On the morning of December 25, 2011, Mirta came down like a rocket to look under the tree for her long-awaited Blackberry. It was the biggest anticipation of the year.
Instead, all she found was a snow globe. Her face was as frozen as the heavy snowfall that morning.
Luckily, Mirta had a childlike soul that didn't stop on disappointments. So when her little dog Bou came down to fetch her, they were soon playing in the living room.
Between jumps and short runs, the duo had a lot of fun. Even amidst all the mess, Bou couldn't get enough and, in the blink of an eye, he pushed Mirta towards the Christmas tree, or more precisely towards the lonely snow globe.
Just then, Mirta turned miniature and stepped into the globe. Bou was shaking his head from side to side, not understanding what was going on. Minutes later, her parents' heads were about to explode trying to find an explanation as well.
On Earth, they continued searching for Mirta for days, but inside the snow globe, only a few hours were enough to reach her.
Zut, a desperate little elf, saw a bright star fall one night when the sky was clear.
Still against his will, he dragged Caribou to go to the place where the star had probably fallen.
After several tens of kilometers, Zut and Caribou came upon her, little Mirta, who lay sleeping on the purest blanket of snow.
"Hey, creature," Zut said several times trying to see if she would react.
The elf's restlessness and clumsiness soon tired Caribou. Then, the majestic snow animal began rubbing his antlers on Mirta's belly.
"You can't wake up this creature by tickling it, Caribou! What if it explodes?" questioned Zut to his companion, while biting his nails.
Mirta did not explode, but after several giggles still asleep, she jumped up and stood up. She looked all around with tears in her little eyes, and she asked:
"Where are you, Bou?"
"Uh, hello? Can you see me, little girl?" asked Zut with unbridled curiosity.
"Who are you and where is Bou?" insisted Mirta between sobs.
"I don't know who Bou is, but I am Zut and he is Caribou," replied Zut anxiously.
Mirta ran to hug Caribou thinking he was her dog.
"Look, Bou, I'm smaller here, and you're one of Santa's sleigh," said the little girl completely excited.
Caribou didn't understand anything, but made a long, thick "Bouuu" sound that further fueled Mirta's happiness.
"Guys, I don't want to be a spoilsport, but we have to find Santa Klaus," Zut said loudly, clutching his head.
"Santa's around?" asked Mirta with twinkles in her eyes.
"Yes, and you'll probably help us find him!"
"Me?" scratched Mirta's head as Caribou carried her on his back like a mini queen.
"Young Santa Klaus needs to return to training at the North Pole so in the future make the children of the world happy," Zut clarified.
"And why doesn't he train anymore?"
"Because of his mom, who says Klaus has to study to be somebody in life," Zut replied saddened.
"My mom is the same way, but I convinced her that I will be a dog trainer," Mirta said with a proud expression.
"Yes! You see, Caribou? This girl is the one," said Zut.
And so the unexpected trio continued on their way into the vast lands of Greenland, home of Klaus' mother.
As they advanced into the land, the snow covered more and more every form of life. Grasses, trees and even Mirta and Zut. Luckily, they had Caribou, who was born to go through the deepest snow.
They had spent weeks in Greenland (months on Earth), until they finally stopped when they came upon a large dome.
It was very striking, for the snow on it shined like stars.
Zut was pacing back and forth, thinking about how to pass this dome. Before he knew it, he had already made a ditch into which Mirta and Caribou fell awkwardly while playing.
"Enough! Instead of playing, help me with this mystery," shouted Zut shaking with nerves.
"There is no mystery," said Mirta looking at the dome fixedly.
"What do you mean?"
"If it's so shiny it's because a mom cleaned it," said Mirta before climbing on top of Caribou again.
Zut was dumbfounded for a few seconds, but not believing the girl too much, he continued to think about how to get past such an obstacle.
"Santa Klaus!"
"Bouuuu!"
"Sana Klaus, we're coming to rescue you!" said Mirta at the top of her lungs several times.
Nothing happened, however. It was a disappointment for everyone. With drooping arms and long faces they retreated until... they were ambushed by elves!
Zut was the first to react:
"Brim, Zak, Adeia, stop! What are you doing?"
The elves looked embarrassed, but they didn't let any of the travelers escape because it was the order of who just came out of the dome: Saint Klaus' mom.
"Attack now, elves!" the jealous mother shouted.
The group of travelers did their best to fight so many elves at once, but it was the fine Caribou who with her antlers sent them all flying.
Zut and Mirta were hugging each other in happiness, but Santa's mother still had an ace up her sleeve.
The big dome that had impressed the group earlier had now turned into a giant snow golem after the mother snapped her fingers.
"Hey, how about I pretend to be Santa handing out presents later?" said Zut as he fled the site at full speed.
Mirta would not allow it and, with unusual strength for her size, returned Zut to the "battlefield".
The girl had already come up with a plan.
The golem was strong, but somewhat clumsy in some movements. The three travelers took advantage of this, confusing the giant by moving in different directions at the same time.
The golem, tired of playing games, decided to concentrate all his strength in a single blow, but did not take into account that the guys stood right where Klaus' mother was, and then quickly dispersed.
The result was inevitable. Immediately after the woman disappeared, the white giant disappeared as well.
The excitement of the three of them was incomparable. It only subsided when they saw Klaus. He was no longer young. All his features were worn, he had silver hair and was chubby.
"Zut, you did come for me!" cried Klaus in jubilation.
"The children's happiness depended on you. We had to rescue you, Klaus," said Zut with a smile that couldn't fit on his face.
Santa Klaus also greeted Caribou and Mirta, who soon agreed to join Santa's Christmas team and move to the North Pole with him.
Mirta was homesick after all this time. But on one such Christmas, Santa Klaus, in reward for her efforts, decided to wrap her in wrapping paper and leave her under that little tree she longed to see again.
Thus, after 10 earthly years, Mirta returned to her home as if by a miracle. On that Christmas, the postcard showed the entire family, including a huge Bou with another little Bou and Mirta on his back.
