The Christmas Elf (Jenlisa)

Chapter 1

~ Monday evening,
December Twenty-Third ~

"C'mon, c'mon, c'mon!" Jennie muttered under her breath as the line of cars ahead of her slowly crawled through the traffic light. It turned red before she could get through.

"Shit!" she exclaimed, slapping the steering wheel of her well-worn Honda Civic in frustration.

"Mommy, you said a swear!" the small voice in the back seat exclaimed. Jennie turned and smiled at her four-year old daughter.

Ella was wearing her new Christmas dress, with its broad green and white stripes and little felt gingerbread men dancing along the hem of her skirt. Her puffy pink jacket and boots did little to detract from her cuteness.

Jennie tucked a lock of her long brown hair behind her ear, then picked up a quarter from the cup holder and held it out to her. "You got me sweetie! You can put this in the swear jar when we get home."

Her little girl made the quarter disappear into her pocket. "Mommy just wants us to get there before they close," she muttered, turning her attention back to the road as the light turned green.

Today was the last day of the famous Christmas village in the next town over from theirs, and Jennie was praying they would make it in time for Ella to get a picture with Santa Claus.

Between work, school, and all the chores it took to keep the house in order and her child fed and clean, she hadn't had a spare moment the entire month.

As she pulled into the parking lot for the town park, her heart sank. There were few people about and most of the lights in the village were turned off.

She jumped out of the car, bundled Ella into her arms and ran toward the center of the village. Maybe we can catch Santa before he leaves, she hoped as she hustled through the mostly empty market.

"Oh no, mommy! Is Santa gone?" Her daughter's plaintive question threatened to break her heart as they rounded a corner and came to the North Pole scene set up in the middle of the village square. Santa's throne sat empty, with a lone elf picking up trash around the tiny house.

"Baby, I'm so sorry. It looks like we missed him."

"But-But if I can't tell him I won't be home, he won't be able to find me on Christmas! Can I stay home tomorrow so I won't miss him?" The quiver in her voice was a clear announcement that tears were imminent.

Jennie sighed. "Baby, we talked about this. You have to go to your Daddy and Gramma's tomorrow, okay? I promise Santa will find you."

Jennie felt a tap on her elbow and turned to find the elf standing next to her. She was a cute, wholesome looking young woman, about the same age as herself, wearing a bright red skirt with a green blazer on top. Her inner shirt and tights were covered with red and white candy cane stripes. The fake elf ears sticking out from her shoulder-length black hair poked up next to the white fur trim around the brim of her green stocking cap. She smiled brightly at Ella.

"Excuuuuse me little girl!" she said in a fake, squeaky elf voice. "Did I just hear you have an urgent message for Santa? He's my boss, you know!?"

"Really?" Ella's quivering lip was put momentarily on hold.

"Really! I'm Lili the Elf, what's your name?"