Category Archives: For the Kids

Miss Day 19? Click here!

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The team sat in the Elfeteria at the North Pole, knocking back Mrs. Claus’ famous Peppermint-spiked Cocoa. 

“That was too close,” said Figgy. 

“Yes,” added Pixie. “Good thing Joe was able to convince him it was all a dream again.”

“We have to be very careful over the next few nights,” said Nim. “I don’t think the ‘it was all a dream’ excuse will work again…if it worked at all this time.”

The door creaked open and the team turned to find Santa standing in the doorway looking worried. 

“What is it, Sir? Did something happen?” Lil asked, jumping to her feet. 

Santa cleared his throat. “I’m afraid we have…a potential problem with Jake.” 

Santa pulled a letter from his coat and handed it to Lil. 

Dear Santa,

I hope this letter isn’t too late. I’ve changed my mind about what I want for Christmas. You see, last night I saw Nim, Lil, Figgy and Pixie dancing around the kitchen! What I would really like for Christmas is them to stay and play all year. Just think of all the fun we could have together!

Sincerely,

Jake

Pixie and Figgy were speechless. 

Nim and Lil were shocked. 

Glitter let out a mournful bray. 

“I was afraid this would happen,” said Santa. 

“What happens now, Santa?” asked Pixie. 

“I’m afraid this may be the last season for Joe and Jake.”

“But, what will happen to us?” asked Figgy. 

Santa shook his head sadly. He never could get used to this moment with his Mischief Makers. It was a natural and bittersweet part of the career, but that didn’t make it any easier. “When a child discovers the truth, some of the magic disappears. When that happens, the Mischief Makers get…reassigned. I’m sorry.”

As Santa left the room, Figgy and Pixie cried out, hugging each other and sobbing. Nim and Lil, who had known this and seen it countless times in their short jobs as Chief Mischief Makers, looked at them sympathetically, but they too were heartbroken. 

To everyone’s surprise, Glitter took the news the hardest. 

* * *

The team didn’t have much energy for the night’s mischief. When they got back to the house, Joe was already setting up the tower of cups for the remote control car crash they had agreed to. When he greeted the elves, he sensed that something was wrong but, wisely, knew not to ask…yet. 

“Er, who wants to test it out?” asked Joe as he set the final cup on top of the tower.

Nim, Lil, Pixie and Figgy looked at each other, then up at Joe. Worry filled his voice and lines of concern crinkled his eyes. 

Nim suddenly straightened. “That’s it team. Enough wallowing.”

Lil followed suit. “Yes, we have until December 24th so let’s not waste time feeling sorry for ourselves.”

Pixie and Figgy, knowing they were right, pulled themselves together, smiled and some of their old spark came back, filling the room with light and warmth. The lines disappeared from Joe’s forehead and he grinned. 

“C’mon Lil,” said Pixie. “I’ll race ya!”

Miss Day 18? Click here!

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“Double digits!” said Pixie, excitedly bouncing around the kitchen.

“The big 1-0!” said Figgy, spinning around the tree. 

Joe’s birthday was their 2nd favorite day of the season. Only the Season Starter topped it. 

“Where could Nim and Lil be?” asked Pixie, finally settling to the counter. 

Figgy scratched his head as he floated to join her. “I don’t know. They were just as excited as we are to celebrate Joe’s birthday.”

Glitter came galloping in through the window, huffing and puffing. “Out of the way! They’re coming in hot!”

Startled, Pixie and Figgy barely had time to dive for cover when Nim and Lil torpedoed onto the counter with birthday flare following them. Streamers, banners, balloons and was that…a pinata?

“Sorry we’re late,” puffed Lil. “We had quite a load of loot.”

Nim looked around the room. “Where’s Joe?”

“We told him we had tonight under control,” said Figgy.

“And he didn’t argue?” asked Lil.

“Oh no,” smiled Pixie. “I think he knew we were working on his birthday surprise so he just scurried off to bed, no question.”

Nim and Lil smiled, not surprised. Every year for Joe’s birthday, the elves added an extra layer of fun. 

“Alright team,” said Glitter. “Let’s get cooking!”

The elves whirred around the kitchen. Pixie made puffy pancakes while Figgy filled bowls with toppings. Nim knocked his hat off decorating the table and Lil layered banners and tinsel in the lights. 

Glitter supervised, making sure the elves didn’t go too overboard with the mess and noise and Barrel kept watch in the hallway outside the boys’ rooms.

