“I’m so tired,” said Lil, still recovering from last night’s jam session.
“Tell me about it,” yawned Nim, his voice a little hoarse from all the singing.
They were both sprawled on the couch in the living room, trying to think of something to do.
Nim and Lil gazed at the Nativity on the fireplace with it’s pretty wooden figures and twinkling lights. They smiled, remembering what Santa told them every year on Christmas Day . . .
After all the presents had been delivered, and the elves rested comfortably sharing their favorite high jinks, Santa stood to tell them about the true meaning of Christmas:
Your mischief may be fun But remember everyone That Christmas Time is more Than presents on the floor
A King was born this day In a manger full of hay Though He was very small He’d come to save us all
He grew into a man Who traveled ‘cross the land He came here to fulfill and carry out God’s will
So delight in all your play Have fun planning every day But in all your doings know It’s Christ to this we owe
Nim and Lil sat quietly staring at the manger scene. In all their fun, they had not remembered to remind the kids what the true meaning of Christmas was all about. They smiled at each other, both knowing and rejoicing in what tonight’s fun would be.
“Parents have written to me complaining about the messes all you elves are making,” Santa said to the crowd in his workshop. “I know you all have fun, but making a mess every night may get you fired.”
A collective gasp came from the sea if elves gathered for Santa’s nightly pep talk.
Only one silly sprite had ever been fired from his duty as a Mischief Maker.
Poor Snowflake had emptied an entire bottle of Sudsy Bubble Bath in a tub, planning to float on a toy tube until morning. But…while waiting for the water to fill, he flitted to the kitchen to eat some of the red and green sprinkles that had been left on the counter. They were so good, he ended up eating the whole bottle.
Turns out, a whole bottle of sprinkles is too much for one elf.
He whizzed around the living room, hyped up on sprinkles, and then passed out in a sugar coma on the floor.
Meanwhile, the bath water continued to run.
The water overflowed. Fluffy, wet, white clouds of suds spilled out of the bathroom and down the hall. It was an awful mess. Parents complained enough that poor Snowflake was fired. Since then, he’s been cleaning reindeer droppings in the barn.
“Mischief can be made without a mess,” Santa finished.
Nim and Lil flew back in silence. Both were worried about all of the chaos they had caused over the past few days. Some were worse than others, but still.
“Let’s do something funny this time,” said Nim. “Without jumbling up the house.”
Lil agreed and they landed on the kitchen table with a quiet flop, knocking over a toy T-Rex. Nim’s hat came off as he rolled across the table, and Lil crashed into the salt and pepper.
“Oof,” cried Lil as the T-Rex knocked over the other dinos.
The elves looked at the toys, the salt, the pepper and the glass of water someone had left on the table. In their clumsiness, they had already managed to knock over everything and make a huge mess!
“Oh no,” Lil moaned, tears springing to her eyes.
“Oh it’s ok, Lil,” said Nim. “We can clean it up.”
A slow smile spread on Nim’s face. He knew exactly what they would do tonight…and it wouldn’t make a mess at all.
***
“There!” said Lil. “It’s perfect! Such a great idea, Nim.”
Nim smiled proudly as he strapped himself on to the top of the safari truck.
A T-Rex was pulling the safari truck, Nim’s hat in his mouth.
A long neck had Lil’s skirt on, while she was wearing a coffee filter and protecting her hat with a sock.
“So, we were minding our own business when four hungry dinosaurs attacked,” began Nim.
“We tried to stuff them in the safari truck but they were too sneaky for us,” continued Lil.
“They stole my hat-“
“And my skirt…wait, how did they get you on top of the truck?”
“Pixie dust!” exclaimed Nim.
And then they laughed and giggled and watched for the kids.
Nim and Lil were sitting around two tiny steaming mugs of hot chocolate, a large marshmallow bobbing up and down in each cup.
“Did you hear Joe’s squeal of delight when he found me stuffed in a jar full of marshmallows?” Nim asked Lil.
