Mother died when I was young and I was left in the care of my uncle, Scott Calvin. He was a toy maker, however this was going to change. 6 years later and another Christmas alone. Although this wasn't a Christmas I was never gonna forget.
Based off...
A few months had passed since Scott, Charlie and I went to the North Pole, and I was beginning to loose hope in Scott. He had started to get random cravings and he was eeating every sugary food possible. I instantly knew it was the Santafication process Bernard warned me about. I remember him telling me I have to guide him and support him in all ways but I just don't know what to say or do. Everyday is a struggle for Scott now, his work kept cutting his hours due to his health. Although he's put on a lot of weight really fast, he's still healthy. I don't understand why everything is going wrong for him. Well, not all for him. Some kids at Charlie's school have been mean and Scott keeps leaving work to go talk to his teachers. Laura and Neal were no help, they just keep making the matter worse. Even for me, school was hard. More people heard about Scott and their parents had heard things from Laura and Neal. This mean I was becoming more of an outcast. More then I used to be. The days were getting faster and I was painting more. Only I could only paint one thing. Even when I tried not too, or tried to paint something non-christmasy, it always turned out into the same thing. That thing was Bernard. Although I remember so much from that night, the only thing that comes to my mind is him. I'm so weird. Each individual painting was different but also thee same.
It was just another April morning, the weekend to be exact, I woke up to another beautiful day. Picture perfect if I would say so. I got dressed into my oversized green hoodie and slipped on some jeans. While brushing my hair I was taken from my thoughts by Scott scream coming from the direction of his bathroom. I jumped from my seat and ran to the bathroom. I've felt very protected over Scott since the visit to the North Pole. It's like I'm his protector or something. I bang on the wooden door and wait for resonse. 'Scott?' I yell. No response. 'Scott, I'm coming in!' I shout through the door not knowing what I was going to see. As I opened the door a gasp escaped from my mouth as I looked at him. He turns and looks at me and with that we scream at each other. In just one night he's managed to grow a grey beard and gained, yet again, more weight. 'Y...your.' I stutted as I raise my arm to point at the short hair upon his chin.
'What has happened!?' He shouts to me as I was unale to hear. It must've been a real shock for him. He looked back at himself in the mirror. 'I woke up like this!' He panicked running his hand through it. 'The Santafication process.' I muttered to myself, thinking about what Bernard had told me. 'What?' Scott yelped looking over at me. 'Nothing.' I panicked and walked out the door. 'Come back here young lady.' He said running up behind me. Before he could get to my room I shut then locked my door. 'Noel Calvin! Open this door now!' Scott shouted from the other side of the door. 'I... ugh, can't process this,' I lied hoping he'd leave. 'Why don't you try shaving it?' I asked before sitting on my bed. 'Ok. But if it comes back I'm going straight to the doctors.' He shouted before I hear his footsteps fade away.
'Oh my,' I exhaled as I look down into my lap. I knew this was going to happen but this fast. I looked down at the snowflake charm hanging around my neck. Bernard. He'll know what to do. 'Please work.' I grab the charm and rub it lightly, 'Bernard.' I whispered, just he said to do. Moments later I heard a jingle of bells from the corner of my room, followed by a puff of glitter. I turned around and noticed the familiar elf standing in the corner, brushing the remaining glitter off his jumper. I tried to pinch myself to see if this was real or not.
After he was finished he looked up and noticed me. 'Noel.' He said before walking over to me. 'B...Bernard.' I stuttered as I stood up from my bed. 'What seems to be the problem?' He asked once he got closer to me. 'I, uh... well.' I stuttered again trying to remember what happened. 'Oh, um. It's Scott. He.. the Santafication process has begun.' He looked down at me with a relieved smile. 'Good. It is April after all.' The head elf answered before looking around my room. I noticed he was walking over to my desk where the paintings of him were. I quickly rushed over and stood in front of them. 'I wished you called for me earlier.' Bernard broke the awkward yet peaceful silence. I looked up at him confused. Maybe he wanted to see the Santafication process first hand.
'Why'd you say that?' I asked as I watched him snoop through the previous paintings on the shelf. 'Missed you.' He proceeded to answer. 'Missed me?' I asked curiously. Maybe he was joking around. 'Yeah.' He agreed looking down at me. As he started to get closer to the desk, my body slowly moved from it, allowing him to the see. 'These are really beautiful.' He said, as he looked at some of the paintings. 'You think?' I asked walking closer to him. 'Yeah.' He smiled.
'Scott doesn't seem to think they'll get me anywhere.' I said my smile disappearing. Bernard noticed and picked one from the desk. 'I really like this one.' He joked as he held it upto him. 'Looks just like me.' He chuckled making me blush a little. 'How did you get it to precise. I haven't seen you in months.' I look at him and smile softly. How do I tell him that he was and always is on my mind. No one can say that to a person they'll think they're weird.
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'Really good memory.' I lied once again. He placed the watercolour painting down and walked over to my bed. He sat down and looked at me with a small grin on his face. I placed myself on my desk chair, allowing him some space. 'So, Scott.' He said before returning to his serious face. 'Oh, yeah. He woke up this morning with a beard and he's gained more weight in just one night.' I explained to the head elf who watches me. 'Grey or white?' He asked. 'Grey.'
'Ok. So he's in stage 2 of the Santificaion process.' Bernard explained. 'So will he eventually his hair will turn white?' I asked curious in how it all worked. 'Yes. That's stage 3.' He replied. I watched his every move and notice how the glitter on his cheek shimmered as he spoke.
'Is there anything else going on that I need to know?' Bernard asked as he got up from the bed. 'Well,' I started to say but though I'd better not. He doesn't need to know about the protection feeling. 'No, it doesn't matter.' I tell him with a smile. He carrried on roamin my room, looking at random things. It wasn't until he noticed the beret on my night stand he spoke again. 'You got it then.' Bernard smiled as he turned back to me. I looked down at the brown beret and smile. 'Yeah. Didn't take it off until the weather changed.' I told him. Every word being true. He returned the same smile to me. We stare at each other with the awkward yet peaceful silence around us.
'NOEL!' Scott shouted from the bathroom once again, breaking the silence. 'He's here?' Bernard asked beginning to walk to my bedroom door, still covered in tinsel from Christmas. I jumped in front of him. Stopping him from leaving the room. 'You can't go out there.' I said pushing my hand on his chest. 'Why not? He knows who I am.' Bernard began to explain. 'No it's not like that. He...he um.' The head elf's chocolate eyes stare into mine as I try to push him away from the door. I noticed a look of realization in his eyes as he slowly backed away and took centre in the room. 'He doesn't know does he.' He asks me. 'Well, he doesn't really believe' I tried to explain. I watched as Bernard walked over to my desk and picked up one of the paintings of him. 'Show him this. He'll remember.' He said not handing it to me but putting it in his satchel. 'Remember to call me if you need me. And tell him.' Bernard said in a rush before disappearing into a puff of glitter, leaving a patch on the floor.
I inhale deeply before the door swings open. Scott stands before me, razor in hand yet still a full beard only this time it was longer. 'Noel, it's not going.' He cried.
