That morning at the breakfast table Mrs. Claus and Santa sat sipping their cocoa. Santa had dark rings under his eyes as he yawned loudly.

"You were up very late last night," Mrs. Claus said, "Is anything wrong?"

"Wrong? No. Don't be silly. What could be wrong? Nothing's wrong," Santa said. "Oh all right, you got it out of me - it's Santa's sleigh - Old Magic - and something is wrong!"

"Santa, without a sleigh there can't be a Christmas!" Mrs. Claus cried.

"Oh, now let's not go there just yet. Smith and I have been pouring over the Old Magic Owner's Manual, I'm sure we'll find the trouble. I'm going to meet Smith at the barn this morning and we're going to give Old Magic another once over. It's not a lack of flying power, the reindeer are in top form. Blitzen always sees to that."

"Speaking of Blitzen," Mrs. Claus said, "I almost forgot, he has a relative coming for a holiday visit."

"Well he'd better get here soon, there's a storm coming in and travelling won't be easy," Santa said as he looked at the weather maps on the computer screen.

On her own computer screen, Mrs. Claus opened her email program on Bruce Telecom. "Well, let's read some of these letters before you go- that'll cheer you up!" Mrs. Claus said, "Bruce Telecom is the new name for our Internet supplier. A new name always sparks a new start - fresh beginnings. It's a good sign, I think," Mrs. Claus said.

"Maybe I should get a new name too," Santa joked.

"Oh Santa, you already have so many other names - Kriss Kringle, Father Christmas, St. Nick, Pere Noel . . .Oh, and look at all these new e-mails!" she cried. Santa's eyes always lit up at the sight of mail from the many boys and girls who took the time to write him a personal note - on paper or by e-mail.

"Here's a lovely message from Sophie in Collingwood. She asks if Santa could bring her some pink suede boots with rabbit fur pom-poms for Christmas. Oh, and she has a PS - not real rabbit fur," Mrs. Claus added.

"Ho, Ho, ho," Santa chuckled.

"And here's a note from Michael in Kincardine," Mrs. Claus said, " 'Dear Santa, how are you and the elves? Do reindeer eat carrots or hay? Do you like cookies on Christmas Eve? I will have some of all of these for you at my house on Christmas Eve.' "

"Ho, ho, ho, Presents for Santa and the reindeer, how kind," Santa said.

"Santa, here is one signed, 'Best wishes, Rusty Tocqueville,' " Mrs. Claus said.

"Isn't that a hockey player?" Santa asked.

"You never know. Sometimes Santa is the only one you can tell your wishes to," Mrs. Claus answered.

"I have a new wireless device from Bruce Telecom," Santa said, "I can check my e-mail from anywhere now," Santa said, "Maybe I'll just head over to the barn and check on that sleigh again," Santa said sounding somewhat distracted.

At the Barn, Smith and Santa crawled over and under and all around the sleigh - Old Magic - stopping only to consult the manuals.

"Santa, we've tried all the possible trouble-shooting tips in the Owner's Manual. Nothing's working. I am stumped," Smith said and he sat down hard on a small stool. Santa Claus, his sleeves rolled up, grease marks on his face and snowy beard, and a few bits of straw sticking from his hair, looked down at his dirty hands and shook his head.

"It's a puzzler, alright. There's got to be something we're missing!" Santa said.

"Yeah, levitation." Smith answered frustrated.

"Really, we've tried it all except. . . wait a minute! I seem to recall an old, old, grease-covered handbook that you. . .

"The Appendix of Lost Wishes and Last Chances v.4!" cried Smith, "That's where we'll find the answer!"

"It better be there - or they'll be no Christmas sleigh, and no Christmas!" Santa said.