Lil nodded her head and took a sip of the delicious drink.
Their trip back to the North Pole had been quick and uneventful. They both had told Santa how well the four kids had been behaving.
They were taking turns, helping each other and playing together with little to no tears, tiffs or tantrums.
Santa was pleased.
“We should do something nice for the kids tonight,” Lil said.
Nim agreed and they both tried to think of something they could do to reward all the good behavior.
“I think I’m too hungry to think of something. I need something sweet to eat,” Nim said as he wandered to the box of mini powdered sugar donuts that rested on top of the flour canister.
Lil watched him struggle with opening the box. After a huge tug, Nim got the box open…and the lid to the canister popped off! Nim tumbled to the counter in a puff of flour and powdered sugar.
Lil giggled as Nim stood up and shook flour from his hat, giving her a silly grin.
“Oops,” he said. “I guess we’ll have to use this flour in tonight’s mischief.”
“That’s it Nim!” exclaimed Lil.
She zoomed to the spice cabinet and flew the cinnamon to the counter.
“What’reyadoinLil?” Nim asked with his mouth full of donut.
“We are going to make pancakes!”
After pouring three cups of flour, 3 tablespoons of baking powder, a bit of sugar, a dash of cinnamon, a pinch of salt and enough red and green sprinkles to cover a dozen cookies into a big bowl, Nim and Lil fell in a jumbled heap on the counter.
“After all that work I am really hungry now!” Nim groaned, his stomach growling.
“I think I saw a little pan and spatula last night while I was stuffing you in the jar,” said Lil. “We could make a few pancakes to make sure there is enough sugar and sprinkles in the mix.”
They cooked a few pancakes for themselves, added more sugar and sprinkles and cooked some more until they were finally satisfied with the mix.
Lil jotted a little note with instructions for finishing up the batter and flew over to where Nim sat pushing straws together.
“I made one for you too,” said Nim, pointing to the straw sticking out of the bottle of delicious maple syrup.
“I’m stuffed,” groaned Lil pulling at the straw. “I couldn’t eat another bite.”
Nim smirked as Lil continued to slurp happily on the syrup. The kids were going to be so excited in the morning.
THUMP! Nim and Lil landed on the window sill and silently they crept into the house. It was “opening night” and they had something special planned to start the season off.
“Nim! This bag is heavier than Santa’s sleigh!” said Lil as she hefted the bag off of Nim.
Lil got a piece of paper and red marker down from the desk.
“What are you doing?” Nim whispered.
“Writing a letter to them…explaining to the girls how I found them.”
While Lil wrote, Nim opened his bag pulling out a packet of hot chocolate and a Christmas mug for each child.
There was one extra packet of cocoa in the box and Nim was feeling a bit hungry. He hadn’t had anything since his dinner of marshmallows and chocolate syrup–with a side of jelly beans.
He tried to be careful opening the extra packet of cocoa, but the powdery chocolate puffed out in a cloud and spilled all over the table.
Lil finished the note and pushed it over to the spilled cocoa.
“Look what you did,” she giggled, blue eyes twinkling as she scooped up a handful of powder.
“Hey, I opened that for me!” Nim shouted, throwing a handful of cocoa at Lil.
Lil squealed. The two mischief-making elves spent a few minutes having a cocoa fight before they spied ribbons and bows near a beautifully decorated tree. Nim and Lil looked at each other and smiled in silent agreement on their next activity.
Nim climbed the cabinet with a container of bows and plastered them all over the walls and countertops..
“Whee!” said Lil as she laughed and zoomed around the light fixture gathering handfuls of chocolate and throwing it in the air.
“Be careful Lil, you’ll get tangled up,” Nim was grinning at the sight of her zigging and zagging through the light fixture.
The warning came too late, and Lil suddenly found herself twisted in red tinsel rope and paper snowflakes.
Nim started to laugh. “I told you!”
Lil lobbed a bow at Nim and they found themselves hurling Christmas bows and ribbon at each other…Nim getting tangled in the tinsel rope too.
