Start from the beginning, click here!
Listen instead!
MYSTERY SURROUNDS MISSING MISCHIEF MAKERS
Northpole Gazette
By Gilbert Gumdrop, Editor-in-Chief
The Mischief Makers are still missing, but investigative reporter Sparkly Sprinkles is in the field, sending us notes by carrier reindeer. After encountering a trio of vicious, nasty, gnomes, through sheer wit and determination, Sparkly has discovered Nim, Lil, Figgy, Pixie and Glitter’s heading. She is hot on their heels as they travel down the Twinkle Trail to parts unknown. Just what are these five searching for? Sources familiar with the matter say whatever they are doing may be a dangerous threat to Christmas itself. Stay tuned!
This is a developing story.
“Let’s see,” said Glitter as she paced on the river bank. “We’ve tried asking politely.”
“And,” added Lil. “We tried offering sugar.”
“You mean you offered my last pound of sugar-coated gumdrops,” grumbled Nim.
“It was for a good cause, Nim,” said Pixie.
“Then why didn’t you offer your King Size Candied Sugar Cube, Pixie?”
Lil sighed. “Moving on. We need to figure out how to get Figgy free of that ice column. His expression is starting to worry me.”
They all gazed at Figgy’s face. Unfortunately, his facial expression had been frozen in place when the ice prison landed on him. He had a look of someone who is….
“Constipated,” said Nim. “He looks constipated.”
A deep chuckle sounded from the river, causing hairline cracks in the ice.
Nim looked around frantically while Lil and Pixie made “easy there” and “Ope” faces at Figgy’s ice block. Glitter, who appeared to be unaffected by this new development, brayed. Loudly. And suddenly, the laughter ceased and a small, diminutive pixie fluttered to the top of Figgy’s prison.
“Hello, Harold,” said Glitter.
“Actually, it’s Jerald, now. With a Q.”
Nim, Pixie and Lil exchanged confused looks while Glitter rolled her eyes and sighed heavily and, for Glitter, dramatically. “Of course it is.”
“Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friends, Glitter?” asked Jerald with a Q.
“I suppose it is unavoidable now,” said Glitter. “Jerald, meet Nim, Lil, Pixie, and in the ice block you’ve imprisoned him in, Figgy.”
After a long pause, Glitter added with a calculated smile. “These are Santa’s top Mischief Makers.”
Jerald with a Q drew back, gaping. “Santa’s top Mischief Makers? You don’t say. Well, I am just a huge fan, probably your biggest fan…if not in stature. Blllfhahhalfahhalls!”
Lil pulled a face at the…was that a laugh?…that came from the creature.
Pixie and Nim gaped.
Figgy continued to look constipated.
“Yes,” said Glitter. “So you see, we have a bit of a problem.”
Jerald with a Q peered down at Figgy’s frame frozen in the ice. “Yes. I see what you mean.”
“Well?” asked Glitter rather impatiently.
“Yes, well it’s not as if I can just let you go now is it, Glitter. There are protocols to follow, rules to obey, etc, etc.”
“Glitter,” asked Pixie. “What is he talking about?”
“Well, my dear girl,” said Jerald with a Q. “This is the River of Reflection.”
After a few beats of silence, Jerald realized the elves were not awed by his announcement. “The River of Reflection? The one true source of goodness? The key to continuing on?”
Glitter shook with suppressed mirth as blank stares met his gaze.
“Really, Glitter. Have you taught them nothing?”
“Get on with it Jerald,” said Glitter
Jerald huffed. “Fine.” He floated straight into the air slowly, spreading his arms wide.
Look into the river,
Tell me what you see,
You’ll see the other side
Once you answer me
“Water,” answered Lil.
“Fish,” said Nim.
“Waves,” added Pixie.
“Me!” shouted Figgy.
“Figgy, you can’t just say—.”
“Figgy!?” The ice column around the green-clad elf had disappeared, and Figgy stood, shivering, on the floating block of ice.
“The green one is correct,” said Jerald with a Q.
“He is?” asked three incredulous elves.
Jerald nodded. “As I said, this is the River of Reflection. The correct answer…broke the ice. Blllfhahhalfahhalls!”
A crystal bridge floated to the top of the river. The party of Mischief Makers traveled across, while Glitter finished talking with Jerald.
“C’mon, Glitter,” called Nim. “We’ve got to get going!”
“Ok, be there soon.” Glitter turned to Jerald with a Q. “Thank you for…guiding us.”
“It’s my job,” Jerald sniffed. “But, Glitter…you should know you are not the only ones hunting.”
Glitter paused. “Who else?”
“I think you know her. Or, at least, she knows you.”
“Sparkly Sprinkles?”
Jerald nodded. “I didn’t see her, but the Gnarly Gnomes told me she’d been snooping around, asking about four elves and an…ahem…overgrown reindeer.”
Glitter seethed.
“And,” added Jerald. “She knows about the mailbox.”
Glitter fumed.
“Just thought you ought to know.”
a pinch of homestead 