Charlie, Daddy, Bernard, and I arrived back at the North Pole safe and sound Thanksgiving night. Bernard introduced us to a few of the elves from each department: Quintin (Research and Development); Sophia (Arts and Music); Julie (Painting); Millie and Cassidy (the co-heads of the Naughty and Nice Center); Flora, Remmy, Valerie, Nicholas, and Ceril (Reindeer Stables); and Alex (Toy Testing). I already remember Judy and she works in the kitchen. After Bernard gave the tour of the workshop, Daddy went off to his office to check the Naughty and Nice lists.
Charlie told Bernard that he would like to work with Quintin because he has some ideas that will help Dad stay safe while making deliveries on Christmas Eve. Bernard asked what will I be doing since he will be with Quintin.
"I'll take her, Bernard," Judy stepped in. "I'm sure my department will let her help us make cookies for Santa."
I took Judy's hand and we went off to the kitchen. It was full of delicious smells and a lot of elves keeping busy with their baking. Judy introduced me to Abby, Cocoa, and the rest of the staff.
"Have you ever baked cookies, Ella?" asked Abby.
"Yes, I have," I answered. "I make cookies with my mom at home for Christmas. What other treats do you make besides cookies? I would love to learn how to make other sweets like muffins and gingerbread."
"We also make muffins and gingerbread," said Judy. "But we are planning to make some new treats that we think Santa will like."
"Like what?" I asked.
"Dark chocolate peppermint truffles, holiday rice krispie treats, peanut butter and chocolate popcorn balls, snowman cakes, gingerbread cookie dough bites, chocolate peppermint bark..." Cocoa listed.
"Ooh, those sound really good! Will you teach me how to make them?"
"Certainly!" replied Judy. "Let's get started!"
The girls took me to the sink so I could wash my hands and put on my apron and hat. My cooking outfit was pink and red and my apron had candy canes on it. Then, I began my first lesson. We began baking cookies first since I was familiar with it. Then, Abby taught me how to make holiday rice krispie treats and the popcorn balls. I asked Judy if I could make a tray with each treat. When she asked who it was for, I told her it was for Dad and Charlie. She smiled and told me that she was going to take a mug of cocoa for Dad so a plate with cookies, krispies, and popcorn balls would make a great treat with her delicious cocoa.
After the tray was made, Judy and I brought the treats and cocoa over to my Dad's office. He was so surprised that I started learning how to bake and he loved the treats and he knows that Charlie would love them, too. A few minutes later, Bernard came in and told Santa to come down to Research and Development to check on the new sleigh and other inventions Charlie and Quintin made.
"Charlie's got some great ideas on how to keep you safe," Bernard told my Dad.
"Hello, Santa," Quintin greeted as he looked up from the sleigh he and Charlie were finishing. "Charlie and I have put our heads together and I think we have a few surprises for you."
"This is some of the best stuff that's come out of the workshop since...the ball!"
"Fabulous," said Dad. "What happens if I fall off the roof?"
We walked through the department so Charlie and Quintin could show Santa what they have made. The first was a red jumpsuit. Quintin and Bernard told us to stand back. Then, one of the Research and Development elves pushed a button and flames began to ignite.
"Fireplaces will no longer be a problem," Bernard stated. Two elves put out the flames with their fire extinguishers and when they were done, the jumpsuit still looked like new.
"It's a new fabric," Quintin explained. "Completely flame retardant. It's light, yet durable."
"And you can wear the jumpsuit under your coat and pants," Judy added.
"But what do I do if I fall off a roof?" Dad asked.
"Don't worry, Daddy," I reassured him. "There's another surprise coming."
On Christmas Eve, my Dad was getting ready for take-off. His beard is longer now and he just put on the jumpsuit, coat, and hat. The reindeer were harnessed and ready to go. When Dad took a look at the sleigh, he saw something on his seat. I walked over to Comet and whispered in his ear that he saw our gift. Since Dad was worried that he might fall off a roof, we pitched in and got a rope that he can use. There was a card with it that read, From Comet and Ella to Santa.
"Ella, did you and Comet make this card?" Santa asked me.
"We sure did, Daddy," I said. Comet grunted in agreement.
"It's a nice rope. This in case I fall off a roof?"
"Guys, this means a lot to me." Santa reached out and scratched Comet behind his ear, then placing the rope under his arm, he picked me up and gave me a kiss. I giggled when my Dad's beard tickled me on the cheek.
"All right, let's go!" Dad declared as he carried me to the sleigh. He picked up the reins and said, "Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer and Vixen..."
"On Comet, on Cupid..." I added.
