by Audrey Roberts/Staff Writer
Day 1
December 1, 2020
Most people think we elves work all year round to get presents for everyone. But that’s not true. We don’t start work until July. The term Christmas in July actually originated when it leaked that we start work again in July. But whatever. Anyway, we’ve been at it for months now, figuring out what everyone wants and then starting the toy-making process. While most elves are in the toy making departments-crafting, wood work, painting, gears, naming, fixing-I’m one of the elite elves that works in the researching department. We get the special honor of figuring out what a kid wants. As we go through each kid’s life and their likes and dislikes, we figure out what everyone wants. While it’s tiring going through a lot of the same lives every year, it’s always fun to see how someone’s done since the last time we checked a year ago.
Because interests change, kids don’t get exactly what they want, but if we worked to make sure everyone got what they wanted, we’d be making every single toy at the last minute! Anyways, my boss, Jingle Wreath (Mr. Wreath), gave me this journal as my ten-year anniversary present. I’ve worked at this job for ten years and I’ve made sure to work hard. Considering we only work for half the year, we got to prove we deserve our long breaks! Anyways, I think I’ll write til Christmas and then take a break until next year.
So long for now, journal.
P.S. My name is Cheery Stocking.
Day 2
December 2, 2020
Today I got to research more last-minute kids. Last-minute kids are what we call December born kids. They’re the ones that are tiny little babies that get born in December. This one girl really stood out to me though. Her name is Sally Banitch. Sally is the cutest little baby, but her birth was a hard one. Her dad died in a car crash and her mom went into early labor because of that same car crash. Her mom had been so sad because of her husband’s death, but her face got so happy when she saw Sally. I can tell that they’re going to have a good life together, even if they get a little lonely. Plus, I can tell Sally will bring back the light into her mother’s eyes!
We all decided that she should get little socks with her name on them for Christmas. The clothing elves are great at making the softest and warmest clothes, especially for babies.
Also, my friends and I all went to Rudolph’s Hot Chocolate Parlor for dinner! It was Snowy Bell’s idea and treat. We all got hot chocolate (of course) and chocolate chip cookies with some candycanes on the side. It was nice to hang out with them since I’ve been swamped with work.
I’ll write again soon!
Day 5
December 5, 2020
You’ll never believe what happened. The power went out. It’s only gone out a few times in Claus history. Unfortunately, the snow storm was so bad, they still haven’t gotten the lights and trees back on, let alone the equipment everyone needs. Nothing got done today!
On the bright side, all the departments got to have a free day in the workshop. The Research department went down and read old records of past children and their histories. My favorite was about a little boy who made a new Christmas List every month because he couldn’t decide what he wanted. This all stopped when he turned 10, but his old lists were so cute.
One of them said:
My Christmas lest:
1.I want a buny rabbet
2.I want a fun trip to Disney World
3.I want a twin sister
4.I want Marcie Jones to sit next to me on the bus
5.I want to meet a raindear
I can’t wait to get back to work, even though it’s starting to slow down. Soon the Research Department will have to join up with the Travel Route Department to help make any adjustments to kids they missed or added that were or weren’t on the list.
Until tomorrow!
Day 6
December 6, 2020
I was cleaning out my closet and found an old picture of some friends I made when I was an intern. Not all elves get into the Workshop and you have to be an intern first. In the picture, I realized that five of us didn’t make it. Unfortunately, one of us got Mint Bite (a very serious winter condition for us elves) and was sent to Florida as an agent. Merry Icicle got sent to the South Pole to handle the upstart who had been stirring up our naughtiness-meter by spreading lies about Mr. Claus. He even spread one that made Mrs. Claus seem like a Hippo.
Luckily he’s entered an agreement to always get a present as long as he doesn’t say anything else about the North Pole and its inner-workings, whether true or false.
Then I realized that my best friend in that picture was still my best friend now: Mistle Star. We both work in the Research Department and can’t wait to go on our annual Skiing trip we take in January to celebrate a job well done.
Write to ya next time!
Day 7
December 7, 2020
I’m so mad I could yell! Candy Candle came in and demanded, demanded, that we rewrite all of November’s present choices. She claimed that no one would want anything we had put on that list and we had to start over. She thinks that because she’s Mr. Wreath’s daughter she owns our department but she certainly does not. She’s only 12, and already set up for a job in the Painting Department. Whatever, she won’t have long before she will have to focus on her internship instead of bossing us around. Either way, her father, our boss, came in and put a stop to her anyway.
In a week, half of us will go to work with the Travel Route Department and the other half will stay in the Research Department to deal with any new comers. I do hope I get chosen to help with the Travel Route DepaPerrtment. I’ve never had the chance and would love to try it!
Well, I guess I’ll find out on the 15th. Write later!
