The next morning, Max and Chelsea woke to the faint sound of bells jingling and the cheery hum of elves bustling about. Sunlight streamed through the frosted windows of their cozy room, casting golden patterns across the colorful quilts. For a moment, the warmth and comfort made them forget about their daunting task—but only for a moment.

Chelsea stretched and sat up, looking over at Max, who was already awake and staring at the ceiling. “Ready for another day?” she asked.

Max nodded. “We have to be. Jeremy’s not going to change himself.”

After getting dressed, they headed to the dining hall, where Clara greeted them with a hearty breakfast of pancakes, eggs, and hot cocoa. “Eat up,” she encouraged. “You’ll need all the energy you can get today.”

Santa entered the room just as they finished eating, his presence filling the space with warmth and authority. “Good morning, my young heroes,” he said with a twinkle in his eye. “How are we feeling?”

“Nervous,” Chelsea admitted. “Jeremy’s so tough to reach. What if we just… can’t?”

Santa placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “You’ve already planted the seeds of kindness, Chelsea. Change takes time, but every act of compassion matters. Today, I have something special to help you.”

He led them to a large workbench in the center of the workshop, where Pip, the mischievous elf Clara had mentioned, was waiting with a grin. On the table lay two small, glowing ornaments, each pulsing faintly with light.

“These are Heart Ornaments,” Santa explained. “They’re enchanted with the magic of understanding. When you hold them near someone, they can feel the emotions you’re trying to share. It might help Jeremy see that you’re sincere.”

“Wow,” Max breathed, picking up one of the ornaments. It felt warm in his hand, almost alive. “How do they work?”

“They’ll respond to your intentions,” Santa said. “But be careful. The magic is powerful, and it can’t force someone to change—only encourage them to open up. The rest is up to you.”

Chelsea took the other ornament, her resolve strengthening. “We’ll do our best.”

“I know you will,” Santa said with a proud smile. “Now, off you go. Jeremy’s waiting.”

Max and Chelsea stepped back into the time machine, the familiar hum enveloping them as the room blurred and shifted. Moments later, they were back in the snowy city streets, the hustle and bustle of holiday shoppers filling the air.

Instead of finding Jeremy sitting on the park bench as before, they heard a commotion near a market stall. Turning the corner, they saw Jeremy in the midst of an argument with an angry shopkeeper. The boy was clutching a loaf of bread under his arm, his face defiant.

“I saw you take it, you little thief!” the shopkeeper barked, pointing an accusing finger. “Put it back, or I’ll call the police!”

Jeremy smirked, his eyes glinting with mischief. “What are you going to do, old man? Chase me?” With that, he darted off, weaving through the crowd with practiced ease.

“Oh no,” Chelsea muttered, and without thinking, she and Max took off after him.

Jeremy was fast, but Max and Chelsea had determination on their side. They followed him through a narrow alley and into a quieter part of town, where he finally stopped to catch his breath. When he turned and saw them approaching, his grin faded.

“You two again?” he said, his tone sharp. “What do you want now?”

“We want to talk,” Max said, holding up his hands to show they meant no harm. “That’s all.”

Jeremy scoffed. “Talk about what? How I’m such a bad kid? Save it. I’ve heard it all before.”

Chelsea stepped forward, trying to keep her voice calm. “We’re not here to judge you, Jeremy. We just want to understand. Why did you take the bread?”

Jeremy’s eyes narrowed. “Why do you care? It’s not like you’re going to do anything about it.”

Max reached into his pocket and pulled out the glowing Heart Ornament. “We care because we know there’s more to you than what people see. And we think you deserve a chance.”

Jeremy eyed the ornament suspiciously. “What is that, some kind of trick?”

“It’s not a trick,” Max said. “It’s just a way to show you how we feel. You don’t have to do anything. Just hold it for a second.”

Jeremy hesitated, then snatched the ornament out of Max’s hand. The light pulsed faintly as he held it, and for a moment, his bravado faltered. But just as quickly, he shoved it back into Max’s hands.

“Nice try,” he said, his tone hardening again. “But you’re wasting your time. I don’t need your pity, and I don’t need you.”

With that, he turned and walked away, the loaf of bread still tucked under his arm.

Max sighed, looking down at the ornament. “That didn’t go how I hoped.”

Chelsea placed a hand on his shoulder. “It’s okay. Santa said this wouldn’t be easy. We just have to keep trying.”

As they stood in the empty alley, the faint sound of a bell jingling in the distance reminded them of Santa’s words: every act of compassion matters, even when it feels like nothing has changed.