Category Archives: For the Kids

“I sure wish one of us could stay here,” said Lil as she nervously looked at the small jail cell holding Barrel.

“You know the rules, Lil,” said Nim. “We both have to deliver the Behavior Report each night. Besides, he’s in a cage…what can he do?”

Lil made sure the cage door was secure while Nim talked to Glitter.

“I promise we’ll be right back,” said Nim.

“I don’t know why I can’t come with you,” said Glitter nervously eyeing Barrel. “I should be the one to report on the terrible behavior of that–that dog.”

“We need you to stay and start stringing the lights around the tree,” said Lil quickly.

Glitter did not know it, but Lil and Nim had decided not to tell Santa about the little kerfuffle of the night before.

They knew it would reflect poorly on them to have had such a terrible start to the season. Not to mention, it would put their Top Shelf Elf trophy at risk. 

“Don’t you think there are enough lights?” asked Glitter, desperately searching for a reason she could tag along.

Nim and Lil looked at the tree. Each branch dripped with colored, blinking and flashing lights. 

“No, we definitely need to put more lights on the tree,” said Nim.  

“Don’t worry Glitter,” said Lil. “Barrel can’t get out of that cage.”

“And,” added Nim. “Even if he does, he’s learned his lesson this time.”

Glitter shuddered. Lil gave Nim a dirty look.

“Why did you have to say that?!” she whispered.

“What?” Nim whispered back.

“Oh just g-go you two,” said Glitter bravely. “ I-I’m sure it will be fine.”

Nim and Lil flew to the window and with one backward glance, soared toward the North Pole.

Just an hour later, the two elves zipped back through the window.

“See,” said Nim. “Nothing happened while we were gone.”

“Whew,” said Lil. “Just look at all these lights! Glitter sure did a—-“.

“Jingle Bells!” yelped Nim. “What is going on!?”

A mass of blinking white lights rolled around the living room in a tangle with Barrel at the center.

“How in the North Pole did Barrel get out of his cage?” Lil asked.

Nim looked at the shoebox that served as Barrel’s temporary prison. The makeshift door was wide open. It looked as though someone opened it.

A soft “honk” came from the fireplace. Both elves turned to Glitter.

“I-It was the boys,” she said barely above a whisper. “They woke up. W-wanted to play. Unlocked the c-cage.”

Nim and Lil shook their heads. There was no choice left to them.

“We have to take him in, don’t we?” asked Lil.

“I’m afraid so,” said Nim.

Each elf took a leg and they hoisted Barrel up to the window sill.

“Glitter, can you finish up here? Pick up the lights and finish decorating?” asked Lil.

“Yes, we may not have enough time to help when we get back,” said Nim.

“Where are you taking him?” Glitter asked as she cautiously stepped out from behind the painting.

“To Santa,” said Nim sadly.

“He needs more training,” said Lil.

By the time Nim and Lil got back, Glitter was fast asleep, curled up next to the painting.

“I guess we’ll have to use our emergency activity pack tonight,” said Lil as she watched the sun start to rise.

Nim reached into his pocket and pulled two brand new Christmas activity books out and set them on the fireplace where the boys would easily see them.

“Ok,” said Nim. “Now lets find a good hiding spot.”

“What about Glitter?” asked Lil nodding her head at the sleeping reindeer.

“Let her sleep,” said Nim. “She needs it.”

“Do you think she’ll be recovered by tonight?” asked Lil with a slight frown.

“Oh yes,” said Nim. “I’m sure she’ll be much better now that Barrel is gone.”

Glitter snorted and softly honked her sleep.

Before Nim and Lil headed to the North Pole to give Santa the Behavior Report, they’d left Glitter and Barrel in a clean, orderly and well-decorated living room.

“You two can start bringing the pillows out for the pillow fort we are making,” Nim had told the two animals. “We’ll be back soon.”

Then, they flew to the North Pole to file the first Behavior Report of the season.