Day 8
December 8, 2020
Today I learned that adding candycanes to your mint tea works better than adding sugar! It sounds disgusting, but when I told some of the other elves and they tried it, they agreed that it was the most wonderful tasting cocoa they’d ever tasted.
Afterwards, I-
Wait, someone’s knocking on the door…
Alright. So nobody was at the door but there was a secret letter. Here’s what it said:
Dear Cheery Stocking,
This year you have been chosen for Santa’s Holiday Party Committee (SHPC). As you know, every year, we elves throw a big Christmas celebration in honor of everyone’s hard work, especially Santa who spends almost his entire year working with every department to make each Christmas a success.
Tell no one you are a part of this committee. Come to the Holiday Meeting Room at 9:30 P.M. tomorrow night. If you don’t arrive, we will assume you’re uninterested and will invite someone else to the committee.
Don’t be late,
The head of SHPC
I can’t believe it!! I’ve only heard of the legendary committee! They’re said to be legendary people, myths, that are so secretive no one knows if they’re real. For all anyone else knows, the Holiday Party comes from thin air.
I can’t wait for tomorrow night!
Day 9
December 9, 2020
You will never guess who the head of the committee is for the SHPC. It’s Mrs. Claus! She was beautiful, too. Everyone thinks she’s really old with grey hair, but her hair is dyed gray.
Apparently, every year, she invites five new people to the committee to keep up the flow of new, creative ideas for the party. This year, she decided to pick Starry Mistletoe, Candle Bow, Crimson Present, Ginger Frosting, and me.
This meeting was just about the rules, (don’t tell anyone you’re in the committee, share every idea, give good advice, never make fun of someone elses idea or degrade it, and have fun). She also said that next meeting we would plan the theme. Every year the theme is different. Last year the theme was reindeer and everything was reindeer styled.
Day 8
December 8, 2020
Tomorrow night I get to go to the second meeting. I’ve been thinking about what theme ideas I could come up with. I made a list of my best ideas in order of my favorite to least favorite:
1.Gingerbread theme
2.Snowman theme
3.Christmas Tree theme
4.Starry Night theme
The ones that have been done that I remember are the Snowball Fight theme, the Present Swap theme, and the Christmas Carol theme. I liked the Christmas Carol theme the best! Everyone would be laughing and having a good time when someone would randomly start singing a carol, and the rules of that party were if anyone started a song, everyone had to finish it together!
So long for now!
Day 10
December 10, 2020
She loved my idea!!! She thought very highly of my Gingerbread theme and it’s in the top 3. We get to think them over and then we get to vote for them in two days at our next meeting. The other two options are an Ornament theme and a Christmas Lights theme. I really hope my idea goes through, but if everyone else likes a different theme better and thinks it will be more fun, then I want that one to be chosen.
I also got another last-minute child. This one was a little boy with the name of Joseph Smith. Joseph is a super-grouchy, but adorable, little boy. His blue eyes sparkle with mischief whenever he opens them. I can’t wait to read about his life every year! I decided to put him down for a cute shirt that says, “My present to you is mischief!” in green and red letters. On the back of the shirt will be a picture of the Grinch. I think it will be a great present for him.
Day 11
December 11, 2020
Mr. Wreath came by with some forms and asked us to fill one out if we wanted to be considered for the group that goes to help the travel Route Department. Of course I filled one out. A few more people filled some out as well. There weren’t too many so I think I’ve got a good chance of going this year.
In the cookie room where we go on our breaks, I heard someone talking about the Annual gift exchange. Ever since the Present themed party a few years ago, someone has left a box with names in the cookie room on December 10. Every elf takes a name and they get a gift for that person. I had completely forgotten in all my excitement about getting on the committee. I went to pick out a name and I got Snowy Bell! (She’s the one who treated us to Rudolph’s Hot Chocolate Parlor a week ago.
Ooh! Thinking about that got me to figure out what her present will be! She brought us to the parlor because she loves hot chocolate and wanted to hang out with her friends. I’ll get her a hot chocolate machine for her present. I hope she’ll like it!
Bye for now.
Day 12
December 12, 2020
IT WENT THROUGH!!!! My idea! Mrs. Claus and everyone, myself included, voted and mine had the most votes. Don’t worry, though. I didn’t vote for my own because that’s cheating and rude. I voted for the Ornament theme. Maybe that’s the idea we’ll use next year!
After we figured out what theme to use, we started brainstorming ideas for the party’s theme. Here’s what I’ve got so far:
Snacks:
-gingerbread cookies
- Snowflakes
- Christmas trees
- Ornaments
- Presents
- Bells
- Reindeer
- Wreaths
- Gingerbread men
-hot chocolate
-eggnog
Decorations:
-gingerbread houses/other gingerbread structures put all around the main entryway (where the party is held), and in all sizes:huge stands and miniature table toppers
-gingerbread cut-outs that go hang up in the room
-the main Christmas tree can have all its ornaments replaced with gingerbread men
Music:
-Christmas music of course
I’m so excited! I can’t wait to share all my ideas during the next meeting.
