A Boy Named Nicholas/Part 1

Empath's personal journal.

''It is Christmas Day in the Smurf Village, and this year for some reason Papa Smurf is not present to give out the gifts to his little Smurfs. So naturally this smurf took the initiative to be the Smurf that would do the honors. It has been a day that this smurf was looking forward to, as this would be the first Christmas that Polaris Psyche would spend with us in the Smurf Village. This smurf wants to make sure that this day would be the most pleasurable one that Polaris Psyche has ever had, even if Papa Smurf is not currently present with us to enjoy it.'' - It was the morning of Christmas Day, and every Smurf was asleep until they heard the sound of Harmony's horn, signaling everybody to wake up. They got out of beds, dressed up as warm as they could, and gathered around the big Christmas tree in the center of the village.

They could see that Empath was already at the tree. "Merry Christmas, my fellow Smurfs!" he called out.

"Where's Papa Smurf? I thought he'd be out here smurfing the presents!" Nat said.

"Yeah, Papa's usually out there around this time on this day," Snappy said.

"You mean Pappy's not going to join us this year?" Sassette asked.

"He's got his own things to smurf care of, so why should we bother him?" Slouchy said, shrugging his shoulders.

"We will still have a happy Christmas day with or without Papa Smurf present, my little Smurflings," Brainy said.

"Brainy is right," Empath said. "We shouldn't let Papa Smurf's absence from the festivities ruin this day for the rest of us. At least we are still here together."

"Well, what are we waiting for? Start smurfing out the presents!" Hefty said.

"Yeah, let's get smurfing with the presents," Handy seconded.

"I hate waiting for the presents."

"I think we should smurf a prayer before the presents are passed out," Tapper said, stepping forward to interrupt the festivities. He then bowed his head and prayed, "O Lord God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, please bless this day in which Your only begotten Son has condescended in the form of man for the sake of our salvation, and please bless the fellowship of my fellow Smurfs, that it may be pleasing and acceptable in Your sight. For I ask this in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen."

"Amen," Duncan and Smurfette responded.

"Okay, prayer time's over!" Hefty said. "Smurf with the presents already!"

"Here you go, Hefty...the first present is yours!" Empath said, passing the gift box over to Hefty, which he caught and quickly opened.

"Maybe I should help you pass out the presents, Empath," Smurfette said as she went over and stood beside Empath, and he handed her a present which she gave to one of her fellow Smurfs.

One by one the Smurfs opened their presents. Some Smurfs squealed in glee over seeing what they received. Some were a little more reserved in their response. Some just groaned as if the gift they received was the last thing they wanted.

Finally Empath came to the last gift, which he gave to Polaris Psyche, who was standing there waiting patiently until all the Smurfs received their gifts.

"It's a woolen Smurf hat, with gloves and a scarf," Polaris mentioned as he looked inside the box at his gift.

"This smurf thought that you would like something that will keep you warm when you're doing your security walks through the village, Polaris," Empath said.

"At the very least, Empath, it is an interesting gift," Polaris said in his usual flat tone.

"Try it on, Polaris," Empath suggested. "Let this smurf see how you look in it."

"This one does not see the point in wearing clothes just to display them before others, Empath," Polaris said.

"It's just that people like seeing how others would look wearing new clothes, Polaris," Empath said. "It's basically a custom for both humans and Smurfs."

"If this is only for you to evaluate how this one looks wearing the hat, then this one will do it," Polaris said. He then pulled the hat out of the box and put it on.

"Here, let this smurf adjust the hat," Empath said, reaching out to shift the top part of the hat so that it flopped forward like a regular Smurf hat. "Now you look like your fellow Smurfs."

Empath gave Polaris a mirror to see himself in. "Hmmm...so it would seem," he duly noted as he saw his reflection with the woolen Smurf hat.

"This smurf senses that you're not very excited about wearing the hat, Polaris," Empath said.

To be expanded on.