He had been planning it for years but never did have anyone he could trust to look after his family  until you came along. He knew right away you were the one who could take over for him so he could join us and spend his time helping to make children all over the world happy. The big night is always Christmas Eve but it's a year round job getting everything ready  so there is no chance any child is disappointed on Christmas morning. Just checking up on all those kids during the year is more work than you can ever imagine. There are a LOT of kids  who look forward to Christmas Eve, more than you can count. We really needed Petey's help.

 Don't worry, he and Chris will be keeping an eye on things around here and all you have to do is use that whistle he left you and either Chris or Petey will be here in a flash to answer any questions you may have. That's the neat thing about the North Pole. The magic of that place lets us see everything that's going on anywhere in the world all the time. If they are busy  and don't happen to be watching Rudolph keeps an eye on things for them.  You won't even know he is around but he will be checking to see if he's needed right up until Christmas. And of course, I'm always on alert.

 So, stop worrying Tuffy and get on with getting things ready for the family and  all the old friends who will be dropping by to visit. Racqui Raccoon will be around for sure, he never misses. You are going to really like him. He and Petey have been friends for years. And don't forget to be extra nice to your Mom. She will be really missing Petey this year so be sure to give her lots of kisses and help her as much as you can .. ok ?"

 Tuffy was a bit confused. He didn't really know at first who was telling him all these things  'cause he didn't see anyone and the voice  seemed to be coming from inside his own head and then he  realized ..  it was Santa of course ! He should have known ! OK let's see...  sure he can do this . First thing he better check and make sure that Mom has written to Joey and invited him to come for  a visit if he can. He doesn't expect Robbie Robin to make it this year as he knows the weather makes it harder for him to come at Christmastime. Billy Blue Jay and his kids will definitely be here and all the other friends Petey made through the years will be popping in and out. Petey's kids are already excited. They are mostly grown up now but even adults have a lot of fun at this time of year it seems.

 Petey has promised he will look after the presents for the kids but Mom and Dad are Tuffy's responsibility. What the heck can he get for them ? Mom isn't too hard, she'll settle for everyone else being happy and she always says he is the best present she has had in years. He will just be extra good for her and try not to make too much mess when she's busy. Maybe he'll even give her back that slipper of hers that he hid a few months ago. She still wonders where it disappeared to all the time. She doesn't know that he took it into the 'forbidden place' one day when she wasn't looking and tucked it away under a shelf.

 Yep, there are still some places she won't let him into but he can always  manage to slip by her and the day he got in there she looked for him for what seemed like hours before he let her know where he was. Yeah, it was naughty not to answer when she was calling, and calling, but it was really fun to hear how  upset she was when she thought he had somehow got outside on his own. Why she won't let him in the dumb crawl space he'll never understand. It has all kinds of neat stuff  he'd just love to get at. So when he got the chance he decided to play Hide and Seek with her. She sure didn't think it was very funny though when he finally let her know where he was. But that was when he was still a kid and he is mostly grown up now so he tries harder to behave.

 Dad is another story. What do you give a guy who never gets mad,  who plays with you when ever you want to play, and even gives you people food when Mom isn't looking ?  Guess one of his bones isn't a good idea. Dad doesn't chew bones  as far as he knows. Maybe he'll just save a whole bunch of his treats and choose one of his favourite toys and leave them under the tree for Dad. Petey always said it's the thought that counts anyway and it would be pretty darn near impossible to go shopping in a store for presents when you don't have any money and people seem to get all upset when you are loose in a store anyway when you are a pup. Some places even have signs saying 'NO Dogs Allowed' ! Pretty unfriendly, wouldn't you say ?

 The main part of the job Petey left to Tuffy was to make sure the family and all his friends were all happy and  knew he missed them all and that wouldn't be hard to do. This job may not be so hard after all. He'll just take it one step at a time and see how it goes. 

Santa has promised he will find time to come by and check on things for him so he doesn't forget any important stuff. He even offered to send Rudolph to stay for a few days but Tuffy knows he is needed at the North Pole more than here this time of year so he told Santa "thanks but Petey did teach me most of what I need to know so I think I'll be ok on my own."

 Now, as its getting closer he feels better about things anyway as Mom sorta gives him hints  to remind him of things he might forget and everything seems to be going pretty darn well. This is really a neat time of year ... everyone seems happier, and even though Petey is missed around here a lot everyone knows he is doing something he really loves. He's helping to make sure kids everywhere have a Happy Christmas and that's something Petey always loved doing. And because everyone here loves Petey so much that makes them happy too.