Never would they EVER have imagined a small dog and reindeer could create the chaos they came back to early that morning.

“Oh Barrel!” cried Lil as she hovered above a sea of wrapping paper and ribbon.

“Well this certainly tops the mess Barrel made last night,” said Nim, barely holding back a chuckle.

The tiny dog just wagged his tail and cocked his head from side to side.

The elves heard and muffled honking sound coming from the tree.

“Yikes!” said Nim as he slowly flew toward the Christmas tree.

Somehow, Barrel had managed to wrap Glitter in red and green ribbon and hang her upside down in the Christmas tree. She looked like a crazed reindeer ornament.

“Easy there girl,” Nim said in calming tones as he slowly approached a very angry Glitter.

Glitter’s eyes were rolling. Nim was almost afraid to untie her.

“It’s ok Glitter,” Nim murmured removing the tinsel muzzle. “We’re here now. We’ll—“.

“Barrel, you’ve been very bad!” said Lil with her hands on her hips.

At the sound of Barrel’s name, Glitter completely lost it.

“HOOONK!!!”

Lil jumped and spun around with her arms up, ready to fight who or whatever was making such a horrible sound.

“HOOOOOONNNNNKKKK!!!”

“GLITTER! CALM DOWN!” Nim shouted with his hands over his ears.

“HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!”

“She sounds like an angry goose! Make it stop Nim!” Lil cried.

“I’m trying! She won’t stop moving her head!”

Glitter, angry and shaken, had gone berserk. Her eyes rolled and her head thrashed back and forth. With a sudden burst of strength, she broke through the ribbon and tinsel holding her to the tree and charged straight for Barrel.

“STOP HER LIL!” Nim shouted as he dove for the reindeer’s antlers.

Lil quickly rolled into a ball and bowled into Glitter’s legs, tripping her. Elf and reindeer landed in a big tangled heap of legs and antlers.

“Nim! I can’t hold her much longer!”

With a twirl and a leap, Nim joined the heap and they both struggled to calm and subdue the angry reindeer while Barrel ran around them yipping and yapping.

“I’ve got her, you grab Barrel,” said Nim, struggling to soothe the ruffled reindeer.

Lil turned, hands on hips to glare at Barrel.

“Bad dog! How could you make such a mess and treat poor Glitter so terribly?”

Barrel hung his head. Lil would have believed he was sorry for his behavior, but his tail still wagged back and forth excitedly.

“There’s nothing for it Barrel,” Lil said. “We’ll have to lock you up.”

At this, Barrel’s tail stopped wagging and he looked at Lil with sad, tearful eyes.

Lil built a makeshift dog kennel out of a shoebox while Nim found some eggnog for Glitter to drink.

She was calmer, but still shaking and mumbling “Chapter 2, section 1.5, no messes” over and over again.

After Barrel was secured and Glitter calmed, Nim and Lil started on the pillow fort. It was getting early and they had to work quickly to be done before the boys woke up.

“I don’t know what we are going to do about Barrel,” said Lil.

“What do you mean? He can’t do any harm when he’s in puppy jail,” Nim said.

“Somehow, I don’t think that is going to last long…” Lil said before flying to the tree to wait for the boys.

Twas the Night Before Mischief….

November 30, Santa’s Workshop, North Pole

The Mischief Makers, an elite team of Santa’s elves, have a very special job. Each elf lucky enough to make the team is assigned one child to watch and entertain for the Christmas Season.

Starting on December 1, every Mischief Maker does their very best to give their children a magical Christmas full of fun and surprise.

The current team of Mischief Makers were gathered outside Santa’s Workshop drinking hot chocolate from candy cane straws and waiting for Santa to give his start of the season pep talk.

“Mischief Makers,” boomed Santa. “I know you’ve been preparing all year for the Season and are eager to get started.”

All of the elves nodded excitedly and cheered in agreement. 

