The Elf at the Department store.(Kevin Hughes) Author's Note: This is Christmas Story #4. I am way ahead of schedule this year. Maybe I should try for more than five stories?

Smiles, Kevin
*****


“She’s doing it again.”

Marck, Sherry, Tricia, and Willy all turned to see who Wanda was pointing at. None of them were surprised at what they saw. It was Mariposa - the strange little girl who had real elf like ears- so she didn’t have to wear the fake pointy ones that the rest of the hired “Elves” had to. Nor did she have to get fitted for a green outfit with a red belt, soft leather moccasins, or get fake colored contact lenses to make her eyes sparkle like a ruby.

She already had that stuff. At first, they all thought she was some kind of cosplay freak, or ComicCom aficionado, or maybe one of those brilliant but eccentric artists types who go whole hog for the personality and dress of person they are playing. They had seen it at those Society for Creative Anachronism Medieval Fairs, and Civil War Reenactments , where mannerisms, language, and dress were mimicked down to the tiniest detail.

This was the biggest, best, and most beautiful of all the Christmas Stores - with a history of having the best Santa, and Elves of any store on Earth. To make the Elves more realistic, they only hired gymnast like: Mark, Sherry, Tricia, Willy and Simon, Marley, and Taki, who filled in for the busy weekends. Everyone of them small, well proportioned, lithe, athletic, and coordinated. Walk overs, back flips, splits, were all part of well choreographed scenes to keep the kids interested during the long wait (and longer lines) to see Santa.

Mariposa was slim, slender, waif like- yet she was stronger than any of them. A better gymnast too. She could almost fly when she would leap, and none of the other Elves could spin in the air like her. She needed no warm ups, never stretched, and didn’t get out of breath after a tumbling display. It was uncanny.

Like Tricia remarked one night when the store was closed and they all kind of got into an impromptu floor routine- showing off their tumbling and dance skills. When Mariposa decided to “show off” with a routine that not only would have won the Olympics, but would have garnered 11’s from the judges. Tricia turned away with tears in her eyes - from the sheer joy of watching Mariposa dance and tumble:

“That girl ins’t human.”

But that wasn’t what Wanda was pointing out…it was the OTHER skill that set Mariposa apart that she was pointing out. Mariposa had her arm around a small child who couldn’t be more than six years old, and was walking her to a quiet place behind a big pillar.

As if they planned it, the other elves glided over to eavesdrop.

They heard the child talking…

*****

“I don’t want toys. I don’t want stuff. I want my Mommy back. That’s all. Just bring her home.”

Mariposa dropped to one knee so she could look right at the poor child, who was holding back tears by some strange compulsion in Humans that doesn’t let them cry in front of strangers- unless they totally loose control.

“Where is your Mommy that she can’t come back home?”

“We don’t know. Daddy says that Mommy always gets the Blues during the Holidays and she has to get away from people so she doesn’t make them sad. (The little girl stifled a sniffle) But it makes me SAD when she goes away. A tinge of anger was in the little girls tone.

“How long has she been gone?”

Mariposa’s hand was gently stroking the young girls hair, like one might pet a cat that knows you well enough to tolerate it- the little girl seemed to lean into that careers like the Elf was combing out her long hair for her. The little girl’s tone lightened just a bit.

“For more than a week. Daddy called everybody he knew including: Pop-Pop, Nanna, Auntie Kay, Auntie Sheila, Uncle George, and even her boss at work Mr. Herald. Nobody has seen her. Yesterday…he called…he called… the Police. He tries to be strong, but I know Daddy is worried. Really worried.”

This time the little girl couldn’t hold back the tears. Mariposa couldn’t hold back the hug- the little girl melted into that embrace with all her heart. It helped. A bit.

Mark started to say something from their hiding place by the Jewelry stock room. Wanda shushed him. Willy merely nodded and handed a handkerchief to Sherry, who (like all of them) was silently trying to stop her eyes from brimming over, and losing. They all turned back to watch, listen, and see what would happen.

None of them were ready for what they saw.

Later, none of them would talk about it.

Because this is what they saw…

*****

Mariposa put two hands on the little girl’s shoulders. She pushed her gently away until the little girl was an arm’s length away. Looking the little girl right in her eyes she said:

“I want you to wait here for a minute. Okay?”

The little girl nodded.