And now Christmas is just days away and Tuffy is beginning to have a really good time. He has managed to get things organized as Petey taught him and Racqui and his kids arrived a few days ago and have been a big help as well. Although, keeping Racqui's kids away from the fish pond has been a problem. Convincing them the fish were not there as a snack for them  took a lot of explaining  but now they seem to understand that the fish have as much right as they do to enjoy Christmas and the kids are leaving them alone. Between you and me, some of those fish are almost as big as the kids and I think the kids are a bit afraid of tangling with them anyway.

One thing which was a disappointment was the note from Joey saying he and his family wouldn't make it this Christmas as they had a big family reunion planned with other family members who were finally coming home.  Even though Katrina was a couple of years ago a lot of the people who lost their homes  still haven't managed to get things back to where they were before that disaster. We all need to remember that they do still need help rebuilding their lives even though we don't see or hear as much about them these days. But Joey did say he and his family are all fine and together. He still says if it hadn't been for Petey and Chris he might never have found his family again  and sent his love to everyone. He hopes Petey and Chris will drop by if they can Christmas Eve when they are passing through New Orleans. He said he will be waiting up if it takes all night hoping to see them.

 There have even been messages from Robbie Robin and Rusty Cardinal ( who moved away last year) saying they are going to make it this year just to see Petey's kids so Petey will know they still miss him.  Of course Billy Blue Jay is here. He never leaves. He's  been a really big help. They all are sad that Petey won't be here but understand he's doing really important work these days and think its great he is finally getting to do what he wanted to do for so long.

 In another day or so this place is going to be one big party. Just what Petey wanted ! And Tuffy just got a message from Santa saying he is going to drop by tonight to help Tuffy do a last minute check to be sure he hasn't forgotten anything. In fact, it sounds as if he just arrived. That sure does sound like sleigh bells outside !

 Well, it was Santa and he and Tuffy had a really nice visit.  Santa was so pleased with the job that Tuffy has done that he decided to leave things all up to him. He says Petey sure did teach Tuffy well before he came to the North Pole to stay. And he said Petey is gonna be really proud of Tuffy. He also said that Petey has been a really big help this year, so much that Chris and Petey are taking most of the  work off his hands  this year so he can concentrate on making sure no little boy or girl is missed. He didn't stay long as it is almost Christmas Eve and he has a lot of things still to finish so he gave Tuffy a huge Christmas bone, said hello to the kids, and then he and Rudolph flew off to get back home.

 Now Tuffy can relax a little. He hadn't let on but he had been a little worried that he might have forgotten something but it looks as if the holiday is going to be a good one around here. He missed Petey. And he knows Mom does too. She doesn't say so but he has seen her looking sad a few times and he knows she is remembering how happy it was around here when Petey was here. Maybe once she sees how happy everyone is, and what a good job he has done she won't miss Petey so much. After all, Petey isn't really gone, he made sure things would be just as they always are for those he loves so much before he left. And Tuffy is pretty darn sure that Petey is checking to be sure they stay that way . He knows at times he has felt as if Petey was whispering in his ear when he was trying to think if he had forgotten anything. Now he was just going to relax and join in the fun. Party time was here ! And, he hadn't even needed to call in Petey or Chris and take them away from more important stuff ... not even once !

 And what a party it was ! Everyone had a great time and loved their presents and  being with one another and even Mom was having a great time. He DID IT ! He's tired but its a good tired. Another lesson he learned that Petey hadn't mentioned ! And now that it is over and everyone has gone home he can finally get back to being a puppy . A little mischief maybe ? Seems like forever since he  just goofed around  and acted his age. After all he really is a big kid too. And everyone knows kids have to get into stuff sometimes just for the fun of doing it. And besides, Mom can't always expect  him to act all growed up. Being a puppy does have its benefits you know ! You do something you know you shouldn't do and only get a little bit of scolding and then usually a big hug because , as Mom always says, " aw heck .. you are only a puppy for a little while .. its ok Sweetie." That's what is neat about being a kid. They may get upset when you are naughty, but they never ever stop loving you.

He had not had any idea how happy it was going to make him feel to know he had helped to make everyone else so happy ! This Christmas stuff is really neat . Now he understands why Petey told him it was so important. It sure is. Heck, that is the best present a guy could ever get. One more thing he owes Petey !

 Merry Christmas everyone, from all of my family and me. See ya all next year !