The Adventures Of Runnel, The Ice Bear

    One cold and frosty morning, just two weeks before Christmas, the North Polar Bear set out through the deep snow to see his sister, Lenka Bear.  She lived not far from the Christmas Castle with her five little polar cubs.  Their names were Pake, Peek, Pike, Poke, and Puuk.  These might seem like strange names to you, but they are perfectly good Polar bear names just the same.                         
    On this particular winter morn the cubs were outside rolling and playing in the newly fallen snow when their uncle arrived.  "Hi, Uncle," yelled Pake, who always the loudest cub.  The other cubs gathered around the older bear and hugged his legs.
     "Come inside, cubs," he said, "I have something I need to talk with you about."
     "Did you bring us a present?" asked Peek, who was always the most curious cub.
     "You'll see, you'll see," said the North Polar Bear.  He opened the door of the little cottage and went inside.  The cubs ran in after him, leaving a trail of snow across the doorway.
     The inside of the cottage felt warm and cozy, with a hot crackling fire in the hearth and the smell of good food cooking in the air.  The North Polar Bear stood by the fire and shook the snow from his fur.  A sweet, high voice floated from the kitchen.  The voice was singing a polar bear Christmas song. It is quite a good song, and if I knew the words I would tell you, because I know you would enjoy it.
     "Mom, Uncle is here!" said Pike, who was always the politest cub.
     The singing stopped, and Lenka Bear came out of the kitchen.  "Oh, how wonderful," she said.  "I was just baking some Christmas cookies.  Would you like some?"
    "I would!" said Poke, who was always the hungriest cub.
     The North Polar Bear smiled and said, "Not right now, thank you.  I have come to speak with you about the cubs."
     Lenka came into the living room and sat on the sofa.  The cubs joined her, and their uncle sat in the big padded chair nearest the fire. 
        "Santa sent me to see about the cubs," the bear said as he warmed his paws.  "He believes they're old enough to begin working, and he has a special job for them to do."
     The cubs let out a cheer.  Lenka clapped her paws and laughed with glee. 
     "That's splendid!" she exclaimed.  "I agree with Santa.  They are old enough to work."
     The North Polar Bear looked uncertain.  "I'm not so sure.  I have my position to think about, you know, and if they fail to live up to the family name..."
     "Uncle, we'll do the best we can," said Puuk, who was the smartest cub.
        His uncle smiled again.  "Well. That's the best I can ask for, isn't it?"
        "We can do it!" yelled Pake.
        "What is the job, uncle?" asked Peek.
        "I'm sure it's a nice one," said Pike.
        "Do we get to eat anything?" asked Poke.
        "Please, give him a chance to say," said Puuk.
        "Enough, cubs!" cried the North Polar Bear, and they all quieted down.  "Santa wants you to help bring some of the presents to his Sleigh on Christmas Eve.  And because you are my nephews, he has assigned you the biggest load of all.  The one for the children whose names begin with the letter `J'."
     The North Polar Bear looked fiercely at the cubs through his bushy bear eyebrows.  "You will report to me tomorrow at the Castle.  I will show you the warehouse and your sled.  You will have the chance to practice for two entire weeks.  As you know, I am quite busy and cannot help you any more than this."
        "We won't let you down, Uncle" said Puuk.
    His uncle said nothing for a moment, then “See that you do not.”