When all the pancakes were made and all the decorating complete, the tired team collapsed on the counter and surveyed their work. 

“Joe is going to absolutely love this!” said Nim. 

Lil nodded. “I think we’ve outdone even the chocolate lake and caramel river birthday.”

Pixie tilted her head. “Something is missing.”

Figgy frowned. “Yes, something is missing.”

Nim and Lil looked around wondering what could possibly be missing when every surface was covered in birthday flare and pancake mix. 

Glitter cantered up to the group. “I’m ready to hang the pinata. Where is the candy?”

The elves paled.

“How could we have forgotten the candy!” Pixie cried. 

Figgy hung his head. “So much for the best birthday bash ever.”

“Uh, guys?” Lil said, trying to hide a smile. “Do you really think he will notice that there isn’t any candy?” 

“I mean, just look around.” Nim flew around the kitchen and dining room. 

“You’re right, Nim,” sighed Pixie. “We just wanted it to be perfec–.”

“Wha-what’s going on?” 

As one, the team turned toward the tiny, tired voice. Barrel sat, still and stuffed in front of…Jake.

Miss Day 17? Click here!

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Glitter paced in front of the stables, waiting for her informant to show up. 

“Psst! Ma’am?” A tiny reindeer peeked out from behind a post. 

“There you are,” said Glitter. “What news?”

“You were right, ma’am. The Beagle and Bunny are trying to recruit the others.”

“And?”

“So far, they’ve got the Tooth Fairy and Queen of Hearts on their side, but the Leprechauns are holding out.”

Glitter nodded. “Good work, Junior.”

Junior saluted and pranced back inside the stables, leaving Glitter to her thoughts. So. The Beagle and the Bunny were recruiting. “We’ll just see about that..” she murmured.

* * *

Oh sledding hill, oh sledding hill
so beautiful and snowy
Oh sledding hill, oh sledding hill
Into the sink we’ll go-y
We’ll build a sled, of Christmas treats
And race each other through the streets
Oh sledding hill, oh sledding hill
Into the sink we’ll go-y

As Pixie and Figgy sang the last few notes of their song, Nim and Lil skidded to a halt on the kitchen counter spraying snow everywhere.

Pixie looked up, startled. “Nim, Lil? I thought you were finalizing the plans for the Christmas Eve Eve Pep Rally?”

Nim shook his head, panting. “We have some news.”

“About the DFFF’s investigation. There have been…a few developments.” Lil straightened up. She was smiling.

Nim and Lil told them about Glitter’s network of spies. Tiny reindeer who could disguise themselves as a number of woodland creatures…including bunnies.

Figgy scratched his head. “A bunny? Really?”

“Yes,” Lil said. “Once disguised, they infiltrated the Easter Bunny’s lair and–”.

“But, don’t they have antlers? Like Glitter?” asked Figgy.

“And do they learn to hop like a bunny?” asked Pixie.

Nim frowned. “They are specially trained forces who–.”

“Maybe they wear costumes,” pondered Figgy

“They would have to be really good costumes to fool the Easter Bunny and Birthday Beagle,” said Pixie.

“And they must have a whole team of make-up artists ready to transform them at any time,” added Figgy. 

“And another team to make them spy gadgets and gizmos!”

“And—”.

“THE POINT IS,” Lil interrupted. “We have some good news.”  

Pixie and Figgy looked eagerly at Nim and Lil. 

“The Easter Bunny and Birthday Beagle have been recruiting others in an attempt to reduce the Magic of Christmas,” said Nim.

“They’d already recruited the Queen of Hearts and a few other minor holiday mascots, but then, they got a little too ambitious.” Lil paused for dramatic affect. “They tried to recruit….the leprechauns.” 

Pixie and Figgy gasped. Every creature in the North Pole knew that the leprechauns were not to be trusted. They were too tricky and, truth be told, volatile to work with. 

“I guess the Beagle and Bunny got desperate after the audit didn’t turn up anything. It was a last-ditch effort to overthrow Santa…and it failed spectacularly.”

After a moment of stunned silence, applause, cheers and happy shouts filled the kitchen. 

Figgy and Pixie threw sleds at Nim and Lil and dragged them up the slopes. They spent most of the night and into the wee hours sledding, singing and celebrating. 

Christmas was saved. 

Miss Day 15? Click here!

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“Still no word?” Figgy and Pixie met Nim and Lil outside Santa’s office at the North Pole. It had been two whole days since the audit, and they hadn’t heard a peep from the DFFF.