“But remember,” Santa said. “although your main job is to make sure your charges enjoy the season, you are also tasked with reporting any especially good—or bad—behavior to me each night.”

A loud cheer filled the North Pole and elves somersaulted and cartwheeled through the snow.

“Ho, ho, ho,” chuckled Santa. “That’s the spirit! Off you go now to make your final preparations…and good luck this year!”

As the elves zoomed off to say goodbye to friends and wish each other luck, Santa motioned for three figures to stay behind.

“Nim, Lil and Glitter,” he said. “Please come to my office.”

Nim and Lil, two energetic elves, stood in front of The Big Guy’s desk trembling with excitement. Next to them, Glitter the Reindeer stood tall with a determined look in her eye.

“Well team, are you ready for another season?” asked Santa.

“Yes sir!” said Nim with a hop.

“Absolutely!” said Lil as she spun in the air.

Glitter clicked her heels, nodded sharply and gave an awkward salute with her front hoof.

“Nim and Lil,” said Santa. “You won the Top Shelf Elf trophy last year for your work on assignment, but it was a close call with some of the tricks you pulled.”

Nim and Lil bowed their heads and shuffled their feet.

“We promise to do better this year, Santa,” said Lil looking up at him with twinkling eyes.

“And don’t worry, I promise we won’t spill sprinkles all over the kitchen floor again,” said Nim.

Glitter hmphed.

“Or cover the house with wrapping paper and ribbon,” said Lil.

Glitter sniffed.

“Or toilet paper the Christmas tree,” added Nim.

Glitter snorted.

“Or—“.

“Alright, alright,” chuckled Santa. “Just try to keep that sort of mischief to a minimum this year.”

Glitter, ever the prim and proper reindeer, snorted…again.

Nim and Lil smiled and patted Glitter affectionately. She had been a new addition to the team the previous year and she was still not quite sure how to handle the two ornery elves.  

“Off you go then team,” shooed Santa. “Get a good night’s rest, you’ve got a big season ahead of you.”

Nim, Lil and Glitter left Santa’s office in high spirits. They were ready to get started.

“Oh I’m not going to be able to sleep a wink!” said Lil.

“Me neither!” said Nim.

“Hey,” said Lil. “I have an idea. Why don’t we just zip down and have a peek at the boys?”

The boys, Joe and Jake, were Nim and Lil’s assigned children. They were young, fun and full of energy. Nim and Lil had to work hard to provide something new for them to do, see or discover each night.

“Yeah!” said Nim. “I bet they are decorating the tree tonight!”

“What do you say Glitter?” asked Lil turning to the reindeer.

“No,” Glitter said puffing out her chest.

“No?” said Nim.

“Why not?” asked Lil.

Glitter huffed.

“In Chapter 1, Section 3 of The Book it clearly states that ‘No elf shall make contact with or seek out their charges until 12AM on the official start of the Season. All violators will be fined 25 candy canes and 10 gumdrops.’”

Nim tried hard not to laugh.

“Poor Glitter,” said Lil. “We must be such a trial to you.”

Nim giggled.

“Oh well,” said Lil. “We’ll just have to wait until midnight to make the journey.”

“I sure hope the boys have been good this year,” said Nim.

“Oh Barrel will let us know. He’s been there since Christmas after all,” said Lil.

Barrel was a small, mouse-sized St. Bernard that the elves had left at the end of the Season to keep the boys out of trouble.

“It is odd that we haven’t heard from him though,” said Nim suddenly frowning.

Lil nodded in agreement with a frown of her own.

“We’re being silly,” laughed Nim with a shake of his head. “I’m sure all is well and Barrel has just been busy playing with the boys.”

“I’m sure you are right, Nim,” said Lil, her smile not quite meeting her eyes.

Nim and Lil linked arms and flew off to say goodbye to the other Mischief Makers.

Glitter stayed behind, a blanket of dread settling over her.

“I’m not so sure about that,” she said with a shiver.