Adult Winner One recent Christmas Eve morning, in a little cottage filled with love next to a Tribe Road in Somerset, Mama Pickwick was making her special Christmas cake.

"Oh no!'' Mama Pickwick cried. "I'm all out of nuts!'' she went to the door and called out to her grandchildren, Noah and Penny Pickwick, who were playing in the yard. "Noah and Penny, I need nuts from the store for my special Christmas cake''. Getting money out of her purse, she cautioned them to look both ways before crossing the street and off they went.

When they arrived at the corner store, just a few corners away, Noah, being the eldest at 10, went up to the counter. "Good morning Mr. Ming. Mama Pickwick needs nuts for her special Christmas cake'', he said. "We can't have Christmas without that cake''. "That's right Mr. Ming'', piped 8 year old Penny, "the cake is the best part of Christmas!'' Mr. Ming, being the kind man that he was, smiled at Noah and Penny while shaking his head slowly from side to side as he rang up the nuts. "Noah and Penny, I think you've got it wrong'', he said. "The most important part of Christmas is the Christmas spirit''.

He passed them their nuts, their change, told them to look both ways when crossing the street and sent them on their way. Now, Noah and Penny were happy children and nothing made them happier tan all the fun, food and presents at Christmas. But now as they headed home with the nuts for Mama Pickwick's special Christmas cake, they were a little bit sad.

"Gee Penny'', said Noah, "what if Mr. Ming is right? We can't have Christmas without the Christmas spirit''. "Do you think we can find him Noah?'' asked Penny. "Mama Pickwick would be real proud of us if we brought him home''.

Noah, being the eldest, decided to take charge of the situation.

"Yes, Penny, we'll find him'' he said. "Remember last year when Grandpa Pickwick was in the hospital? He told Mama Pickwick that he couldn't sleep at night because spirits walked the halls. Why don't we start there?'' Okay'' said Penny. So off they went to catch the bus.

Arriving at the hospital they went in the Emergency Room entrance. It was very busy there. Doctors and nurses were scuttling about, people were coming and going. "Excuse me'' said Noah, pulling on the coat sleeve of a doctor.

"Yes?'' said the busy doctor. "We're looking for a spirit,'' said Noah. "A WHAT?'' said the busy doctor. "A spirit'' piped Penny. "Grandpa Pickwick says they walk the halls here at night. Do you think we can talk to one now, even though it's daytime?'' "Whose kids are these?'' bellowed the busy doctor. No one answered. "Look kids, this is an emergency room. We are very busy. If you're looking for a spirit, I suggest you go to where we send them.

Try Devonshire Church and graveyard''. And off he strode.

"Oh Noah'', said Penny, "a graveyard? That's scary. Maybe we should forget the Christmas spirit and go home''. "Penny'', said Noah, in his best big brother voice, "we've come this far. Besides, it's still early in the day.

Everyone knows graveyard spirits only come out at night. `Sides, the doctor said it's a church. It's got to be safe''. Penny was still a little scared, but she trusted Noah. So off they went.

"Devonshire Church'' called the bus driver. "Thank you'' said the children as they got off the bus. "Look'', said Penny, "there's a wedding going on in the church. If there's a spirit in that crowd, he's probably going to the reception. Everyone always goes to the reception''. "Well'', said Noah, "that means we have to look in the other place the doctor said''. And he quickly took Penny's hand and headed for the graveyard.

"See'', said Noah, "this isn't scary at all''. "Yeah'', said Penny, "nothing here all right''. Just then a gust of wind blew a piece of paper at their feet. "Look'', said Noah picking up the paper. "It's all about an old ship in St. George's called the `Deliverance'. Maybe it has some spirits! Let's look there!'' "St. Georges!'' exclaimed Penny. "How will we get there?'' Noah looked around and spotted an old pedal bike someone had left for. "We can ride this,'' he said. "You sit on the seat and I'll stand up and peddle''. And off they rode.

"There it is!'' shouted Noah, as they rode up to the boat. "There's a rope across the front'', said Penny. "We can't go on. Looks like another dead end''. "Don't say that,'' said Noah, who was beginning to feel the same way.

Looking around they spotted some men loading a truck. "Excuse me,'' said Noah, using his best big brother voice. "We're looking for a spirit to take home for Christmas dinner''. "Well mates,'' replied on of the men with a wink, "we've just knocked off and are out to get some spirits ourselves. Hop on back and we'll give you a lift''. "Hear that Penny'', said Noah. "They know where to find the spirit. Let's go!'' On to the back of the truck they jumped and off they went. "Here ya go mates,'' said the same man. "This is where we get our spirits''. Noah and Penny looked up at the sign over the door. "Noah, what's an `Anchorage'? asked Penny. "It's a place with plenty of spirit!'' the man laughed and in he went.

