Ever since Sylvia Meisner disappeared nearly three years ago, Maple Valley folks have been waiting for the other shoe to drop. Tourists arriving in Maple Valley do not feel the dread that lives in this delightful place. All the happy visitors believe the notions they have about this dreamland where there are no worries, unpaid bills, headaches, sprained ankles, runny noses, cavities, or canker sores. They wander through our lovely streets, walk past our homes, pay for trinkets, and sip hot chocolate in our Ya’ll Sit Cafe before climbing back onto the train and think of how wonderful it would be to live in Maple Valley.

Perhaps we should tell the oblivious visitors they will be responsible for the repair bill on The Old General if they live here. Maybe we should tell them Quintin O’Dillmotte is crazy and will make it his duty to dig into their personal life.

Living up to the expectations of part-time visitors who see only what we want them to see adds to the pressure we who call Maple Valley home feel every day. The holidays, unfortunately, heap piles of tinsel dreams dressed in silver, red, and gold on all of us.

In spite of real life interrupting wishful dreaming, preparations for Christmas are in a mad dash for the finish line. It’s time to reveal a secret held by everyone who actually lives in Maple Valley. We don’t do our Christmas shopping here. Such an awful insult to the perfect holiday hopes of visitors cannot be shared. This is a fact of life we all keep to ourselves. After all, we already know everything every store owner sells, so to get that special something for someone, we have to go somewhere else.

A big part of the wonder of Maple Valley is the train trip into town. Some folks have asked why the two huge steam locomotives owned by the Maple Valley Railroad are not being used while The Old General is being repaired. We tell them the cost is too high to operate either of the two fine engines for such a short trip. It takes only twenty minutes for the run from Whinington to Maple Valley. The locomotive would sit still, under power, for four hours while riders visit Maple Valley. To make it feasible, tickets for the brief ride would be over two hundred dollars. The old Santa Fe diesel is working just fine.

On another note, rumors rumble continuously over the “Dear Doctor” column in the Maple Valley Spur. Anticipation of the weekly reader is high as everyone waits for another snippet from “S.M.” Sheriff Pete has begun reading the Spur along with everyone else, but he knows nothing more than do all the other readers.

The Reverend Shermer of Maple Valley Church is still basking in the glow of his notorious victory in the Halloween decorating contest for the third year in a row. The best part of his victory has nothing to do with pumpkins and skeletons. The good reverend is still relishing the fact his nemesis is gone. His sermons seem more exciting and his countenance is lighter. The absence of Gella Hoolik from the first pew on the right side is almost as exciting as the holidays for Shermer.

Final rehearsals for the Maple Valley School Christmas Show have reminded everyone Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without last minute disasters. Fourth grader, Jorbin Bingle, who is just the right size to fit into the chimney on the set of Mrs. Hicklemy’s play, “Who’s Stuck in the Chimney?” has tonsillitis and is awaiting surgery at Whinington Hospital. Understudy, Camey Sibbledorn, will fill the role. Camey, however, is much smaller than Jorbin Bingle, so will have to stand on a stool inside the chimney to appear to be stuck. Hopefully, no one will notice.

The title song, “Who’s Stuck in the Chimney?” is stuck in my head.

“Who’s stuck in the chimney? It must be Santa Clause!
I hear noises on the roof, it must be reindeer paws!
I can’t wait to see him, when he’s finally free,
And open all the presents, he brought down just for me!”

Merry Christmas from Maple Valley!