“Well,” said Lil breathlessly. “I suppose this is a good place to watch the kids.”
“Yes,” agreed Nim. “We can unravel ourselves tomorrow before we fly back to Santa.”
The elves smiled and with a sparkle in their eyes, waited excitedly for the kids to wake up.
Santa and Mrs. Clause announced the beginning of a new program sponsored by the North Pole. Known to only a select few, a Beta Test for the Elves of Christmas program was going on right under the radar of holiday cheer!
“It was a fun time!” Nim, one of the beta testers, told the Gazette.
“Mistakes were made,” Smarti, who will be in charge of the training program, said. “The Book will have a lot of updates before next season. I’ll see to it.”
The program was deemed a success on Christmas Eve when each elf set up a nativity scene leaving a poem and reminding all of the true meaning of Christmas.
After several name changes…Merry Misfits, Yuletide Tricksters, and my personal favorite “Tinsel Terrors”, Santa and Mrs. Claus finally landed on an appropriate name. It is my pleasure and honor to formally introduce the new…Mischief Makers!
Interested in joining the program? Stop by Mrs. Claus’ kitchen for a Candy Cane Cocoa to apply.
Pepper buzzed with excitement. It had been a whirlwind season filled with laughter, creativity, and just a smidge of chaos—and she had one final surprise planned for Frannie.
With Lucile by her side, Pepper had spent the day crafting a gift that would capture their best adventure yet. Lucile’s energy was contagious, as always, her leaps and spins inspiring Pepper to make the gift as special as possible.
Finally, the gift was ready: a magical “Snow Globe of Fun.” Inside, a tiny Lucile was caught mid-leap over a miniature, overflowing bathtub, surrounded by splashes of vibrant blue water. It was their most unforgettable escapade—Swamp vs Lagoon—perfectly preserved in a shimmering globe.
Pepper placed the snow globe on Frannie’s nightstand with a satisfied grin. “This should remind Frannie of all the fun we had this season,” she said.
Lucile tilted her head, studying the globe. “It’s a good thing Frannie’s parents forgave us for turning the bathroom into a lagoon.”
Pepper burst into laughter. “And for the towels we soaked trying to clean up!”
Lucile gave an exaggerated shrug, her stitched-on antlers wobbling dramatically. “Worth it! We made quite the splash—literally.”
Pepper chuckled, her heart full. “Lucile, you’ve made this season unforgettable. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
Lucile leaned in, giving Pepper a playful nudge. “Oh, Pepper, don’t be so modest. The fun? The plans? That was all you. I was just here for the ride—and the occasional cannonball.”
As they shared one last laugh, a warm glow filled the room. The magic of the season was reaching its crescendo. Lucile began to shimmer softly, her lively movements slowing. Bit by bit, her vibrant form turned into soft fabric and delicate stitches.
Pepper watched as Lucile transformed, her smile bittersweet but bright. She reached out, gently placing Lucile—now a perfectly huggable stuffed giraffalope—on Frannie’s bed.
“Goodbye, Lucile,” Pepper said softly, her voice full of warmth.
Flaky stood in the living room, staring at the scene Gretyl had arranged. Toy dinosaurs of all shapes and sizes were lined up in two neat rows, with a plush T-Rex towering in the center.
“It’s a dinosaur chicken fight!” Gretyl announced proudly.
Flaky blinked. “A…what now?”
“You climb onto the T-Rex, I’ll hop on the Stegosaurus, and we’ll see who can knock the other off first!”
Flaky groaned. “This sounds dangerous.”
“Flaky, come on,” Gretyl coaxed. “It’s our last big adventure of the season! Remember how much fun the zipline was?”
Flaky hesitated but eventually sighed, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Fine. But if this ends with frosting on the curtains again, I’m blaming you.”
Gretyl and Flaky each scrambled onto their respective dinosaur steeds. The T-Rex wobbled slightly as Flaky climbed aboard, her arms wrapped tightly around its plush neck.
