Silent is all that followed, but this was a heavier kind of silent. Instead of the 'no going to answer' silent, it was the shocked type of silent. The one where you are so surprised you have nothing to say. And this was uncomfortable.

For a while they sat there, Jack and North, one staring, one trying to avoid the stare. It was so awkward, to put it in words, when finally, "Wh... What do you mean you didn't choose?" North bellowed. He was shocked, to say the least. Every spirit got to choose what they want, and for Manny to take a child away from their family was unthinkable!

"I mean, I don't even know how a spirit is chosen." Jack said in a small voice, he didn't even know what North is talking about!

"Jack, when a person has a special center that needs to be spread to others. Manny will hold a place in the spirit world for them. So when the time is right, like when your children are grown and don't need you or your giving up on the world, Manny will come and offer you a chance at greatness! He will explain what you will do, what you can do, and who you will become.

"Like, for example, my real name was Nicholas, as you may know. I had a beautiful wife and three healthy children from that time. It was over 500 years ago when all this happened. One day, my wife died, it was so tragic for someone with such youth. I thought the world had ended, but I kept going. Every year one my wife's death day, I would make toys and goodie for the children of my village. I filled them with the wonder of the world! Making things that they never seen before!

"Then the time came for my children to grow old and get married to love-ones. I was alone in the house, but I kept going with my presents and my life. And at the old age of 79, almost 80, Manny came down and offered me an internal holiday, where I can give toys to, not only my village, but the world! He told me that I would have helpers, the yetis and the non-helpers, the elves! How could I say no?

"I said good bye to my lovely kids and took up the offer. I became Santa Clause or North for my nick name from the village."

Jack was taking in every information as the story was replayed. It was a beautiful, yet sad story for someone to go through. It made Jack what to know about how the others came to be, but he knew not to ask. 'Cause from North's expression, Jack knew it was a hard story to remember. Even if the full story wasn't said, North still remembers it all from day one.

North had tears in his eyes and it became clear that he was trying not to cry. He took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the tears that managed to escape.

"Any questions, dear boy?" he asked between huffs. With a shake of the head from Jack, telling North that he had no questions, he asked one of his own, "What makes you so different from me? Why did you say you never choose to be a spirit?"

Jack looked up at North with an uncertain expression on his face. 'What if North judge me?' He thought as he looked away and whispered, "Because I died before I could."

Silent fell for a few second, then, "Could you repeat that? I didn't hear what you said." North said as he leaned over his desk to hear Jack well in case he whispered again.

Jack took a deep breath and met North's eyes as he repeated a bit too loudly, "Because I died before I could choose!"

Not expecting the reaction, North threw himself back into the chair with a loud bang.

Upset, Jack flew out the open window before North could process what he just said. When I finally processed, he couldn't believe it. Jack died before Manny chose him, but how can that be? How is it possible? All this was giving North a headache! He needed help with this situation!

He stood and walked to the door, opened it and walked into the Work Shop. The globe was his target.

The Globe could do many things other than show little lights that represents children of the world, I can show the weather of the world, updates on toys and other things, and most of all, contact the rest of the Guradians!

North went to the solar flare alert lever and pulled it out, twisted it to the right and pushed it back in, sending colorful flares throughout the world to collect the other Guradians.

"Phil!" North bellowed at the nearest yeti that was painting the stack of robots blue and red. "Make preparations! It seems that we are having the Monthly Meeting early this month. Oh, and they all need be red, start over!"

And as North went to the Meeting room, Phil grumbled in frustration and went to the kitchen to make cookies and carrots for the quests.