Editor's note: The Citizen is publishing three weekly installments of a children's story written by local writer Joe Sarnicola for the holiday season. At the conclusion of last week's installment, the second in the series, a disgruntled troll had kidnapped Santa and was demanding all of Santa's Christmas gifts.

Mr. Twinkle turned and ran back to the workshop. When he opened the door, the elves were busy packing the last of the toys into Santa's bag and Mrs. Claus was filling their cups with hot chocolate. Mr. Twinkle closed the door and leaned against it, trying to catch his breath.

"Why, Mr. Twinkle," said Mrs. Claus. "What's wrong? Didn't you find Santa?"

"Oh yes," he answered, "I found him. He's being held prisoner by a troll."

Mrs. Claus fainted. The elves fanned their hands in her face until she woke up.

"Did you say a troll?" she asked quietly.

"Yes. And the troll says he won't let Santa go unless we bring him all the toys in the North Pole by midnight."

"Oh, my poor, dear Santa," said Mrs. Claus.

"What are we going to do?" asked Jiffy, one of the elves.

"I don't know," said Mr. Twinkle. We'll have to think of something. We can't just give the troll the toys that belong to the boys and girls. But we can't leave Santa alone either. Think, elves, think."

"Oh, those awful trolls," said Popper, another elf. "They're always causing trouble. And they see everything backwards. They think naughty is nice, and ugly is beautiful. Poor Santa."

"What did you say?" asked Mr. Twinkle.

"I said, 'Poor Santa.'"

"No, no, before that."

"What? That they see everything backwards?"

"That's it!" said Mr. Twinkle, as he jumped with excitement.

"It is?" asked Popper. "What is?"

"I know how to rescue Santa." declared Mr. Twinkle. "All we need is a mirror."

"A mirror?" asked Jiffy. "What are we going to do with a mirror?"

"There's no time to explain, Jiffy," said Mr. Twinkle. "Hurry up and find me a mirror."

"You may use the one on my dresser," said Mrs. Claus. "Just bring back my Santa."

"We will," promised Mr. Twinkle, Popper and Jiffy. Then the three elves headed toward the bridge where the troll was holding Santa prisoner. As soon as Mr. Twinkle's foot touched the bridge, the troll knew the elves were there.

"Highest mountain, deepest ridge, who's that walking on my bridge?"

"It's me. Mr. Twinkle."

"Who's that with you?" asked the troll. "Is this a trick? Don't forget, I've got your Santa Claus."

"No tricks," promised Mr. Twinkle. "This is Popper and this is Jiffy. We have something for you."

"You do?" asked the troll. Then he blew a smoke ring from his pipe and said, "I hope you have lots of toys and candy."

"See for yourself," said Mr. Twinkle. "Here."

"Give that to me," said the troll as he pulled it out of Mr. Twinkle's hand. "I warned you about any tricks."

"What is this?"

"Turn it around," said Mr. Twinkle.

The troll looked into the glass of the mirror. "Gee, I've never seen myself before. I'm beautiful."

"Of course you are," agreed Mr. Twinkle. "And I'll bet you're kind and generous, too. Right, Popper?"

"Huh? Oh, yes, yes. Kind."

"And generous, too" added Jiffy.

"Kind? And generous? Yes, that's me," said the troll with a smile.

"Don't you think you should let Santa go now?" asked Mr. Twinkle. "It's Christmas Eve."

"Santa? Oh, of course." With a snap of his fingers, the ropes and gags on Santa disappeared. Santa sighed with relief. "Christmas Eve, is it?" asked the troll. Well, I have one more demand, now that I've let your Santa go free." The elves and Santa looked at each other and wondered what the troll was going to ask for next.

"I want to ride in Santa's sleigh tonight. Why should you have all the fun? I want to deliver presents to the good boys and girls, too. And I promise to quit smoking. I never did like this pipe, anyway." He threw the pipe into the river. Santa, Mr. Twinkle, Popper, Jiffy, and the troll joined hands and danced in a circle.

"Ho, ho, ho," said Santa.

"And Merry Christmas," said the troll.