“This is absurd,” Flaky muttered, but there was a flicker of excitement in her voice.
Gretyl, already perched confidently on the Stegosaurus, yelled, “Charge!”
The two dinosaurs lumbered toward each other with Gretyl energetically bouncing and Flaky cautiously gripping the T-Rex’s head. The toys collided with a soft thunk. Flaky nearly toppled off.
“Not bad for a snow elf!” Gretyl teased.
“Don’t underestimate me,” Flaky shot back, loosening her grip and leaning into the fun.
Their laughter echoed through the room as the battle escalated. But as Gretyl lunged for a final dramatic blow, her Stegosaurus tilted sideways, knocking over a line of toy dinosaurs like dominoes. The chain reaction sent the T-Rex sprawling, and Flaky tumbled to the floor in a heap of laughter and dinosaurs.
“Uh-oh,” Gretyl said, surveying the scene.
Flaky’s laughter faded as she sat up, looking at the mess. “Uh-oh indeed.”
Gretyl plopped down beside Flaky. “Come on, Flakes, it’s not that bad.”
Flaky sighed, readjusting her hat. “I wanted to end the season on a high note, not a catastrophic one.”
Gretyl placed a hoof on Flaky’s shoulder. “You know, messes aren’t the end of the world. We’ll reset the stage before Sabine gets up.”
Flaky hesitated, then gave a small grin. “You’re right. It was fun.”
Flaky sighed happily as she looked out the window at the softly falling snow. This season might have been messy, but it had been the best kind of messy.
“Alright, Gretyl. Let’s re-set the scene.” But when she turned back to the room she found the scene already set. And there, standing in the lineup of toy dinosaurs, was Gretyl. Her playful expression forever stitched on her face.
She was posed perfectly, as if ready for the next round of their game. One hoof rested on the Stegosaurus, her head tilted slightly as if to say, “What’s next, Flaky?”
Flaky chuckled softly and climbed onto the T-Rex. “Goodbye, Gretyl.”
The rhythmic sound of Slinkys clattering down the staircase filled the quiet house as Nim crouched at the top step, lining up yet another brightly colored coil.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Leonard the giraffalope asked, one plush hoof tapping the ground nervously.
Nim grinned, his excitement uncontainable. “A good idea? No. A great idea? Absolutely! Trust m e, Leonard, this is going to be amazing!”
Leonard tilted his head. “Amazing? Or catastrophic?”
Nim waved him off. “Tomato, tomahto.” He gave the Slinky a gentle nudge, sending it tumbling down the steps. “See? Perfectly safe.”
Leonard sighed but couldn’t resist the playful glint in Nim’s eyes. “Fine. Let’s race.”
Moments later, Nim and Leonard cheered as coils bounced and clattered, each trying to outpace the other.
“Go, green one! Go!” Nim hollered, leaning over the banister.
“Blue’s taking the lead!” Leonard countered, his hooves tapping in excitement.
But then…disaster struck. One particularly springy Slinky veered off course, ricocheting off the banister and knocking over a precariously balanced toy tower at the bottom of the stairs. The tumbling toys set off a domino effect, sending blocks, stuffed animals, and action figures scattering across the living room.
Nim froze, his hands still in mid-cheer. Leonard’s button eyes widened in mock horror. For a moment, the two stared at the chaos in silence.
Then Nim snorted. Leonard let out a wheezy laugh. And before long, both were doubled over in uncontrollable giggles.
“Okay,” Nim managed between laughs, wiping a tear from his eye. “Maybe not one of our finer moments.”
“No,” Leonard agreed. “But definitely one of the most fun.”
As their laughter faded, Nim sank onto the bottom step, surveying the mess with a wistful smile. “This has been a blast. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner for my first season in the Elves of Christmas program.”
Leonard climbed up beside him, his movements slower, more deliberate than usual. “Right back at you, Nim. You’ve got a good heart. Maybe a bit too much energy…and sugar…but a good heart.”
