

“See, was that so difficult? You have all the information right up there.” He said pointing to the Parrot’s head.

The Professor busily went about collecting dirty clothes and sheets. He stuffed them all inside the washing machine until he couldn’t stuff anymore.

“Now, how many scoops of washing power do we need?” he asked the alarm clock.

“Awk!” squawked the Parrot looking at Granny’s frumpled list.

“Oh dear!” said the Professor, “it looks like we needed the list after all!”

‘Oh well, drastic measures call for drastic action! Let’s make it five scoops! Then it will be all nice, fluffy and clean.”

So the Professor began loading scoops of washing powder into the machine. He then hurried off with his Parrot-Cuckoo Alarm Clock to finish the other tasks set for the day, while the washing machine washed. The washing machine swished and swashed and swished and swashed until….

KERSWALLOOSH! SPLASH SPLISH!

The washing machine door popped off and all the sheets and clothes flopped in a soapy mess onto the floor. But the machine kept washing!

Wish-wash-wish. Wish-swash-swish it went, making more and more and more bubbles from the many scoops of soap powder the Professor had used!

But that wasn’t the only disaster of the day! Without his glasses or Granny’s list, the Professor had managed to turn Granny’s entire house on it’s head! He fed the cat fish food and poured milk in the fish bowl, he vacuumed the roses and watered the carpets. He boiled the ironing for dinner and folded the peas! Poor Granny! She was going to come home to such a mess!

By this time the bubbles had made their way out into the street! And the machine kept on washing. Wish-wash-swish-wash-wish-wash-wish!

“Hallo?” asked Rufus as he and Ruff had passed the bubbly mess.

“What’s this?”

“It looks like a whole lot of soapy bubbles to me.” said Ruff.

“Indeed! But this means someone is having a party without us! C’mon!” he replied, taking Ruff’s hand and dragging him to find the source of the bubbles.

Rufus and Ruff reached Granny’s house, which by this time was completely hidden from sight underneath all the washing foam.

“Awk! Whistle, tap the bath! Tap the bath! Coo-coo!” Came the muffled sounds of a Parrot’s voice from underneath the bubbles.

Rufus looked at Ruff, who shrugged.

“Maybe Granny has a new pet?” he offered.

“Only one way to find out!” said Rufus heading straight into the bubbles.

“La-la-li-tra-la-la!” It was the Professor, he looked quite funny without his glasses!

“Professor! Professor!” shouted Rufus, trying to shout loudly over the sounds of the vacuum and the Professor’s singing.

“What’s that?” the Professor turned.

“Oh, Rufus, what’s this you’ve brought with you?” he asked.

“It’s my brother Ruff Professor, you know who he is?” answered Rufus, not realizing that Ruff had been completely covered with bubbles on their way in.

“But then why does he look like that? Is it Halloween already?”

“Professor, turn off the vacuum! What are you doing to Granny’s house?” instructed Ruff who had had quite enough at this stage.

“Well..” said the Professor, obviously flustered at the unexpected interruption.

The Professor explained that Granny was away on holiday and that he was looking after her house using his latest invention, his Parrot-Cuckoo Alarm Clock.

“Professor, I think your alarm is broken.” Retorted Ruff looking at the house riddled with disaster.

“Quite the contrary, Ruff!” said the Professor proudly.

“Look at all the things I’ve been able to do for Granny. Why, my alarm is in perfect working order!”

Rufus quickly handed the Professor his glasses and with that the Professor’s face fell. His thick bottle-tops revealed what Rufus and Ruff had been trying to tell him.

“Egad! Good Heavens! This place is a mess! Someone should really clean it up!”

He looked at the brothers, a grave expression crossing his face, as he realized he couldn’t do it alone.

“No problems Professor!” Rufus answered Astro’s unasked question.

“We’ll get this place straight in no time!”

And with that the three Loopies began cleaning, tidying and straightening out Granny’s house. In no time at all Granny’s house was back to normal and ready for her return.

“Thank you Ruff and Rufus!” said a relieved Professor.

“It’s no problem Professor, really.” smiled Rufus.

“But before we go.” added Ruff, “There’s just one last thing we must do!”

With that he took the Professor’s Parrot-Cuckoo Alarm Clock and set it to remind Astro of one more task.

The brothers waved good night to the Professor and headed off home. The Professor was so tired he flopped onto the couch and fell into a deep sleep. In the morning he was again woken by the squawking of his alarm clock, but this time it had a different message:

“Awk, wear your glasses! Don’t forget your glasses! Coo-coo!”

© 2007 Ingrid Holtshausen. All Rights Reserved.

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The Professor let the twins look inside his space craft.

“So when are you going to fly this thing Professor?” asked Mango excitedly.

“Oh yes!” exclaimed Sherbet, “Can we come too?”