“‘Fraid not,” said Nim.

“It’s not unusual though,” said Lil. “Paperwork gets backed up, especially around the holidays.”

Pixie sighed and crossed her arms. “Well, that doesn’t make me feel any better.”  

Lil patted her friend on the back and Nim gave Figgy an encouraging smile. 

“Don’t worry,” said Glitter. “I’m sure The Grump didn’t find a thing.”

Although Glitter meant well, they all knew that the likelihood of that was slim. Audits at the North Pole were not random. They normally meant a suspicion of…something. They just didn’t know what, why or who initiated it. 

“We’d better get back,” said Figgy, breaking the silence.

* * *

When the duo got back to the boys’ house, they found a note from Joe on the table, hidden under the salt shaker. 

Hi guys,

So…Jake and I got into REALLY big trouble today. 

We…er…had a fight with Lego blocks. ALL the Lego blocks. 

Anyway, we had to go to bed and have to get up early to clean it all up. Just wanted to let you know so you don’t do something super messy since Mom and Dad are already mad. 

We’ll do that thing with the cats tomorrow. 

Joe

“Oh man,” said Figgy. “I was really looking forward to tonight’s plan.”

“I know, but it will just have to wait another night. Joe would be really upset if we did it without him.”

Knowing she was right, Figgy flew to the counter where Joe, or someone, had left a stack of sugar cubes shaped like a tiny chair. “I wonder if he made this for us.”

Pixie picked up a cube and took a bite. “I don’t know, but it’s the perfect thinking snack.”

“What should we do, Pixie?”

“We can’t do the cat thing and we can’t make a big mess, so a glitter war is out.”

Figgy frowned. “Was a glitter war ever in?”

Pixie pondered over their predicament for a few minutes, taking another sugar cube from the chair. 

“Don’t eat all of it,” Figgy said. “Someone worked hard building it.”

Pixie suddenly smiled and sailed down toward the stairs, knocking the sugar cube chair all over the counter. “I know!”

“Hey!” Figgy yelled after her. “Look what you did!”

“C’mon Figgy! We’ve got work to do!”

Figgy followed after Pixie, looking mournfully over the mess she’d just made. “What are we doing?” he asked when he landed next to her amid the Lego destruction. 

“Well…let’s clean up this mess and have a contest!”

Figgy looked around at the wreckage. Lego blocks littered the floor. The couch cushions were lined up like a wall and it looked as though the boys had a battle.

“Whoa,” Figgy said.

“I know,” Pixie added. “We’ve got work to do. But, think how happy Joe and Jake will be tomorrow when they find all the work done?”

“Riiight,” said Figgy. “But, they made the mess.”

“You’re right, but if Joe’s letter is any indication, they’ve learned their lesson and won’t do it again, so it wouldn’t hurt to help. Just this once.”

“Hmm. I suppose you’re right, but–”.

“And then…I challenge you to a Christmas Village build-off!

Miss Day 14? Click here!

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Mr. Grimly had wandered around the house, making notes and tut-tutting until the sun started to peek over the horizon. 

By the time he left, the elve’s nerves were frayed and they barely had time to finish the cereal display. 

“Well,” asked Joe. “Did he find anything?”

They had told Joe that it was routine for the DFFF to send in an auditor and that it was nothing to worry about. But they knew he didn’t quite believe them. 

Pixie forced a big smile. “We won’t know for a few days.” 

Figgy flew to the table with a bag of carrots and a box grater. “Nim and Lil will find out first, so let’s just focus on the plan.”

Figgy was taking the audit especially hard. He’d been in a foul mood ever since Mr. Grimly asked him what he did before becoming a Mischief Maker.

“Mr. Frost, what was your position at the North Pole prior to joining the Mischief Makers?”

“Uh, well…”. Figgy glanced back at his friends.

Ahem. 

Eyes downcast, he whispered, “I worked in…Reindeer Relations.”

Mr. Grimly tapped his toe. “And what, exactly, did you do for that department?”

“I, er, removed…waste.”

“And your title?”

Figgy harrumphed. “I was the Premiere Pooper Scooper, ok? Are you happy? I scooped poop!”

Figgy had been mortified. Thankfully, no one had laughed. Although, Pixie did hide a smile. But that may have been nerves. At least, that is what he told himself. 

“Figgy, what is that for?” Pixie pointed at the box grater. 

