Season Finale

A narrative by Mr. Gallagher’s 4th Class, Milford NS, December 2019.

The story so far:

Misty the Mischievous Elf, and son of the Grinch, has left his position as |Head Toy-Engineer in Santa’s workshop, stolen into Santa’s Man-Cave and “borrowed” the sleigh, on a mission of mischief. Donner, the most gullible of the reindeers has agreed to the plan.

They have left the North Pole in a hurry, soaring over Europe: Lithuania, Wroclaw, Italy, London and Dublin to be exact. The planned reading the Book of Kells didn’t work out so well. Apparently the Trinity College Elves on the Bookshelves are currently helping Gardaí with their enquiries.

Can anyone stop Mischievous Misty’s Christmas mayhem?

We tune in now for the season finale.

As the duo fluttered down the west of Ireland, Misty thought he caught a glimpse of Ireland's Super Stoked Surfer, Senor G., catching the waves off the Cliffs of Moher, before finally arriving at the flood-lit Gaelic Grounds. Limerick had just beaten Cork by a point in the first round of the League.

Sportingly, Misty gave a lift to some supporters to Thomond Park to watch Munster against the All-Blacks

As Misty flew over Thomond Park, to his amazement, the crowd roared “Stand up and Fight!” A strange looking ball shot high up in the air, almost clocking Misty, who by this stage was terrified. The crowd roared, “Go, Earlsy … GO… GO… YEAAAAAAAAH!”

Misty was not waiting for this Earlsy to catch him and left Thomond Park in a hurry...just like most teams, apparently.

In no time at all, they were heading towards Castletroy.

“I've never seen anywhere as beautiful as Limerick,” shouted Donner. “Quick Misty, look at those delicious carrots growing in Milford’s school Garden!”

Donner raced to the vegetable garden. Misty tried his hardest to steer him away, but lost control. and the sleigh plummeted, swirling, twirling and whirling until they crashed with a BANG, and landed noisily on the Living Bridge, lucky to be alive.

At that moment, (luckily for everyone) Seán and Woody, two local lads, were on the UL campus, walking their dogs. Seán’s dogs smelled smoke and they started barking.

“ Do you smell that?” asked Seán to Woody.

“Ya!” replied Woody.

“It smells like oil!”exclaimed Seán. “It looks like it’s coming from that bush, near the bridge.”

“Let's find out what it is,” replied Woody as they went to investigate.

They soon found the sleigh with Misty and Donner in a tangled heap.

“WHAAAAAT!” gasped Seán, who ran to help.

“Are you okay?” asked Woody, helping Misty off the ground. “It looked like quite a fall.”

Misty nodded. “I’m okay!”

It took two hours, but Misty told them nearly the whole truth. About how he’d contained his mischief for years and eventually stolen Santa’s sleigh.

“But I still don’t get it. Why did you do it?”

Misty hesitated. He had to trust the duo. They were his only hope of getting the sleigh back in action.

“Well,” he began. “Can you keep a secret?”

Seán and Woody were shocked. Was this secret really that serious? “I’m… I’m….. I’m the Grinch’s son!!!” Misty managed to shriek. “And I’m in huge trouble now. I only meant to take the sleigh for a quick spin. If I don’t get back in time for Christmas Eve, Santa will never forgive me.”

“ I have a great idea. Let’s go to the Milford School Gym,” said Woody smartly. Seán, Woody, Donner and Misty tried to drag the sleigh back to the gym but nearly collapsed under the weight. Luckily, the Limerick hurling team were coming back from the Gaelic Grounds and they saw the hapless lot having trouble carrying the sleigh. Gearóid Hegarty offered to give them a ride in his Lamborghini.

“Where will the sleigh go?” asked Sean.

“I’ve got a trailer in the back, you can put the sleigh on it.”

“But we can’t let the teachers see!” exclaimed Seán.

At the crack of dawn on Saturday morning, Seán and Woody sent out text, emails, letters and even messages in bottles to tell everybody in Mr.Gallagher’s 4th Class (Everybody Mr Gallagher) to come to the school gym 6am sharp to help fix the sleigh in time for Christmas. Everyone arrived at exactly 6am, which was extremely convenient. To their amazement, they found Donner, basically half-dead on the gymnastics mats in exhaustion, and Misty, foraging in the gym cupboard for food.

“Hello Misty,” cried Seán cheerfully.

“We are here to help you and Donner fix the sleigh!”

“Really? You would do that for Donner and me?”exclaimed Misty.

“Of course we would,” enthused Woody. “And all of 4th Class too!”

Anna looked puzzled. “But won’t the teachers find out?

“No problemo, Anna, there is an invisibility cloak in the sleigh. Whenever a teacher comes in we can cover it up!” explained Seán matter-of- factly.

“You are a living genius Seán, “Woody gushed. Seán smiled contentedly.

”You don’t need to remind me, Woody!”

Misty and Donner told the class the whole story.

“And that’s how we crashed our sleigh but we need to fix the sleigh in a week,” Misty explained, “ We need an engine.”

“I know, we can get one from Mr. Moore’s Car,” whispered Lily.

“But that’s stealing,” replied Jojo.

“We’re borrowing it, Jojo,” whispered Anna, her fingers crossed behind her back.

“Fine, we’ll take it out of his car,” Jojo muttered .

“Let’s Go,” whispered Seán.

The children worked all day and all night, using their STEAM Skills until they were physically demented.

Courtesy of Misty, gallons and gallons of hot chocolate were made to keep everybody happy as they worked.