“Don’t move. I will be right back. Okay?”

Another Nod.

“Okay, now close your eyes. Don’t open them until I tell you to. Okay?”

“Okay.” Came out in that tiny voice children have when they are trusting you completely.

As soon as the little girl closed her eyes, Mariposa twinkled out of existence.

One second she was there, the next second a bunch of glittering sparkles were in her place and moments later even that was gone. As was Mariposa.

*****

“Holy Shit!” Breathed Marck.

“What the F…?” said Sherry.

Wanda just sucked in her breath and rubbed her eyes.

Willy just stared.

Ten seconds later…and Sparkles appeared like colored glitter- a moment later, Mariposa was back. She was soaked and shivering cold. But that isn’t what caused all four of the “elves” to stop breathing.

That happened when another set of sparkles turned into colored confetti like glitter and a woman much taller than Mariposa, but just as wet, and even colder showed up.

“You can open your eyes now.”

The little girl did. Then screamed: “Mommy. MOMMY!” Burying herself as far into her Mother’s wet coat and freezing arms as she could. Trying to burrow into her heart- which she did.

Mariposa looked around to make sure no one was watching. She reached into her pouch and took out a pinch of what had to be Fairy Dust. She sprinkled just a bit that fell like diamonds over the Mother and child. Instantly they were both dry, warm, and clean.

After a while, the Mother turned to Mariposa.

“How…how…how can I thank-you? I don’t know how to repay you for this.”

“You already did. Your family needs you. They love you. And you love them enough to try and fight the darkness. Just keep your promise to me to get help…and don’t give up.”

Holding her little girl tighter, the Mother nodded.

“I won’t. Thank you.”

*****

The store had closed. Everyone was gone…except for Marck, Sherry, Wanda, Willy and Mariposa.

“Who are you?”

“You know me, I am Mariposa.”

She smiled in a way that was more Imp like than Elf like.

“No.” Demanded Wanda. “WHAT are you, an Angel or something?”

That made Mariposa laugh out loud.

“Thank you for the Compliment Wanda, but no, I am not an Angel. I am an Elf. “

“So are we. “ Said Sherry with a chuckle.

Mariposa shook her perfectly formed tiny head, flicked one of her ears with a pure green fingernail, floated about a foot above the ground, then spun slowly.

“No. You are pretending to be Elves. I am an Elf.”

For dramatic effect (and because it was fun) Mariposa flickered out of existence for a second or two. When she came back to the desired outcome- she smiled at how humans can drop their jaws. It delighted her.

Sherry recovered first.

“Well, what did you sprinkle on that Mother and Child…was it…err…Fairy dust?”

Mariposa gave Sherry a cute little punch in the shoulder.

“No Silly. What would an Elf be doing with Fairy Dust? And what Fairy would share their dust anyway?”

Marck spoke up:

“You mean there are such a thing as Fairies?”

Mariposa raised one perfect eyebrow in an arch that made her pretty face, cuter.

“Well, you are talking with an Elf!”

Point taken.

“Well then what did you sprinkle on them then?”

Sherry refused to be sidetracked by mere miracles, magic and Mariposa’s Elfness.

“Oh, that? That was Mother’s Love. The most powerful dust on Earth.”

*****

It was the New Year. Mariposa was having a beer with the other “elves” in Wanda’s apartment.

“We are going to miss you. “

A series of clinking beer bottles tapping each other in agreement followed that statement.

“I shall miss all of you too. You would make fine Elves.”

“Will we see you next year?”

“No. We only get to come to do One Christmas with Humans. “

A sad silence followed.

Mariposa waited for it to draw out. She waited until she almost burst. Then she said it:

“But you can all come visit me in the Forest near San Francisco on MayDay.”

“We can?!” Came out as a Chorus , not a single voice.

Mariposa was both twinkling and floating in the air, her beer held high.

“Yes. I will send you all an Email in April. It will be a road trip you will never forget. Pointing to her bottle she said:

“Don’t bring this lousy beer though. We will have Meade made from Ambrosia, and even Guinness drinkers will weep.”

And with that…she was gone.

A sprinkle feel a moment later, like little shiny pieces of tin foil, when it landed on the Humans, they knew what it was immediately…Mother’s Love.

In the air they heard Mariposa’s voice:

"Merry Christmas."

---