Noah and Penny looked at each other, shrugged their shoulders and started to follow him. "Whoa! Where are you kids going?'' asked a big voice from a big woman who had grabbed each of them in one of her big hands.

"We were going in to get a spirit to come with us for Christmas dinner'' squealed Noah. "Yeah'' said Penny, as she tried to squirm out of the big woman's big hands. "There's no kind of spirit in anchorage suitable for young kids,'' said the big woman. "Now shoo!'' Noah grabbed Penny's hand and they walked to the bench at a nearby bus stop.

"Good afternoon m'am'' they said to the old lady sitting there. "Almost good evening'' replied the old woman. "Well Noah, where do we look now?'' asked Penny. "We're going to be in an lot of trouble for being gone so long, and we still haven't found a spirit!'' Looking for a spirit?'' asked the old woman.

Noah and Penny nodded yes. "Well, in my day we found them out at, hmmm, lets see. What's it called now? All these new names for the same old places.

They'll be calling me something new next!'' The children waited...and waited. "Excuse me m'am,'' said Noah gently. "You were going to tell us where we could find a spirit?'' "What?'' said the old woman. "Oh, yes, a spirit. Well in my day we found them at...what's it called now? Oh yeah, Admiralty house.'' "How do we get there?'' "Take the 3 bus when it comes and stay on it till it gets to Spanish Point'', replied the old woman. "I may not remember so well these new names for the same old places but I do know how to get around on the bus''. So off on the bus they went, again.

"Admiralty House'' bellowed the bus drive. "Thank you'' said Noah and Penny as they hopped of the bus. "Noah, it's getting a late,'' said Penny. "Mama Pickwick is going to be worried. Let's find this spirit and get home''.

Well they looked in the clubhouse and over on the tennis court. They went down to the beach, looked in the old cannons and shouted through the caves. No spirit. Slowly, sadly, Noah and Penny walked back towards the bus stop.

"Hey kids,'' said a couple slowing down from their evening jog, "no more buses for tonight. Where are you going?'' "Mangrove Bay'' replied Noah.

"Well, if you hurry, you can catch the last ferry. Just stay on this road for about a mile or so.'' And off they jogged.

"Come on Penny'', said Noah sadly. "Guess we better head home.'' Quickly and quietly they walked down the road. "Noah, my feet hurt'', cried Penny. "And I'm hungry''. "Well, there's the ferry coming in now. Quick, let's run!'' replied Noah.

And they ran the last block coming to the ferry terminal quite out of breath.

"We made it!'' said Noah. He reached into his pocket. "Oh no!'' cried Noah.

"Penny, most of the money is gone! All we have left is just enough to get home. Well, at least we still have the nuts''. So Noah and Penny headed towards the ferry door to get their tokens.

"Excuse me', came a very tired voice. They looked around and saw an old man standing against a tree. He had on an old floppy hat, old clothes and very old shoes. He also had a cane and shiny black glasses.

"Why is he wearing those dark glasses?'' whispered Penny. "Because I'm blind'', replied the old man. "Oh'', said Penny, quite embarrassed. "That's quite all right,'' said the old man. "You kids sound like good kids. I've lost my money and I'm very thirsty. Can you spare a dollar so I can get something to drink?'' Noah pulled Penny over to a corner. "If we give him the dollar, we won't have enough to make it home,'' he said. "I know'', said Penny. "But Mama Pickwick said we have to help those less fortunate than us. She said it always comes back.'' "You're right'', said Noah. "We'll get home somehow''. And he went up to the old man and pressed a dollar into his hand.

"Bless you kids'', he said. "You have truly shown your kind Christmas spirit.'' And he turned around and tapped, tapped away.

"Did you hear that?'' asked Penny, looking around excitedly. "He said we showed our Christmas spirit! What did he mean -- where is it?'' Noah was deep in thought. "...we gave him money so he could get something to drink...'' Suddenly Penny's face brightened. "Noah, we've been looking for the wrong thing! The Christmas spirit isn't something you to get. It's something you give!'' "You're right'', said Noah, "we didn't have to search the island for the Christmas spirit. We had it here (and he pointed to his heart), in us.'' Suddenly `Toot, Toot'! "Hey, you kids coming?'' yelled the ferry captain? "We don't have enough money'', they yelled back. "It's Christmas Eve, the ride is free!'' yelled the ferry captain. "Yea!'' shouted the children as they sprang on board. "Thank you captain'' said Noah and Penny. "All in the Christmas spirit'' he replied. And off to Somerset they went.

The end.

Adult Winner, Karla Lacey-Minors writes a charming tale.