“Oh no!” shouted Lily in panic, “I think I hear Mr. Nelligan coming!”

Mr. Nelligan burst through the double-doors, wearing cobalt coloured pajamas with yawning moons and golden stars.

Luckily, he was so frazzled, he did not notice the extremely large, obvious sleigh, right in the middle of the gym.

“Hey kids!” he boomed, talking to the wall. “You should be in class!”

“U-uh Mr. Nelligan, we are over here!” shouted Aisling.

“A-and also i-it is Sunday.”

“WAIT!! IT IS MY WELL DESERVED DAY OFF! I AM LEAVING!” shrieked Mr. Nelligan as he sped off.

Once they were done rebuilding the sleigh, not one child trusted Misty and Donner to return the sleigh safely to the North Pole. There was just too much at stake. So they completed a Google Survey, which decreed that Seán and Woody should accompany the mischievous Misty and distractible Donner, back to the North Pole in time for Christmas deliveries!

Bursting with delight, Seán and Woody boarded the reconditioned Sleigh 2000, with Misty demoted to the back seat. The sleigh hummed and thrummed, rising into the air. Within seconds they were flying over Finland, in the direction of the North Pole.

As the sleigh landed in a flurry of snow, Santa’s elves didn’t look too pleased with Misty. They quickly fetched Santa, who was distraught that his pride and joy, his Sleigh 2000 was still on the Missing List.

“Holy Christmas, Misty you’re back … and with the sleigh??!!?” Santa gasped”

“Santa it’s good to see you too. I am sorry about stealing the sleigh but it was…... because please don’t be mad, I am working for the Grinch,” sobbed Misty.

The elves held their hands to their mouths and started whispering.

Misty explained everything to Santa and looked ashamed of himself.

”Misty,” Santa began, “I forgive you, as I believe you’re sorry. You’ve also returned the sleigh as an eco-friendly, snow-powered turbo 2000 model. You must have had some help from Green Schools children!”

Mrs. Claus thought and then spoke. “I don’t think you should return to that nasty Grinch. Instead, stay with us here in the North Pole and be one of our best Wrapping Elves.”

“OMG, Mrs Claus, I would love that!” gasped Misty excitedly. Santa turned to Seán, who was still mesmerised by all he was witnessing.

“Seán you have been a huge help to me, which way do you want to go home: floo powder or a ride on my sleigh?”

“ I thought that Harry Potter stuff was fake!” replied Seán, amazed.

Of course, Seán picked the sleigh.

Santa looked puzzled. “Now what are we going to do about your present? You have to get a special reward.”

Seán thought and whispered in Santa’s ear.

“Ho! Ho! Ho! I just may have a few vacancies” Santa chuckled as he winked to Seán and Woody.”

So Santa, Seán and Woody harnessed Rudolph and Blitzen (Donner was sent for further training by the Reindeer Council) and took off once more into the cold night air. As they flew over Milford, they heard the resounding chorus of Shotgun, as Gaeilge, followed by Oíche Chiúin.

Santa was impressed. “Ah, it must be close to Infant Pageant time in Milford. Such great boys and girls.”

“You don’t know the half of it Santa!” Seán and Woody exchanged a satisfied look, just before they miniaturised and whooshed down their very own chimney.

“Woody, I think we’ve just gone and saved Christmas.”

“Yip Seán, that’s enough adventures for 2019. Can’t wait for normal school life to resume in 2020.”

Seán had a little giggle.

“Well, it will be normal for the Milford children...but the staff may need some In-Service Training. Santa’s doing a little re-deployment over Christmas.”

HO! HO! HO! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Mr. Moore: Chief of Elf-Security and Re-Training

Mr. Nelligan: Chief Sleigh-Bell Tuner

Ms. Fenton: Spell-checker of Christmas Lists

Ms Hill: Christmas Decoration Supervisor

Rose: Santa Wish-List Co-ordinator

Joe: Elf-Shelf Maintenance

Ms. Murray: Chief of Elf-Hygiene

Ms Doody : Elf Dance Choreographer

Ms. Reidy: Christmas Music Composer

Ms. Taylor: Elf Costumier

Ms. O Neill: Elf Berry-Juice Supplier

Ms. Walsh: Personal Elf- Chef

Ms. Hannigan: Christmas Story Reader

Ms.Moloney: Elf Fashion Blogger

Ms.Munnelly: Creator of Christmas Treats

Ms. Dolphin: Co-ordinator of Ice-Fishing Competitions

Ms. Rael: Junior Elf teacher

Ms. Mitchell: Chief of Christmas Wrapping Design

Ms. Larkin: Chief of Elf-Debate

Mr. Gallagher Elf Fitness

Ms O’Sullivan Head of Christmas Cheer

Ms. Crosse Chief of Elf-Floristry

Ms. Barrett Elf Strictly Come Dancing Judge

Ms. O'Dwyer Elf-Look Influencer

Ms. Newman Elf-News Editor

Ms. Burke Christmas Jumper Production

Ms. Griffin Elf Toy-Tester

Ms. Seymour: Elf Hair-Stylist

Ms. Cahill Cross- Country Reindeer Trainer

Ms. Duggan Chief of Cookie Making

Ms. Quinlan Senior member of Elf Electronics

Ms. H O’Sullivan Christmas Cake Stylist

Mr. Kelly Elf-Football Scout

Ms. Fitzpatrick Trainer of Elf-Hurling

Ms. Ryan Toddler-Elf Supervisor

Ms. O’Meara Head of Baby-Elf Nursery