"On Donner and Blitzen!" Charlie finished.
We waved goodbye to Bernard, Judy, Quintin, and the rest of the elves and wished them Merry Christmas and we were on our way.
Charlie showed me the gadgets that he and Quintin made for the sleigh while Daddy delivered a few gifts. I thought that they were really cool. The Cookie and Cocoa Dispenser is my favorite. After our Dad went up the chimney and we were riding in the sleigh for a while, Charlie got up from his seat to show him.
"Charlie, stay in your seat!"
"I got to show you this, Dad," Charlie said. "Radar-jamming jingle bells, snow screen, DC-10 alert, and air freshener."
"Wow!"
"And most important of all," Charlie added. "Your hat."
"My hat?" Dad asked.
"It's lined with a two-way radio," Charlie explained. "The microphone's in here. It connects you directly to Judy."
"Wait a minute," Dad looked over, pointing to the Cookie and Cocoa Dispenser. "What's this?"
"That's a C.D.," I told him.
"Compact Disc."
"No, Daddy," I giggled. "Cookie and cocoa dispenser. The cocoa comes out nice and hot." I pressed a button and hot cocoa began to pour into two mugs and then a cookie popped out. "And out pops the cookie."
"How could I have done this without you, kids?" Dad asked us.
"You couldn't." Charlie answered. "Look, there's Mom and Neil's street! Could we go there next?"
"Sure," Daddy replied.
"Ella and I made something for them at the workshop."
We arrived at the house and watched our Dad go down the chimney. I pointed out to Charlie that there are police cars around the neighborhood. "Charlie, why are there police cars around our house?"
"It's just so they can keep an eye out for burglars robbing houses," he answered. "Mom and Neil are home so there's nothing to worry about." Charlie realized that he spoke too soon when we saw two police officers carrying Daddy to their car.
"Daddy, no!" I whimpered. I walked out of the sleigh and tried to shout at the officers, "Let my daddy go! He didn't do anything wrong! Let him go! Let Santa go!" It was no use. No one heard me. I saw Mommy and Neil come out of the house, but they didn't see us on the roof. All that Charlie and I could do was watch our Dad get in the police car. When it drove away, I heard Neil say, "Honey, I'm sure the kids are fine."
I walked back to the sleigh, placed my head in Charlie's lap, and began to cry.
Charlie's POV
I couldn't believe that Dad was arrested by the police. I think Mom and Neil had something to do with this. Ella was so upset when she saw the cops taking Dad away, she started crying. "Don't worry, El," I reassured her. "We'll find a way to save Dad...somehow." I tried to calm her down by singing a few Christmas songs to her, talking about the sleigh ride and the gifts we made for Mom and Neil, and gave her a mug of hot chocolate. The hot chocolate did warm her up, but tears were still rolling down her face. A while later, we heard a whooshing sound. We looked up and saw the E.L.F.S. team flying towards us. Ella held on to me tight.
"Charlie? Ella?" asked the E.L.F.S. leader.
"Yeah?" We answered.
"Don't worry, we're the good guys." The leader promised. "C'mon, let's go save Santa!" He flew over and helped us up. He gave Ella one of his handkerchiefs so she could dry her eyes.
"We can't," Ella said after she dabbed her eyes. "The police are watching this place."
"Yeah, they probably are. But you see, we weren't figuring on walking out the front door. We find that we can get around a lot faster if we fly. Now, grab hold of my hands. Now, hang on tight. And kids?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't ever try this without elf supervision."
We flew over Mom and Neil's house and over the policeman's car. Ella and I could tell that he was really surprised to see us flying. A while later, we arrived at the police station.
"We're looking for Santa Claus," I told the officer at the front desk.
"Go home, kids," said the officer. "Visiting hours are over."
"We're not kids," said another E.L.F.S. agent. "And we're not visiting."
"We're here to bust out our dad," Ella told the officer.
The officer pointed at Ella and me. "You're the Calvin children! But, who are these other kids?"
"We're your worst nightmare," said the E.L.F.S leader. The officer looked confused for a moment until he felt four hands push him down in his chair. "Elves with attitude!"
Ella and I went behind the desk and watched the officer spin around in his chair. The team wrapped him up in several layers of Christmas ribbon.
"I shouldn't have had that doughnut!" The officer muttered. He stopped spinning and when he saw that he was tied up, I stuffed the last bit of the doughnut he ate into his mouth.
"Charlie! Ella!" Dad yelled when he saw us.
"Are you okay, Dad?" Ella and I asked.
"I am now!" Dad sighed in relief. The E.L.F.S. team used tinsel to remove the hinges from Dad's cell and out we went.
