At Santa's Workshop, the elves all gathered about Santa. At his side were Mrs. Claus, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and Smith, the lead elf.

"We have been a bit wasteful with our supplies here at the Workshop," Santa began. "Maybe it wasn't always this way. I do recall that Old Magic - my sleigh - is actually made of recycled bits and pieces, and a big splash of magic!" Santa said.

"Oh Santa, you're right!" Mrs. Claus cried. "I remember the old days, helping you find some of the bits and pieces that have replaced other bits and pieces on Old Magic. Why she's probably been recycled a hundred times over," Mrs. Claus looked off into the middle distance and sighed. "It's funny, somehow we can forget the good old ways," she said.

"Well, we all have got to work together to increase the stuff that we can re-use and reduce the stuff we have to throw away," Santa said. "Already there have been some wonderful ideas from everyone about how to Reduce, Re-use and Recycle - so that we can all help the environment," Santa said. "Erno and Smith are spear-heading the 3Rs here in the Workshop to ensure that we can re-use as much as possible," he said, "and all around our North Pole neighbourhood, everyone is getting involved."

"My word, yes," Mrs. Claus beamed. "Rudolph and the other reindeer are going to start our very own composting area for organic waste, like potato peels," Mrs. Claus said. "And Amber has come up with lots of wonderful craft ideas to re-use some of the supplies that we can't use in the Workshop," she added.

"Oh yes," cried Amber. "Mrs. Aliknak and I are planning a North Pole Craft Sale in the spring. It's going to be a fundraiser: Keep the Ocean Clean," Amber said. "We're going to make bookmarks from old glossy magazines, and party lanterns from big plastic pop bottles, and beautiful picture frames from broken pieces of toys and trinkets!" Amber said excitedly.

"Meeting Joy and hearing the Orcas and other marine mammals has really made us more aware of others, like the animals and the environment beyond our home here at the North Pole," Erno said. "That reminds me. I have a Christmas gift for Joy. Can I go see her now, Santa?" Erno asked.

"Certainly Erno, you may all go if you'd like, just be back in a few hours to help me load the sleigh. I have a big ride tonight, ho, ho, ho," Santa chuckled.

"Oh, Santa - we'd never forget Christmas Eve and all the children in the world who are waiting for your special visit!"

"We'll be back soon," Amber called.

Erno, Amber, Roly and Percy hurried out to the ice calling out to Joy. At the edge of a large iceberg, they found her listening to the chit-chat of a small group of seals.

"And so this big walrus lumbers over the pack ice toward me and I said to this walrus, I said. . . Oh, hello little elves," said a petite white seal with ink black eyes and a moustache of fine whiskers.

"Hello," Erno said shyly to the seal and then brightly, "Hi Joy."

"Hello Erno. I see you've brought all your friends with you today. What's the occasion?"

"Joy, you must be kidding! It's Christmas Eve! We've come to wish you and your friends a Merry Christmas. We can't stay long. We have to get back and help Santa load the sleigh," Erno explained.

"Ah, the big night," Joy smiled warmly at the elves. "Well then, a Happy Christmas to you also. Now don't keep all those children waiting!" Joy said.

"We won't, but first, here's a gift for you. We made it from recycled pieces." Erno held out a beautiful necklace made of buttons and beads and gently placed it around Joy's neck.

"Oh Erno, how sweet of you and your friends to think of me. It's just lovely," Joy said.

The seals oo-ed and aw-ed at the sparkling necklace. "Beautiful, just darling," they added.

"Merry Christmas to you all, we've got to run now," Erno called.

"Goodbye for now, goodbye and Merry Christmas," the marine mammals called to the elves.

The elves hurried back to Santa's Workshop and quickly loaded Old Magic, the sleigh, for Santa's annual ride.

"You're all set!" Smith hollered when they had finished.

"Thank you and now off we go: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder, Blitzen, and Rudolph. Ho, ho, ho and Merry Christmas!" Santa called out as he and the sleigh rose into a star studded winter sky. In the distance, the elves could also hear Joy and her friends, or maybe it was the Orca whales, making a beautiful echoing call - as if they were also joining Santa in wishing the world a Merry Christmas.

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