Rated G - Written for Steemit: Elves at the North Pole are Interrupted in their task of making enough toys for children at Christmas ©Jeff Kubitz 2016 - All Rights Reserved.

Christmas Elves - 3

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In case you missed it:

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

The great bronze opened and Grrch, the gnome leader heard, “Ho Ho Ho, Merry Christmas!” And there before his very eyes stood the one, Saint Nicholas.

Image Source - stnicholascenter.org

“Who knocked on the door,” Saint Nicholas asked as he looked around, “Junior, is that you?”

“MM TTh EE,” Junior tried to say.

“It was me, Grrch the gnome leader.” Grrch said as he looked up at Santa.

Santa looked down at Grrch, “Oh I did not see you Grrch, what is wrong with Junior?”

“All the elves have some sort of twitching and tic disease, just like Junior here, Saint Nicholas.” Grrch pointed at Junior with his hand. Junior twitched and tics evidenced themselves all over every part of his body.

“Junior cannot talk?” Santa asked Grrch as he examined Junior.
“No and he cannot stop twitching either. None of the elves can.” Grrch answered.

Saint Nicholas continued his examination of Junior, “All the elves are like this?”

“Some aren’t as bad as this but the situation seems to be getting worse and worse. The elves were on break out on the lake of ice when all of a sudden this broke out. Did you see the note I slipped under the door from Eldric?” Grrch asked after he answered Saint Nicholas’s question.

“Note from Eldric? No let me look again.” Saint Nicholas said and then he turned back into his rooms. After a brief search, Santa returned with the note in his hand and read the note in the light of the hall.

“Oh my,” Saint Nicholas exclaimed after he read the note. Then he looked around and saw that guards were down on the floor at every single one of their posts within his view. All the guards twitched. “Are you affected in any way Grrch, or any of the gnomes?”

“Not that I know of. I sent the gnomes out to pull the elves off the lake of ice so they did not freeze. I am tired from using the door knocker and pulling Junior here. He was heavy until he shrunk himself to the size of a mouse. Otherwise we would not have made it. I wish he had suggested it before I tried to pull him here. The trip would have been easier.”

“So, Junior could talk when you first began your journey to my rooms?” Santa asked.

“Yes, he could talk.” Grrch answered.

“But he can’t talk now?” Santa asked.

“No, Junior cannot talk now.” Grrch answered. “Got worse and twitched more after he returned to his regular size.”

“I see.” Saint Nicholas said as he examined Junior very closely. Then, he waved his staff over Junior and waited. After a few moments, Saint Nicholas waved his staff over the twitching elf one more time and waited. Then he said, “Oh, this is terrible. This is the first time this has ever happened.”

“What has happened Saint Nicholas?” Grrch asked.

“Junior has run out of magic!” Saint Nicholas said as he walked up to a fallen, twitching elf guard and waved his staff over the guard. Then Saint Nicholas walked up to another guard, then another, then another. He exclaimed, “All the elves have lost their magic, each and every single elf.”

After some thought, Saint Nicholas asked, “Is there anyone else in the castle Grrch?”

“No one else is here but the fairies in present wrapping and bag packing.” Grrch answered, “That I know of.”

“And how are the fairies?” Saint Nicholas asked.

“I do not know. I haven’t stopped by there today.” Grrch answered Santa.

“Let’s go there first and see how they are doing, come along Grrch.” Santa walked and Grrch followed.

As they walked, Grrch pulled Junior in the wagon.

“Somehow Grrch the castle just seems dreary this year.” Santa remarked.

In case you missed it: Part 5 Part 6 Part 7

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