Till tomorrow!
Day 15
December 15, 2020
I better watch out! I just keep getting good luck. Today I got my form back that I sent to try to get into the group going to the Travel Route Department. I’m in!!!
I can’t wait. I finished up one more last-minute child and then started shutting everything down. I get to go over tomorrow with some of the others and I’m so excited!!
Plus, earlier, at the SHPC meeting
Day 20
December 20, 2020
I’m sorry I haven’t written in a while. We’ve been busy mapping Santa’s route and trying to predict where the storms, blizzards, and any other hazards will show up. On top of that, planning the SHPC has become another full-time job. We are busy making all the decorations and finalizing the plans for the treats and activities, plus the music needs to be chosen and put in an order that flows and still keeps the holiday mood in full bloom. I never knew how much work went into planning the party.
Either way, There are only 5 days left until Christmas and only 24 before Santa’s big sleigh journey. The work is piling on and I go to sleep exhausted every night. But it’s the good kind of tired. It’s the kind you feel when you’ve worked hard and can tell you’re accomplishing something.
Day 22,
December 22, 2020
The route for Santa has been finalized, checked, and quadruple checked. Now, we all just need to keep an eye on the weather and hope nothing goes wrong. I remember watching the Santa tracker and, like everyone else, freaking out when the 2004 Great Christmas Eve Snowstorm came roling into Texas. The people working in the Travel Route Department were so cool, though. They stayed calm and collected and helped Santa finish his deliveries with no harm to him, the reindeer, or the presents. Though the sleigh was a bit beaten up.
I hope nothing like that happens this year, but if it does, I hope I can keep as calm and collected as they did. Along with my mind on that, the decorations are finished and we’re getting ready to hang everything up. While Santa is delivering presents and everyone else is watching the Santa Progress Tracker, the elves in SHPC all go and hang the decorations up, get the food and drinks set out, and make sure everything is ready. Of course Mrs. Claus doesn’t get to help us because elves would wonder why she wasn’t watching the Santa Tracker.
Though I doubt she minds since she also seems a bit worried whenever Santa goes on his big trip.
Talk to you soon!
Day 24,
December 24, 2020
Alright. I know it’s really early but I don’t think I’ll have much time to write once Santa takes off. Since I’ve last written, the treats were made yesterday, the decorations are hidden and ready to go, and the Travel Route hasn’t changed. And…one sec, someone is knocking.
It was Starry Mistle. She says Santa is leaving soon. When Santa leaves, all the elves and Mrs. Claus gather in the main hall to see him off. The reindeer take off at his signal, Rudolph’s nose always shining bright, and then the big front doors open up and away he goes. Once he’s gone, everyone will go to watch the Santa Progress Tracker. Once he’s halfway done, the elves in SHPC will go set everything up and come back a few at a time, making it look inconspicuous.
Got to go.
Day 25
December 25, 2020
Christmas was incredible. No weather changes caused any problems and Santa’s ride went without a hitch. When he got back, he was thrilled to find the theme of the party was a Gingerbread theme! All the elves partied until early this morning. We all ate, and laughed, and talked, and sang, and exchanged presents. Snowy Bell loved the hot chocolate machine I got her. Turns out, through sheer coincidence, she pulled my name out of the box!
She’s so thoughtful and notices everything. She knew that Mistle Star and I also go on our annual skiing trip as a job-well-done and decided to get me new skis. I love them. They’ve got little stockings with goodies in them to represent my last name. She had them handmade by a specialist. She’s so nice that way!
Anyways, after the party slowed down, Santa called our attention to the main Christmas tree, (which was covered in gingerbread ornaments to continue the theme), and we all got our holiday present from him. This year we all got magical candy canes! They sound lame, but everytime you lick them, you taste another flavor. And, some of the flavors will turn your hair a different color, make your eyes have all the colors of the rainbow, and more (but don’t worry, it’s not permanent!).
We’ve all worked so hard, it’s sad to see another year go by. But I’m glad that I’ve been given so many chances this year. I’m now a member of SHPC, I got to work with the Travel Route Department, and I’ve read so many wonderful stories about the lives of so many incredible kids. Plus, now I’m going to leave to go on my skiing trip with Mistle Star!
I’m glad my boss, Mr. Wreath, gave me this journal. It’s been fun writing about my time. I can’t wait to look back on these memories and remember how much fun I had!
Well, I’m off! Until next year!!! And Merry Christmas!