Time to be Elfish (part 2)
“Mom…” Malina says.
“And this is the cafeteria,” Toodles says as she leads the group through the North Pole. “We had to do a bit of remodeling, but that actually worked out for the better. We have the best cocoa machine in the world, here, and it’s all thanks to your principal. We’ll be having that next!”
The group cheers, except for Malina. Malina is glaring at her. It catches Toodles so far off guard that she almost trips over nothing. “What’s wrong? Did I miss something?”
“Yes,” Malina says, “you MISSED the part where we’re supposed to be working. We want to wrap presents, right, guys?”
There’s a pause from the group, and Trent raises a hand. “Can we… you know, get a cookie, first?” Malina looks at him. “Or after. After is good.”
“But sweetie, I was just—“ Toodles says, trying to explain just how important this is. She’s showing Malina’s friends how well off she’ll be when she comes up here! They need to know she’ll be fine!
“I know,” Malina says, taking her hand. “But the Advent Calendar is about helping other people as much as it is fun, right? So let us help. Besides, you look exhausted. Did you forget to sleep again?”
“I was… well, I’m almost positive I got some the night before…”
“Last?”
“Well, no, but the night before that one,” Toodles admits, only to barely cover a yawn with her hand.
“Then you shouldn’t be running around giving us a tour,” Malina says firmly. “You need to be training the reindeer and overseeing operations, right? But before you can do that, you NEED a nap.” She pulls out her phone, and Toodles watches in confusion, until she says, “Hi, Santa? Can you send an elf to the cafeteria to lead my classmates to the wrapping station?”
“Of course, I’d be happy to,” Santa says over the phone.
“Thank you,” Malina says. “I’m going to make sure Toodles takes a nap.”
“Oh good, she could definitely use one,” Santa says, unknowing that Toodles is glaring holes in the phone for that statement. Malina hangs up and takes Toodles’ arm, dragging her away as the elves head for the students.
“I WAS going to put you to work, you know,” Toodles says.
“I know, I know,” Malina says. “After you gave us a day-long tour, we’d probably get to wrap two little presents and you’d praise us for helping out so much.”
A guilty look crosses Toodles’ face, because, honestly, she’d planned exactly that. “It’s just… I wanted your friends to see what kind of life you’ll be living,” she admits a bit plaintively.
“And I love you for it, but I wanted my friends to make things a little bit easier on you,” Malina says. They look at each other for a second before both start laughing. “Do you have any idea how hard it was to keep this a secret from Ariel? Can you imagine just how hectic it would be if the Deadly Darlin’s showed up to help? But I knew that things got tough around this time, so I wanted to help in some way. Um… which way are we going?”
“This way,” Toodles says, tugging her down a hall. “I wanted to show you something, anyway.”
“Really? What?”
They reach Toodles’ condo, and she heads inside. “This is my… well, our home,” Toodles says, motioning to the large, comfortable front room. “It’s always been too big for just me, but, well, you know how it goes. But now that you’ll be living here, I don’t mind so much. Here, let me show you your room!”
“You didn’t have to—“ Malina starts out, only to stop as she sees Toodles’ face. “I can’t wait,” she says, instead.
“I had a lot of this made in shop, but some of it I had to order out for, so I hope you like it,” Toodles says, suddenly feeling self conscious. “It’s this way.” She takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. Oh, sure, most of it she has a good feeling about. It’s just the one thing she added afterwards that she’s not… sure about.
She leads Malina into the room, clapping her hands to turn the lights on. The sound of Malina gasping makes her look over, hopefully. “Ah, the bed is actually one I had Superior make,” Toodles says as Malina heads for it. “He’s been carving up a storm, and they said if he keeps it up, they won’t have room for all of his stuff. Do you… do you like it?”
“It’s beautiful,” Malina says touching one of the posts. There are snowflakes carved into the wood, patterned to look as if they’re falling. She undoes the tie of the drape and lets it fall, showing more snowflakes. “Wow… that’s… I mean, I would have been fine with a smaller bed, you know? This thing is big enough for an army.”
“I thought you could invite Carla up for a sleepover once in a while,” Toodles says.
“YES! That would be so fun!” Malina says. She turns, looking at the other parts of the room with a grin still on her face.
“I actually have arrangements set to give you an entrance to your room,” Toodles says. “When you get older, or even now if you really want, we can branch out and add a little kitchen, and maybe a sitting room. I have the space reserved. Your bathroom is right through that door, and that one over there will be your walk-in closet. I know that as a teenager you need some space.”
“I… I love it,” Malina says. “We can wait on the kitchen, though. I hate cooking.”
“Really?”
“I like to bake, though!”
Toodles looks at her. “You DO realize there’s not much difference, don’t you?” she asks.
“Of course there’s a difference! Baking gets you cake and cookies!”
“You’re already talking like an elf,” Toodles says, giving up and laughing.
“I’ve got to ask, where did you get this awesome poster?” Malina asks, heading over to the large framed poster on the wall. It’s a picture of a circus, but there are magical animals doing all the tricks. There are griffins instead of lions jumping through fiery hoops, a hippogriff with a lady in a feathery outfit on his back, and more. In the center of it all is a ringmaster, bowing with a charming smile on his face. “It’s amazing.”
“That…” Toodles says, hesitantly.
“Did someone paint this? It almost looks like a real life picture, though… That’s so cool.” Malina says, not noticing the strange expression on Toodles’ face.
“I should take that nap,” Toodles says. “If I don’t start now, you’ll have to leave before I wake up.”
“Oh! You’re right, I’m so sorry! Go take your nap! I should get back to the others and help with the wrapping.”
Toodles heads to her room, a little frown on her face. Yes, she had chosen to put it there, but now she’s really wishing she hadn’t. There are so many things that she’s not sure how to explain about her past… but she WANTS to tell her about it. She sighs, running a hand through her hair and shrugging it off. Maybe someday. They will have plenty of time once Malina moves up here.
Someone knocks on her door just as she’s reached her bedroom, and she groans, heading for it, instead. “Yes?” she says, only to blink at the sight of Santa.
“They… ah… well, Toodles,” he says, looking troubled. “You know, I can forgive the children, they’re actually being quite helpful, other than the time they wrapped Davis by mistake… at least, I believe it was a mistake… but do you think you could convince your sister and her friends that not every child will like glitter in their packaging?”
“Ariel’s here?” Toodles asks, excitedly. “It’s a family reunion!” She forgets all about her nap and races past him.
“Yes, but…“ he says, although she’s already out of sight by now, “the glitter?” he asks the empty hall. After a moment he sighs and starts for the wrapping room. Someone really needs to unwrap Davis, after all. Although he dreads it, he admits, he won’t be able to get the glitter out of his beard by the big night, he’s almost certain.
Cape High 