"The Christmas Tale of Marley the Elf"
7. All In An Elf's Work
They had to go back to Kitty's house in order to change into their own clothes again. The extra elf costumes were packed back into their boxes and put in the trunk of the car along with her own costume, and then she was on her way home. She was a bit later than she had intended, but it would be worth it. She simply couldn't wait to tell her mother about her evening.
She found her dozing off in front of the television, in the middle of "It's a Wonderful Life." After giving her shoulder a gentle nudge, she startled and blinked, relaxing when she saw it was her daughter. "Didn't mean to start without you, I can put it back to the beginning," she reached for the remote.
"It's alright," Marley smiled, sitting by her side and pulling at the blanket hanging off the back of the couch. "My feet are still a bit frozen from standing out there in my elf shoes," she laughed, wrapping the blanket around them.
"Did everything work out okay?"
"It was… so great," Marley promised. "Everyone looked great in their costumes, and they actually had presents to bring the kids, too," she revealed.
"That's great," Millie beamed.
"Monica's girls were so happy to see all of us, we put the presents under the tree, and I gave her the bags you put together. I also told her about you talking to Figgins, hope that's okay."
"I'm still waiting to hear back from him, but I've got my fingers crossed."
"Well Monica wanted me to tell you thanks. And then when I told her about Jack and his family, do you know what she did? She got the girls to go and get dressed, and the four of them came with us to the O'Malleys'." Millie laughed.
"That sounds like her."
"I really hope things work out with Figgins. I hate to think of what will happen if she can't get a job soon," Marley reflected.
"If it doesn't work with Figgins, I'll try and help her out another way. So what happened with the other family?" her mother asked.
"Me and the others, we had to get to the car and drive there before Zoe and Sadie could see us, but then once we all got there, we sang, and Jack and his parents and his little sister Annie came out to see us. They invited us in, and the girls helped Jack and Annie get the presents under the tree. Unique, and Kitty, and Sugar, they were all so great with the kids, too. We all sat there for a while and just sang Christmas songs together. The kids really loved it, and the parents, too."
"I bet they did."
"After we left, the others actually said they'd like to do it again next year," Marley went on. "When we were over there I just thought… There have to be so many other kids out there that have it just as bad or worse, and their Christmas won't be like this…"
"Can't help everyone," Millie gave her a smile. "The important part is you and your friends, you made those kids' night special. You remember that, alright?"
"Got it," Marley smiled back.
"I'm so proud of you," Millie told her, hugging her close. "You're the best Christmas present I could have, every year. So you just stay here, get those feet warm, I'll get you a plate ready. Dinner's still waiting," she got up and went off to the kitchen. Marley watched her go with a smile, lying back on the couch with the blanket held close.
Her year had been filled with ups and downs, especially since the beginning of the school year. So much had been happening, some of it good and the rest…
She was so grateful for all her new friends. It hadn't been an easy road there, knowing that they weren't always the people she had expected them to be. But then there were people like Unique, who had become possibly the best friend she'd ever had. She hated the way she would get treated around school from time to time, and she stood up for her as much as she could. And being in the Glee Club, it was hectic at times, and more stress than she would ever think singing and dancing could be. But it was also wonderful and thrilling, and it meant taking the road to her dreams. She was nervous, the first time she'd gone up there, but every time she went now, she got bolder.
All of it was well and good, but then… She knew when her mother would bring her that plate of dinner, she'd try not to, but she would watch her, make sure she ate everything. She hated knowing how much she had frightened her. She wouldn't forget the look on her face, when she'd come to her after she'd passed out at Sectionals. Now they were having to spend all this money they could have used elsewhere and instead put it toward therapy sessions for her.
She looked to their tree sitting there, closing her eyes and bringing back memories of her evening as an elf. Bringing that joy to two families had turned it right around and put a smile on her face. No matter how bad things got, she just had to remember them, remember how happy they had been, and then she'd feel her face take on a smile all over again.
THE END
