Home
It felt good to be back in the stable.
Patch stood just in the open stable door, breathing in the deep scent of hay and cinnamon. His fellow elves complained that the stable stank of reindeer, but somehow the smell had never bothered him. He couldn't remember just when he'd left his place in the sleep quarters to take residence in the stable-he'd been awfully young so many millennia ago-but it had been home ever since.
The reindeer chortled, and each stampeded to the front of their hutches to stamp their hooves ta him.
"Hello, there! Prancer!" he called, hurrying to the first. "And Dancer, old fellow, how've you been?" Even Vixen, old and grumpy as he often was, stood alert and waiting for Patch's affectionate greeting.
"I missed you all!" he said. "I don't know what I was thinking when I left, but it's good to be back."
"It's good to have you back." Puffy appeared from behind some sacks of reindeer feed, wiping his hands on his apron. Patch's gaze was drawn immediately to the apron, but somehow it didn't bother him as it had before. He'd been through a thing or two since then…
Puffy nodded at the reindeer as he came to Patch's side.
"They've missed you. Not one of them's eaten a thing since you left."
"You're joking!"
Puffy huffed. "Well, they didn't eat easily."
"Who's been looking after them? They must not have been doing it right! Imagine, reindeer not eating…"
"I have." Patch fell silent. Puffy wouldn't look him in the eye. Instead, he fiddled with the apron. "As it turns out, reindeer watching is something I'm not good at."
"Oh, I see." Patch couldn't quite think of another thing to say. They stood there silently, the red apron between them.
Then, not standing it any longer, Patch thrust out a hand. "Look, about this whole thing, I'm sorry. I got my pride hurt, that's all. I should have stepped quietly out of the way from the beginning…"
His final words were wrung out of him, as Puffy seized and hugged him so tightly he couldn't take another breath.
"It's good to have you back. We're were both ridiculous fools. And we're not going to say another word about it." Puffy drew away at last, beaming and patting Patch on the shoulder, looking rather foolish.
Patch rather knew how he felt.
"Now, feed the reindeer, please. Cupid almost bit two of my fingers off the other night."
And then Puffy turned on his heels and sped off as though the reindeer were nipping at his feet. He could barely move fast enough to hide his reddened cheeks. Patch felt quite the same, as his smarting eyes began watering…
"Oh, boys," he exclaimed, laughing through the tears,"It's good to be home!"