Nim chuckled, then noticed Leonard’s vibrant fur seemed a little less bright, his movements less animated. His smile faded and he let out a long, heavy sigh. “Oh Leonard, this is it, isn’t it?
Leonard nudged Nim’s arm gently. “Cheer up, Nim. I’ve done my job, and it’s time for me to rest. But before I go, there’s something you should know.”
Nim leaned in, his brows furrowing. “What is it?”
“Lil’s assigned kids, Issabella and Cheyenne? They’re Joe and Jake’s cousins.”
Nim’s jaw dropped. “No way! How do you know that?”
Leonard smirked. “Giraffalope intuition.”
Nim shook his head, marveling at this bit of news.
“I’ll miss you, Leonard,” Nim said softly.
“I’ll miss you too, Nim. But you’ll be fine. Just keep being you. And maybe ease up on the maple syrup, yeah?”
Nim chuckled. “No promises.”
As the first light of dawn crept through the windows, Leonard gave Nim one last, proud smile. Then, with a gentle shimmer of magic, he stilled, his plush form slumping slightly as he transformed back into a simple stuffed giraffalope.
Smarti adjusted his tiny clipboard and surveyed the living room. Every detail had been carefully accounted for: garland hung at even intervals, stockings perfectly aligned, and the lights on the tree blinking in an exact sequence of red, green, and gold. He nodded in satisfaction, flipping to his next page of notes.
“Now, the farewell gesture,” he muttered. “A simple craft, something orderly and meaningful. Perhaps a scrapbook highlighting Eric’s achievements this year.”
“A scrapbook? Seriously?” Harold’s deep, jovial voice echoed from the corner. The giraffalope trotted forward, a tangle of tinsel draped over one antler and a string of popcorn caught on his hoof. “That’s so boring. Why not build something fun, like a race track for Eric’s toy cars? I could help make ramps!”
Smarti frowned, tapping his pen against the clipboard. “Harold, a farewell is not about frivolity. It should be organized and heartfelt. A race track will just create more chaos.”
“Not if we do it right!” Harold grinned. “Come on, Smarti. Let loose for once! Have some fun!”
“Fun?” Smarti bristled. “This isn’t about me. It’s about setting a good example for Eric who, I might add, is finally off the naughty list. Order and precision are essential.”
Harold tilted his head, his usual cheer dimming slightly. “You know, Smarti, sometimes it’s okay to loosen the reins. Eric doesn’t need perfection in order to stay off the naughty list.”
Smarti opened his mouth to argue but stopped. He glanced at Harold, the giraffalope’s gentle tone striking a chord. “I… I suppose there’s more than one way to leave an impression.”
“Exactly!” Harold beamed, stepping closer. “So, how about we mix our ideas? A scrapbook with some interactive elements. Maybe a pop-up race track on one page?”
Smarti rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Interactive… that could work. But no glitter. Glitter is chaos incarnate.”
“Deal,” Harold said, holding out a hoof. They shook on it.
The two worked late into the night, crafting a farewell gift that was the perfect mix Smarti’s precision and Harold’s playfulness with fold-out surprises and movable parts. Harold even managed to sneak in a small car ramp on the final page.
As they finished, Smarti sat back and sighed. “You know, Harold, this isn’t what I envisioned, but… it feels right.”
“Told you,” Harold said with a wink. “You just needed to loosen up a bit.”
Smarti’s gaze drifted to his clipboard, now lying forgotten on the table. “Harold, can I ask you something?”
“Of course,” Harold replied, settling onto the floor beside him.
“Do you think…” Smarti hesitated. “Do you think I’m too rigid for this program?”
Harold’s eyes softened. “I think you’re great at what you do, Smarti. But, if I may be so bold, you don’t seem to really enjoy it.”
Smarti sighed. “I enjoy parts of it. When an activity comes together as planned, when Eric follows instructions I’ve left, when I make entries into The Book. That is my kind of fun.”