“You’ll see,” he said with a smirk.

“Yes, you’ll see.” Joe giggled and smiled secretively at Figgy. 

Pixie arched her brow. “What are you two up to now?”

“Why don’t you two go build the snowman in the living room and I’ll set up the craft.” Figgy winked. 

* * *

When Pixie and Joe came back to the kitchen after building the biggest blanket Snowman the world had ever seen, Figgy had finished setting up his big surprise. 

He sat atop the box grater with marshmallows, candy canes, chocolate chips and licorice ropes all around him. A small sign next to him read “Snowman Nose Rejection Department” and a carrot was processed halfway through the grater. 

“Oh Figgy!” Pixie laughed. 

Joe clutched his stomach, giggling uncontrollably and Figgy’s smile lit up the room. 

It was just the cheer-up they all needed. 

Miss Day 12? Click here!

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“I’m telling you right now, Chairman, I will not allow anyone to interfere in the mischief making.” 

Santa had never sounded so upset. His voice shook and not with merriment. Cherry cheeks beet-red, he glared hard at the short creature standing before him. 

Nim, Lil, Glitter, Figgy and Pixie stood outside the door to Santa’s office. They were stopping by to report on the night and share how hilarious Joe’s parents thought it was. They also wanted to warn Santa that Jake was starting to have doubts. But now was definitely not the time.

They tiptoed slowly away from the door and flew off into the night, heading for the house. 

“What do you think that was about?” Figgy flew faster to catch up with Nim and Lil. 

“Who was that?” asked Pixie. “He didn’t look like an elf.”

Lil slowed her speed and glanced at Nim. “That’s because he wasn’t. He was a gnome from the DFFF…Department of Festive Fun and Frivolity.”

Nim nodded. “And not just any gnome. His name is Mr. Grimly, but they call him “The Grump”. He’s the head of the auditing team.”

Pixie and Figgy glanced nervously at each other, not sure what exactly that meant for the Mischief Makers, but it sounded ominous. 

Lil answered their unspoken question. “I’m afraid the Mischief Maker program is being audited.”

The group landed hard on the kitchen counter, too shocked to speak. Why would they, the Mischief Makers, need to be audited? Pixie and Figgy were still not sure how an audit would affect them.

“So…what exactly does that mean?” Figgy asked.

“Well,” began Nim. “It means that the Birthday Beagle and Easter Bunny may just get their way. If the audit team finds that the Mischief Program is getting too much funding, we may have to make some cuts.”

Pixie gulped. “Cuts?”

Lil nodded. “Yes, and I worry that the first cut they will make will be to split up…the teams.”

Figgy’s eyes filled with dread. “You mean…”.

“Figgy and I might-might be…separated?”

Nim and Lil did not have to answer. The looks on their faces said it all. 

“Hey guys,” Joe bounced to the counter. “Wait until you see the surprise I have for–hey, why so glum?”

False smiles burst onto the elves’ faces and forced laughter filled the room. 

“Nothing!” squeaked Pixie. 

“We’re fine!” said Figgy.

“No problems here!” chanted Nim and Lil.

Joe was not convinced. He looked at each of them in turn, wondering what could be putting that frown on their faces. 

“Okaaay,” he said finally. “If you’re sure…”.

“Yep!” they chorused. 

“Hmm.” 

“So…what is it you wanted to tell us?” asked Pixie.

Joe shook his head and bounced on his toes, remembering the surprise he had planned. “Wait until you see what I’ve done in the bathroom!”

“Uh, I’m not sure we really need to see what you’ve done in the–”.

“Oh it’s not that!” Joe’s face turned red. “It’s a surprise in the bathtub!”

Joe turned and raced to the bathroom, the elves following close behind. When they saw the surprise Joe had worked so hard on, they smiled in delight. He had filled the bathtub and created a small swimming pool for them. 

“I figured you guys have been working so hard, you could use a little break from the activity. So…pool party!”

“Joe, this is just so thoughtful!” Lil clapped. 

Joe smiled. “Only thing is, you have to keep the splashing down. So you don’t wake my parents up. They’d be mad enough to write Santa and tell him to reassign you two.”

The elves looked uneasily at each other.  He had no idea how right he was.

Miss Day 11? Click here!

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“Why does Glitter have to stay behind again?” Figgy asked.

“That’s just it, Figgy,” said Pixie. “We don’t know.”

