Santa Clause, the Human Clause.
Chapter 3.
"Bernard. What's wrong." Asked Santa frowning with concern.
A meek voice answered his question. "Its nothing. Its just my ears have lost their points. Santa. What am I going to do? I don't want to leave the North Pole."
Scene 1: Bernard's workshop
Later that day Santa watched his friend as he continued to pace back and forth in his workshop. "I can't leave you Santa. You're counting on me. If I'm gone for ten years, there is no telling what kind of damage Curtis will come up with."
"Bernard. You told me that the Human Clause effects the elves for one to ten years. All of the elves will watch out for Curtis. Curtis will have to have my permission before he makes any major changes to the north pole. That way we will not have a repeat of last year's Toy Santa on a rampage. I can't believe you let that thing take over my workshop. You're my head elf after all."
"Let it take over. I didn't let it take over. I tried to warn you that Toy Santa business was a bad idea" exclaimed the elf indignantly his feelings obviously hurt.
"Yes you did. I'm sorry Bernard. I know that you did your best in that trying time. I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings in the matter."
"Oh that's alright Santa. I know its not really your fault either. I am just so wound up about having to leave the north pole. I been thinking there must be a loophole to the rule that says that all elves under the clause must leave the pole. I just have to find it. I am the arch elf after all. I need to be here not out there."
"Bernard. I've looked at the clause throughly. All the elves under the clause must leave the pole. I am sorry but you are no exception. This may be hard for you to hear this but right now you are not the arch elf. Have you looked at your business card."
Bernard sank down upon the sofa in his workshop with his head with his head in his hands. "Yes Santa I looked. It confirms what you said. It no longer says that I am Bernard, the arch elf. It says I am Bernard, a sixteen year old human. There's something I don't understand. I am the oldest elf here. I would think it would put me as older."
"I talked to Father Time. He told me that Elves and Humans age differently. As an elf you are always going to look like a 16 year old to us human. He also said that the human clause will also give you the illusion that you are aging like a normal human would but once you come back to the pole you will again look as you do now."
"Well that's a relief. We wouldn't want me to look like I was over the hill when I come back." Bernard said trying to joke about the situation.
"Bernard. You are going to be going through some readjustments to this new body of yours." Santa paused and said as gently as he could. "I hate to say this but as your supervisor its my painful duty to tell you that your services are no longer required at this time."
Bernard gasped. "But Santa. Christmas is just days away. I can't quit now. I have to help you get ready for Christmas Eve Push. Then I can quit."
"No Bernard. Judy has asked me if she could hold classes for the effected elves to help them with their readjustments. I agreed and ordered all the effected elves to meet with Judy everyday so that she can help prepare them for what lies ahead. Actually you don't have as much time as the others to readjust to the situation. You see two weeks after New Years, It will be my duty to drive all of the effected elves to their new destinations. Bernard, I am sorry. You need to start the classes too."
The elf sighed. "Yes Santa. I'm sorry if I am being such a pain."
"Its alright Bernard. Now go on to Judy's classroom. She has converted the old tea lobby into her classroom."
Scene 2: The classroom
Bernard approached the old tea lobby's door with trepidation. I really don't want to go in there. I certainly don't want to talk about my readjustments with anybody else. Not even Judy and she is one of my oldest friends here.
Opening the door Bernard decided to sneak into one of the back seats before anybody could see him. No such luck. Eagle eyed Judy spotted him before he could take two steps. She wasn't the nice and naughty list elf for nothing.
"Bernard come here please." Judy called out from the front desk.
Going to the desk he stammered. "Yes Judy. You wanted something."
Judy whispered. "Bernard. Why are you here? Santa did not send you done to spy on me did he. I thought he had more faith in me than that."
"No Judy. Santa has great faith in you." Bernard whispered back.
"Then why are you here." she asked.
Bernard began to stammer again. "I am here because. Well you see the problem is. I am well. Is it hot in here." replied the former head elf hesitantly.
"Are you trying to tell me that you've lost your sparkle?" she gasped.
Hanging his head he said. "Yeah. Um. That would definitely be the problem here."
"Oh I see. First rule in this class. We don't hang our heads just because we look like humans. Its nothing to be ashamed about. Here is a small book of do's and don'ts that you will need to read about the outside world. Why don't you take your seat."
"I can't believe I'm back in class. The last time I was in a classroom was over 1500 years ago." he grumbled under his breath.
"Bernard. Due to our youthful appearances, it is a sure bet that we will be in classes in the outside world." Judy replied with a smile.