Harold’s eyes lit with a sudden idea. “Smarti, maybe there’s a way for you to be part of this program in a different way.”
Smarti nodded slowly, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Perhaps Santa could use someone to refine the Instruction Manual. I’ve noticed quite a few areas that could use clarification.”
Harold laughed. “That sounds like you. And you’d be amazing at it.”
As the first rays of dawn crept into the room, Harold stretched, his movements slower than usual. Smarti’s sharp eyes didn’t miss the way Harold’s vibrant coat seemed just a bit duller.
“Harold,” Smarti said softly. “Are you…?”
Harold nodded, a serene smile on his face. “It’s time, Smarti.”
Smarti swallowed hard, his usual composure faltering. “I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll miss you too, Smarti,” Harold said. “But you’re going to do great things. Just promise me one thing.”
“Don’t force Eric to read another book on good behavior?”
“No, don’t forget to have a little fun now and then.”
Smarti chuckled softly. “I’ll try.”
By the time Eric woke up, the fun, and organized, scrapbook sat on the dining room table. Harold stood beside it, now just a plain old stuffed giraffalope.
Smarti watched from his hiding spot, a bittersweet smile on his face. “Goodbye, Harold.”
Lil stood in the warm glow of the kitchen, her hands dusted with flour, and her green apron slightly askew. She hummed softly as she rolled out the gingerbread dough, her movements precise and practiced.
Behind her, Mildred the giraffalope peeked over the counter, her long neck allowing her a perfect vantage point. Her antlers sparkled faintly, the magic that animated her still strong but growing softer as the days of the season dwindled.
“Lil,” Mildred said, her voice cheerful. “How do you think we should dress them up this time?”
Lil stopped mid-roll and turned, her eyes twinkling. “Oh, I don’t know, Mildred. Maybe we go classic—scarves, hats, the usual?”
Mildred tilted her head dramatically, her ears twitching. “Boring. Let’s do something fun! How about a pirate? Or a ballet dancer? Ooh, a superhero!”
Lil giggled. “Pirate gingerbread men? That’s ridiculous.”
“That’s perfect,” Mildred grinned.
And so, the baking began. Lil mixed and measured while Mildred used her nimble hooves to cut the dough into little gingerbread boys and girls.
Lil crafted tiny eye patches from bits of licorice, and Mildred fashioned tutus from fruit roll-ups. Soon, the kitchen was a flurry of frosting, sprinkles, and an inexplicable amount of glitter.
“This one’s a ninja!” Mildred announced proudly, holding up a cookie dressed in a black frosting mask.
“And this one,” Lil said, carefully adding a dab of frosting, “is a rock star. Look at that mohawk!”
When the gingerbread men were finally complete, Lil and Mildred tiptoed around the home, posing their creations in the silliest scenarios they could imagine.
One cookie was perched on the edge of a teacup, fishing with a candy cane rod. Another dangled from the bookshelf, clinging to a strand of licorice like a daring adventurer. A tiny pirate stood atop a pile of marshmallows, his toothpick sword raised high.
Lil stepped back to admire their work, a smile on her face. “This might be my favorite project yet.”
Mildred nodded, her eyes sparkling. “They’re going to love it in the morning.”
Lil hesitated for a moment, then added, “You know, Mildred, I’m really going to miss this.”
“Me too.” Mildred smiled. “But just because my magic is fading doesn’t mean I won’t always be part of this.” She gestured to the little gingerbread men.
Lil’s grin returned, and she gave a playful nudge. “Well, if this is our last hurrah, I think we did it right.”
As the first rays of dawn peeked through the windows, Lil placed the final cookie—a tiny giraffalope with frosting antlers—at the center of the table.
“That’s you,” she said, her voice filled with warmth as she looked back at her. “Mildred?”
Mildred’s soft, plush body was no longer animated, her gentle smile now part of her fabric features. Lil let out a breath and smiled fondly. “Goodbye, Mildred.”
a pinch of homestead 