Lil floated down from the window sill. “Nim and I don’t even know. Santa came rushing into the barn shouting for Glitter. He pulled her into one of the empty stalls and all we could hear were murmurs and exclamations.”

Nim scratched his head. “Whatever it was, when they both left, they did not look jolly.”

KSSSSSSHHHHH!

Streams of tinfoil ran down the hallway from Joe’s room to the kitchen. Joe came barreling after the roll with a huge smile on his face. 

“Whoa!” Figgy jumped out of the way as the roll came sliding toward him. 

“Yikes!” Nim and Lil shot to the ceiling to avoid the tin foil tornado.

“Eek!” Pixie somersaulted in the air to avoid being wrapped in a tin foil blanket.

Joe slid to a stop in front of the group and promptly slipped on the carpet of foil. “Where’s Glitter?”

Nim, Lil, Pixie, and Figgy silently agreed. Joe did not need to know that there was a problem at the North Pole. After all, they didn’t know much beyond the Beagle and Bunny’s complaint.

“She had a…tiny reindeer issue to deal with. Nothing major,” said Lil. 

“Oh. Well…I guess we won’t be able to wrap her up in tin foil. Who wants to go first?”

“What do you mean?” Pixie asked. 

“Tin foil mummies!”

“Come again?” Lil said.

“Mummies! I’m going to wrap you all up to look like tin foil mummies.” Joe smiled.

“No,” said Figgy.

“Absolutely not,” added Nim.

Pixie and Lil nodded in agreement.

Joe frowned. “Why not? It will be fun.”

“We hung from a tall mountain all day and now you want us to stay wrapped up in-in tin foil!” Lil put her hands on her hips.

Nim narrowed his eyes. “How about we wrap you in tin foil Mister!” 

Joe crossed his arms and stuck out his bottom lip. “I bet Glitter would have done it.”

The elves guffawed and slapped their knees.

“Nice try,” said Nim. “But we all know there is no way Glitter would have agreed to this madness.”

“Oh fine,” Joe turned and started rolling up the tin foil. 

“Wait,” said Pixie. “We can still use the tin foil for tonight’s trick.”

Joe turned back, hope in his eyes. 

“Yes,” said Figgy, flying to the shoe rack. 

“Ah,” said Nim. “I think I know what you are thinking.”

“Tin foil shoes!” said Lil.

“Tin foil wine!” shouted Pixie.

“Tin foil cats!” added Figgy.

The others turned to Figgy with raised eyebrows. 

“Er, too far?”

Nim shook his head. “Let’s just do the shoes, Figgy. Just the shoes.”

Miss Day 10? Click here!

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“Apparently,” began Nim. “Joe was able to convince Jake that it was all a dream.”

“And,” added Pixie. “He assured him that the reason for the dream was that he is just so excited we’re back.”

Glitter frowned, not convinced. Jake was wide awake when she went to the bedroom to look for ribbon. In her mind, there was no way he would believe it was all just a dream. 

Figgy clapped his hands together. “Ok, what are we doing tonight.”

Joe came running into the kitchen with rings of painters tape climbing up his arms. “Hi guys! I thought tonight we could do some climbing.”

Nim eyed the painters tape uncomfortably. Heights were definitely not his favorite.

Lil saw Nim’s face and laughed. “Oh for Cupid’s sake Nim. You fly. Every night. Up in the sky!”

“I know that,” Nim said defensively. “But when I fly, I have all the control. I’m not dangling from the sky, trapped in painters tape.”

Everyone chuckled. 

Joe smiled. “It’s ok Nim. You can be at the bottom of the mountain.

“Mountain?” Pixie raised an eyebrow.

“Yep! I’ve built you a mountain out of paper mache!”

Joe led them into the living room where next to a tree was a tall, jagged mountain.

Joe clapped his hands together. “See? It’s not too tall. Tiny really.”

Lil gaped. “Tiny? Tiny?? Maybe for you, but we are tiny ourselves and that is GIGANTIC!”

Figgy gulped. “And jagged.”

Pixie, wide-eyed, stared up at the mountain and then at Joe, who towered above them all. “Uh, Joe? How in the world are we going to stay attached?”

Joe looked at the mountain, at the painters tape on his wrists, and then back at the elves. 

“Hmmm. I guess your right. This painters tape probably won’t hold you up for very long with all those crevices.”

Nim sighed, relieved. 

“How about thumbtacks?”

All the elves gasped in horror. “Thumbtacks!!??”

