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Smarti scowled. “What do you mean by ‘try something more fun’? Trying different techniques for folding towels is fun, Nim.”
Nim sighed and looked at the others for help.
“Smarti, how old is Eric?” asked Lil.
“Six. Why is that important?”
“Why is…Smarti, do you really think a 6-year-old would think folding towels is a laugh? A good time? Didn’t you work with the elflings?”
Smarti sniffed, a glint in his eye. “Yes, what of it? Those elflings were much better behaved than Eric. If only I could talk to him. I would get him in ship-shape condition like that!” Smarti snapped his fingers.
Pepper gasped. “You heard the rules, Smarti. No talking, moving, or otherwise with the families. Or else.”
“Or else what?” Smarti shouted. “What could possibly happen? Talking to them, interacting with them would make this job sooo much easier!”
Flaky cleared his throat. “Sure, but where is the fun in that?”
“As challenging as this job is,” said Nim. “It’s also fun.”
The others nodded in agreement. Smarti sighed. Heavily.
“So far, I fail to see the fun part of this job. Making the rules up as we go along? It’s pure chaos!”
The elves fell silent, worried at Smarti’s dejected demeanor.
Lil suddenly perked up. “Smarti, you like order, right?”
“Do snowmen like the cold?” sniped Smarti.
Ignoring his tone, Lil went on. “Well, what if you combined your love for strict–er, order with something fun for Eric?”
“I’m listening.”
“Lego!” smiled Lil.
“Oh yes!” agreed Nim as Flaky and Pepper nodded in agreement.
“Lego?” asked Smarti skeptically.
“Yes, you could start to build a Lego…something, and leave it up to Eric to finish the build.” Lil smiled triumphantly while Smarti mulled the idea over.
“That’s…that sounds…kind of, fun?”
It was more a question than ecstatic agreement, but it was a start.
***
Smarti stepped back and viewed his Lego creation. It bothered him a little that it was unfinished. He wasn’t sure he could trust Eric to finish it according to the detailed construction plans he had drawn up, but…at least it was a good start. He could fix it later if need be.
“What is it?” asked Harold.
Smarti spluttered. “Can’t you tell? It’s a gingerbread cottage!”
Harold looked at the building with a frown and then looked down at the complicated plans Smarti had drawn up.
“Hm.”
Smarti raised an eyebrow. “Do you have something to say, Harold?”
“Well, it’s a little complex for a 6-year-old, don’t you think?”
“I’ve left step by step plans.”
“Sure, but Eric is six.”
Smarti crossed his arms. “So?”
“So, 6-year-olds don’t really follow plans when playing with Lego.”
Smarti’s chest swelled in indignation. “Well. The elflings I work with at the North Pole are as young as 5 and have no trouble following the plans as they watch me build.”
“Do they do any of the building?”
“No,” Smarti admitted.
Harold waited.
Smarti waited.
Harold cleared his throat.
“Fine,” Smarti snapped. “What would you suggest?”
Harold smiled mischievously. “I thought you’d never ask!”
Harold ploughed into the carefully built cottage, scattering multi-colored bricks all over the room. Smarti could only stand there in open-mouthed shock as he watched Harold swiftly build a tall, tall tower.
“Ta da!” Harold bowed with a flourish.
Smarti could only splutter. “H-how…w-why? Y-ou ruined the cottage.”
Harold glanced at the ruins of the perfect cottage Smarti had constructed and frowned. “Trust me, Smarti-pants. Eric will like this tower much better.”
Smarti, burning with anger and resentment, was already planning the next entry in The Book.
Do build with Lego or other bricks for a fun activity with your kids. Don’t destroy carefully built and meticulously planned cottages without first asking the elf who spent hours upon hours drawing up the plans and building to exact specifications!
a pinch of homestead 