When Big Nose was just a young elf, and yes I did say elf, his name was not Big Nose. He had just an ordinary name, like yours and mine. In this case his name was Oscar, Oscar Tallboots. Not many people remember that now as it was such a long time ago. As everyone knows, all elf children have a naming day, and from that day forward they are known by their new name. On his naming day, Oscar became Big Nose. Elf children really look forward to their naming day. They have a big party with lots of presents and food. It is like a birthday and Christmas all rolled into one for you and me. But most of all they look forward to Santa giving them their new name, and being told where they will work in Santa’s house, workshop, or stables.
Now Big Ears told me this tale a long time ago, and he says it is all true, every word! Anyway this is how the tale goes according to Big Ears.
As I am sure you know, every Saturday night Santa has tea with all the young elf children. Well except for when Christmas Eve falls on a Saturday of course! Anyway, the highlight of the tea is always Santa’s ice-cream. It is the best tasting ice-cream you could wish for in the whole wide world. It is probably because the Fairy Queen helps make it, and everyone says she puts a sprinkle of fairy dust on the top.
This particular Saturday the ice-cream was raspberry ripple with peaches and cream, which was always one of little Oscar’s favourites. This particular ice-cream though, thought little Oscar, was extra tasty. Even though Oscar had eaten his usual three big bowls of ice-cream, he still wanted more, so tasty it was. Later that night as little Oscar lay in bed, all he could think about was the delicious raspberry ripple with peaches and cream ice-cream. How it melted and ran down his throat, and how the ripple tasted of real ripple. How the peaches were so soft they melt in your mouth, and they seemed to swim through a sea of cream. In the end Oscar could not resist the temptation any longer, he just had to have some more! Just a little bit, a smidgen, or even just a smell of it would do, he just had to.
Do you want to know the rest of the story? Read all about what happens to Big Nose plus lots of other stories in the new book coming soon.
![Big Nose is looking inside Santa's freezer, staring longingly at a bowl of ice cream.](https://i0.wp.com/stephenredfernreadingroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/4.jpg?resize=640%2C830&ssl=1)