Herbert the (Un)Helpful Elf
by Abby N. Wooldridge
Santa parted the sea of sad faces and hung the “Help Wanted” sign.
“Please,” cried Holly. “Hire him back!”
Santa sighed. “Herbert was not helpful. He didn’t clean up the yard--”
“--That’s because he was teaching us how to play reindeer games!”
“Well, I tracked more than mud into quite a few houses last night.”
“But he baked you cookies to apologize...”
“You mean these?” Santa pointed to a pile of charred chocolate chips. “He nearly burned down the kitchen.”
“He didn’t hear the oven timer over the karaoke contest.”
“What about the glue?”
“What about it? Your sleigh has never seen so many sparkles!”
“I know. He used every last drop--put the rest of you in a sticky situation.”
“We were fine!”
“Holly, I found you taped to the ceiling of a dollhouse this morning!”
“And I lived to tell the tale.”
Santa groaned. “Wouldn’t it be nice to have some actual help next year?”
“But we did have help. Herbert may not have been the best at cooking or cleaning or decorating, but he made work more fun than ever. Come on! In the spirit of Christmas cheer?”
Santa looked around at all the pleading faces and shook his head.
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Later that night, the rehired helper took the lead unloading the newest shipment of sweets. Candy cane in hand, Herbert vaulted over a mountain of jelly beans and splashed into a hot tub of cocoa. “Cannonball!”
Santa chuckled. Yes, work certainly was more fun with Herbert.
This is my 249 word entry to Susanna Hill's Holiday Helper Holiday Contest. The rules? Write a 250 word holiday story for kids 12 and under about helping. Many thanks to Susanna for creating such a fun contest and to all the judges and prize donors for their time and generosity!
