My Short Short for the Day

 Little Elf flew as fast as she could.  The puffball on the top of her stocking cap flapping in the wind.  The stars twinkled a path to her house but already the darkness was beginning to fade and the light would soon dawn.  She was late!  How could she have overslept?  Why did her alarm pick today of all days to not go off?  What a mess!  She was a new elf and she was making a rookie mistake.  She had prided herself on always being punctual to every meeting, every training, every class.  And now, of all days, and of all times, did she blow it?  Ugh!  Fly faster!  She willed herself to move faster than ever.

The moon was slowly drifting down below the horizon and the sun was peeking.  She only had a few more minutes.  What would she do if she was late?  How would she explain to the poor child?  She couldn’t!  She wasn’t allowed to talk with the child.  Her new child!  Poor thing!  It was her first time meeting this child and she was going to be late!  How could this happen?!

Suddenly her house was within view!  Oh, I can make it!  It’s not much further.  She pushed herself to fly with all her heart.  She was almost there.  A light turned on upstairs.  Oh, no!  That must be the child’s room!  She had to hurry.  Almost there!  She zipped down the chimney, careful to not bump the soot covered walls and zoomed out into the living room.  Ahh!  Look at that beautiful tree!  She admired the tree for a moment until she heard a thump on the staircase.  Oh, right!  Where to sit?

Little Elf zigzagged around the room trying to find a comfortable spot to land.  She’d be stuck there all day, so it had to be a good spot.  She flitted around like a hummingbird until she found the perfect spot on top of the mantle next to some books and ceramic reindeer.  She settled in just as a giggle came from the bottom of the stairs.  She put on her biggest smile and froze. 

The giggly child came into the room and searched everywhere.  Little Elf enjoyed the enthusiasm as the child checked under every cushion and on top of every book.  She even checked the stockings near the tree before she turned toward the mantle.  She locked eyes with Little Elf and squealed.  “Momma!  Momma!  I found her!  She’s here!”

Little Elf wanted to hug the darling little girl but didn’t dare move.  Instead the smiled and let her heart warm.  She had made it, thank goodness!