“Oops!” he exclaimed, shamefaced. “I forgot, your hands and feet are really hands and feet.”

The elves sighed in relief. That was a close one.

“I know!” Joe ran to the kitchen and rummaged in the junk drawer. “Here!”

In his hands, he held a giant package of sticky strips. “This way you won’t fall down when you stop moving.”

Figgy eyed the strips, skeptical of the plan. “Are you sure, Joe? It seems kind of…risky.”

“Oh don’t worry. We put Barrel up on the ceiling with these  in June. He stayed stuck until October!”

Miss Day 9? Click here!

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You know presents and stockings and glitter, confetti
Bright lights and flashers and elven spaghetti
But do you recall…the best darn present of all…
Ornaments, hand-made, hot-glued
Fingers burnt, glue in your hair
Glitter around the table
Paper crinkled here and there
Craft sticks and lots of stickers
Shiny paper, tin foil crowns
Everyone loves the craft day
It’s the best darn day around!

Pixie and Figgy finished the second round of the jingle they wrote while laying the supplies for handmade ornaments out for the boys. Joe stumbled into the kitchen, rubbing sleepy eyes.

“Sorry I’m late guys,” he yawned. “Who’s turn is it?”

Pixie and Figgy had noticed that Joe seemed more tired than usual. They figured he was staying up too late each night and were trying to encourage him to sleep more. 

“We’ve got it tonight, Joe. You can go back to bed.” Figgy set the box of googly eyes on the counter.

“No, I want to help. I ju–u-u–uhhh–st need to….”. 

Pixie’s eyes twinkled. “Why don’t you get some sleep tonight while we get the ornament supplies set up.”

Figgy nodded in agreement. “You’ll be full of fresh ideas for tomorrow night. We’ve got this covered.”

Joe nodded sleepily and trudged back to his room. “Okay. If you’re surrrrr.”

As soon as Joe left, Pixie let out a high-pitched whistle. Glitter, Nim, Lil, Barrel and Leonard burst out of drawers and cabinets. “All right team, time to get busy!” 

“Let’s see…”. Pixie consulted her clipboard. “Red and green Dixie cups?”

“Check!” said Figgy.

“Buttons, assorted sizes and colors?”

“Check!” called Nim.

“Pom-poms?”

“Check!” squeaked Lil.

“Foam sticky stars?”

“RUFF!” barked Barrel. 

“Red and white ribbon?”

Glitter shuffled.

“Glitter?” Pixie prompted. 

Glitter pawed the ground. 

Pixie stared at her pointedly. 

“I–I forgot it.”

Nim and Lil gasped. Glitter was the most organized reindeer in the North Pole. Not to mention a stickler for details. 

“Uh,” said Figgy. “You did what now?”

“Yes, I forgot. I was…busy.”

“You were busy?” Pixie said incredulously. “Glitter, you were in charge of the ribbon. How are we going to hang the ornaments from the light fixture?”

“There’s kitchen twine in the drawer under the microwave.” Glitter scuffed a hoof on the table.

“That’s hardly festive, Glitter!” 

“It’s…rustic.” 

Pixie could not believe her little elven ears. “Rustic? With bright Christmas colors and neon green dixie cups??”

“Ohh-kay,” broke in Figgy. “I think the boys have some ribbon in their room. I’ll just sneak in and see if I can find—.”

“No, I’ll do it.” Glitter headed toward the bedroom. 

The elves waited until Glitter was out of earshot before expressing their surprise at Glitter’s behavior. 

“Glitter never forgets anything,” said Pixie.

Nim chuckled. “I know. She’ll never let us live down the time we threw glitter all over the house.”

Lil smiled. “Or the time you knocked the Christmas tree over.” 

“Or the time Pixie and I set the garage on fire.”

Pixie raised her eyebrows. “Uh, we never did that, Figgy.”

“We didn’t?”

Pixie shook her head.

“Huh. That must have been at my last job.”

“Anyway,” interrupted Nim. “We’ll have a talk with her back at the North Pole. She might be feeling a little stressed with everything going on with Santa.”

Suddenly, the sound of galloping hooves filled the room. Glitter came barrelling down the hallway, a look of horror on her face. 

“Glitter, what’s wrong?” Pixie asked with concern.

“It’s Jake. I think he saw.”

A knot of cold dread dropped like a stone in Pixie’s stomach.

“Saw what?” asked Figgy, though he already knew the answer.

“Saw me…moving.”