Christmas Day was rather chaotic around MySweetCharity headquarters. The MSC elves had planned a true feast at the end of the day for the Clauses and their North Pole elves. Unfortunately, while we were out untethering the reindeer from Santa’s sleigh, the MSC pandas snuck in and ate everything. To make things even worse, the electricity went out, so there would be no movie watching nor video game playing as planned.
We were all in tears and fears. Whatever would we do? And what would Queenie do when she woke from her holiday nap?
But she surprised us. . . even Santa’s elves, who knew well of Queenie’s temperament.
As she entered the Great Room with lantern in hand, she had tears running down her old, fat cheeks. Was it because of the disaster that had struck our celebration? No, it seems that she had just been notified by carrier pigeon that the Duchess of Great Acts of Kindness had made an “extremely generous donation” to buy toys for extremely needy children on behalf of MSC.
Looking around the room, Queenie asked why everyone else was crying, too. When we told her of the loss of our Christmas dinner and electricity, she told one and all to “dry up and get over it.” Immediately she sent elves scurrying for scented candles. Next she told the pixies to scrounge up board games and jigsaw puzzles. Then she turned to the brownies in from Santa Fe and told them to light up the mammoth fireplaces with pinon wood. Grabbing the sugar plum fairies, she hauled them into the kitchen. That in itself was amazing, because most of us didn’t think she knew where it was. A half hour later, the entire headquarters was smelling wonderfully and glowing. Just then Queenie and fairies emerged with all types of fixin’s — peppermint cocoa topped with marshmallows, homemade eggnog shooters, frosted cinnamon rolls, a 2’ tall smore, vanilla sundaes with peanut-brittle sprinkles and a sea-salt covered caramel cake.
The rest of the evening games and puzzles were played by candlelight and the burning logs. Everyone seemed to look so much better in the glow of the flickering lights. And conversations and giggles flowed as the games and puzzles were underway. A sugar high was achieved by all.
As the last of the other elves fell asleep in their trundle beds, Queenie waddled back to her hibernation chamber with a smile. I asked her if the reason was the fact that she had saved the day for MSC’s holiday celebration? No. She said the party had been fun, but it was the Duchess, who had inspired Queenie to appreciate what MSC had, and not what they lacked.
Sharon Coopoer says
Dear Ellery,
How I love your writing and Queenie’s outlook.
Best wishes for a Happy New Year to you and Queenie and all the elves.
Sharon Cooper