Bernard took a seat in the back and began reading the handbook that Judy gave him. 'Rule 1. Human adults are people too. Do not take them lightly. Treat them with the same respect that you would treat their children. If you respect them, they will respect you. Bernard shook his head at that one. 'I've never respected any adult who didn't believe in the magic. Well strike that. I respect Santa. But then again I didn't respect him when he didn't believe. This is going to be harder than I thought it would be.'
Bernard looked up and saw Judy going from desk to desk asking if she could help them with any of their problems. One of the elves, Beth, from the bakery department began to cry. Judy rushed over to her. "Beth what's the matter."
"I was reading rule 15. It says too much cookies and cocoa are bad for us. How could this be."
"Beth cookies aren't bad for us in our elfin form but it can be very bad for us in our human forms. There are some children out in the world that have serious weight problems due to too many sweets. We are going to have to monitor how much sweets that we eat also. We could even get sick."
"I'm sorry that I began crying. It just upset me. I don't feel like my old self. Whoever heard of an elf who cried." said Beth who had an appearance of a eight year old girl.
"Don't worry. That's another thing about being under the clause. We have the same emotions as that of the humans. Little eight year old human girls will sometimes cry if they don't get what they want. In this case the sweets that they are accustomed to. Your emotions are really quite natural. Actually I want the whole class to remember that you too will start start experiencing the same types of emotions. Please don't let them overwhelm you."
She left the bakery elf and looked around the room. She noticed that Bernard had a rather pale face and seemed to be having problems breathing.
"Bernard. You hanging in there." She asked whispering so not to embarrass the elf. His brown eyes met hers and she could see the tears that threatened to fall. "I should be at my workshop. I feel so helpless. This is the same way I felt when those that Toy Santa put me under house arrest last year. Judy. Listen to me. You can talk to Santa. Tell him I don't belong in here. He would listen to you."
"I am sorry Bernard but we've go to face facts. You are human now and therefore You do belong in here." His black curls fell into his face as he hung his head into his hands.
Scene 3: The Elfin Café.
Santa was taking Mrs. Claus out to the Elfin Café for some cocoa after her short visit home to her parents. Spotting Judy at the cocoa, Mrs. Claus, waved her over.
"So how was class today." Asked Santa with his normal Christmas Cheer. Judy tried to give her boss her normal cheerful smile but it came out as sour as she felt.
Santa seeing it said with a grimace. "Let me guess. You had a problem student today. I really should have warned you he was coming. Let me guess, He spent most of the time trying to convince you that he should still be at work."
Carol caught the worried exchange among her husband and Judy. "I take it another elf has begun the transformation and is not happy about it. That brings it up the total up to 13 now, right."
"Actually, it brings it to 15. Little Beth in the bakery was hit with it just after you left on your visit to your parents. The other elf was hit just this morning at the staff meeting."
"Well then the elf must be one of the head of the departments. All Judy has to do is have Bernard to have a nice talk with guy. He can reassure the elf that everything is running smoothly and there is nothing to worry about. What's the name of the new clause victim." asked Carol.
Judy rolled her eyes and sighed and looked over to Santa with a look on her face that said. 'She's your wife. You tell her.'
"Carol. That's the problem. Our newly transformed elf is none other than our dear sweet workaholic Elf, Bernard."
"Oh dear. Poor Bernard." Carol replied stunned then glanced back to Judy. "Oh Poor Judy. If Bernard gives you anymore trouble feel free to ask for my help in the matter. I can talk to him if you want. I was once a principle at a high school. I know how to handle myself around emotional teenagers."
"Thanks, Mrs. C. I may just have to resort to that. Bernard can be so stubborn about things if they don't go his way."
"Teenager boys can be difficult at times." agreed Carol.
The three of them just began to drink their cocoa when they heard shouting coming from the hall outside.
"I want you to remove those monstrosities out of my bedroom now." Santa recognized the voice. 'Oh no its Bernard.'
"But sir. I don't understand the problem sir. I have the order form right here from the arch elf that a giant stuffed polar bear and ballerina was to be delivered to your bedroom. I was only follow your orders." Said the man handing over his order form.
Bernard paled as he took a look at the order form in his hands. 'Curtis, that little weasel. He can even wait until I have moved out to the mortal world before taking over my bedroom. Not only that but he promoted himself to head elf.' A sudden rage engulfed his body until it was shaking under its on accord. He threw down the order form onto the floor. Just then the rage left his body just as quickly as it had come. Being unaccustomed to such deep range of emotions caused his body to shut down. His legs became like jelly and he found himself falling to the floor and a blackness overwhelmed him.
He didn't even feel it when his body was moved to a stretcher. He faintly heard the gentle voice of Santa' telling the paramedic elves to take him to the elf infirmary.