Nim and Lil sat on the kitchen counter quietly eating mini marshmallows.
“Onmytoomrnites,” Lil said with a mouthful of marshmallow.
“Whachoosay?” asked Nim as he chewed the sweet and sticky goo.
“I said, only two more nights.”
Nim shook his head in disbelief. It was two days until the BIG day. The day he would leave the boys until the next season.
“I’ve been having fun,” Lil said from the bag of marshmallows. “But I’ll sure be glad to get a little rest before we start our Mischief Planning Meetings again.”
“I hope Santa isn’t too hard on us for all the complaints he got this year.”
Lil grimaced then grinned. “Nah. He’s usually pumped full of Christmas Cheer by the Christmas party. Remember last year when he started to scold Melvin for drawing mustaches on his kids?”
“Oh yes! When he got to the part about using permanent marker, he couldn’t stop laughing long enough to properly take him to task!”
They fell silent again as they thought over of this season’s hard work.
“Well, what are you up to tonight?” Lil asked, breaking the silence.
“I thought I’d build an igloo, but if we keep eating these marshmallows I won’t have any materials to use.”
Lil stopped eating and licked her sticky fingers. Nim’s plan sounded interesting and she was eager to hear the details.
“I’ll need your help setting up the scene.”
“Ok. I only have about 15 minutes. I’ll need to get back to get into costume. We’re having a rock concert tonight.”
Quickly, Nim told Lil his plan. She clapped her hands and asked what she could do to help.
“I’ll need to get the trees in place first.”
Lil and Nim, with a little boost from Leonard, pulled two snowcapped spruce trees over the mountain of presents and placed them in front of the Christmas painting that leaned on the fireplace.
After they put the trees in place they started on the igloo.
“Lil, you have to stop eating the marshmallows or we are going to run out!”
Lil stopped scarfing down the marshmallows and they made quick work of the igloo using a hot glue gun, marshmallows and tape.
“It’s not a funny gag, but I like it,” said Nim as he settled into his igloo.
“Me too,” said Lil and in a blink, she was gone.
a pinch of homestead 