“Uh…” Professor Astro looked frightened, “I never actually thought of flying the space ship. I just built it!”

The twins were very disappointed.

“What’s the point in building a space ship if you’re never going to use it?” asked Mango.

Sherbet looked as if she was going to cry. Astro looked nervous.

“If you can find someone to fly the ship, I will let you take it into outer space.” He offered.

Mango and Sherbet jumped and laughed. They were so excited. “Thank you Professor Astro!” They shouted as they ran out of the university. Professor Astro rubbed his head, what had he gotten himself into? He’d never flown anything before, especially not in space!

Later that day Mango and Sherbet returned to the university with Pilot behind them.

“Professor!” they shouted as they ran inside to meet him. “Professor we have found someone to fly your ship!” they panted. “No one can fly better than Pilot can!”

“I suppose you are right.” said Professor Astro, “Well Pilot have you ever flown a space ship before?”

“No I haven’t, but I can try.” he replied.

Professor Astro broke out in a cold sweat.

‘What!” he gasped, “And you want to take my precious invention up into the sky, into space!” Astro began hyperventilating.

“Calm down Mr. Professor sir.” said Sherbet rubbing his arm with her paw.

“Yeah Professor, give Pilot a chance. You don’t get anywhere without a chance!”

Professor Asro sat down and had some tea. He looked up at Pilot, “I’ll give you a chance if you promise to bring the twins safely back to Acersville.” Pilot and the twins cheered.

“Thank you Professor!” chorused the twins.

“I won’t let you down sir.” said Pilot.

Astro smiled, “If you are going up in space,” he said, “there are a few things you are going to need.”

“Like what Professor?” asked Sherbet with wide eyes.

“First you are going to need space suits.”

“That’s easy!” said Sherbet, “Granny can knit them for us!”

Mango and Pilot smiled this was going to be fun!

“Then you will need space helmets!” continued the Professor.

“No problem!” said Mango, “I’m sure Wusky has a few big Brandy glasses he can lend us from his Beach Café for helmets!”

“Or even better, fish bowls!” said Pilot, grinning.

Mango and Sherbet giggled at the thought of wearing fish bowls on their heads!

“Then the last and most important thing of all.” said Astro, very seriously. The Loopies looked intently at the Professor. “You will need four friends to go with you!”

Pilot, Mango and Sherbet cheered again, this was going to be more fun than they imagined.

They said hurries goodbyes to the Professor and rushed off to Granny’s house to ask her to knit seven space suits as fast as she could. Their next stop was Crumpet’s Bakery. They asked if she could pack them a picnic basket to take with them into outer space. Then they stopped at Wusky’s Beach Cabana Café to fit Brandy glasses onto their heads to use as space helmets. Mango’s ‘helmet’ got stuck on his head and Sherbet and Pilot had to get it off. What a commotion!

Eventually they had collected all the goodies they needed for their outer space trip. Now all they had to do was decide on who to take with them. They decided to take Granny because she had knitted their space suits and she had never been on a big adventure before. They also chose Crumpet because she had packed them such a lovely ‘Outer Space Picnic Lunch’. They decided to invite Wusky along too, because he had lent them Brandy glasses and fish bowls to use as ‘Outer Space Helmets’.

“Professor Astro has to come too!” said Sherbet as they walked back to the university to board the space ship with all their friends.
“Most definitely!” agreed the other Loopies.

They all boarded the space ship and waited for Professor Astro to begin the count down. The roof of the university opened slowly as the space ship turned and tilted toward the sky.

“Helmets on?” asked the professor, looking around the space ship at all the excited Loopies.

“Buckled in?” The Professor looked around again. Everyone was safely buckled into their seats and they were all grinning with excitement.

“Then away we go!” he said and began the count down.

The Loopies were so excited they began counting with him, “Five, four, three, two, one, BLAST OFF!” they shouted as their space ship shot through the sky and then hurtled through space. The Loopies gazed out of their windows in amazement at all the stars and planets they saw as they flew passed.

“I thought we could have our picnic on the moon.” smiled the Professor.

Granny giggled. Crumpet squealed. They were so happy that the twins had chosen them to come along into outer space.

With a gentle bump they landed on the moon. The Loopies hopped out of the space ship in their new space suits onto the surface of the moon. They soon discovered that on the moon, gravity is not very strong! So they used moon rocks to weigh down their picnic blanket and laughed as their picnic basket floated in mid-air. The Loopies had fun for the rest of the day and spent their time picnicking and pretending to fly!

Soon it was time to leave the moon and go back to Earth. So the Loopies tidied the moon while Professor Astro took some pictures and gathered some moon rocks to take back to Acersville.

The Loopies had a great time, I’m glad we could go too, aren’t you?

© 2007 Ingrid Holtshausen. All Rights Reserved.

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