Disclaimer: If were ruler of the world, I would own David Krumholtz (JK!) and would not be broke and hungry. The Santa Clause copyrighted by Disney and Bernard is copyrighted by the Awesome Curly Hair Foundation….a.k.a. David.
NOTE: Curtis was not the other person riding the snowmobile with Bernard, I know this. I just couldn't remember his name and made him Curtis. This chapter is set on Christmas Eve, approximately a week after the overthrow of Faux Santa.
***Bernard***
This couch was pretty comfy, I guess you could say. It wasn't nearly as comfortable as the couches in the North Pole, but comfortable for a simple, average human home. The hideously printed, yet attractive sweater he was wearing was comfortable, as well.ˡ And the scents coming from the kitchen were absolutely amazing…for a human family, that is.
Lucy and Charlie were playing "Go Fish," and so far, Lucy was winning. Charlie must be letting her win…he has the upper hand cards but isn't calling them out. Is that considered cheating? Isn't cheating a bad thing? Oh well…humans.
Santa and that Neil guy are watching some film called Star Wars and are bickering over the actuality of the film and the technology of today and that it's a great movie that doesn't need to be analyzed. Children, not humans. Children.
Speaking of young, small humans, that reminds me of the short elf right next to me. The quiet, short elf. Now that I think about, he's been quiet AND staring at me every few minutes. Time to pull out the rank card.
"Curtis, why are you being so quiet?" He turns away. If he can stare, so can I. He slowly starts fidgeting and then, starts talking. Finally.
"Um…is your arm doing better, sir?" I narrow my eyes and increase staring power by 5% intervals.
"Well, if we're going to start speaking to each other formally, then, yes, my arm is doing better, Number Two Elf. It's still sore, Number Two Elf, but once Santa gives me those human painkillers, I'll be 'high as a kite'…or so the saying goes…Number Two Elf." He turns and glares at me. I look away and smirk. Oh, the perks of being Head Elf!
"That's good, Bear. I'm so glad that you're feeling better, Bear. So very glad…Bear." He glares even more and now I just want to strangle him with that stupid nickname of his. Suddenly, he starts laughing and I can't help but laugh with him. I can feel Santa and Neil staring at us and I know Charlie and Lucy are probably laughing AT us, as well. But it's just what families do. They laugh, cry, and stare at each other…but they're still there for one another. It feels so great to be a part of a family.
"All right, wash up boys and girl; dinner is served!" Mrs. Laura calls out from the dining room and Carol is there behind her.
"Sweetheart, will you and Curtis help Bernard to the table?" She walks back to the table and I feel Curtis get up beside me.
"Another year, Bernard…and we're back at the Miller's where it all started." He holds out his hand and I take it, trying not to move my right arm which is still in a sling. Scott comes out of nowhere and starts guiding me to the dining room, cautious of my ankle and shoulder. "I've got you, Bernard." I smile.
Everyone gets seated and clasps each other hands. Curtis takes my left hand and Santa softly puts his hand on my head (Why my head? I'm not really sure.)
"Lord, thank you for another year that has brought even more of us together and of course, for Carol's and my food that is absolutely delicious," this brought chuckles and whistles from most of the older men and Charlie, "and thank you for the recovery of our dear elf, Bernard," I blushed and tilted my head even more as Curtis squeezed my hand tighter and Santa ruffled my hair, "and bless the new year that starts tomorrow. Amen!" Many 'Amen's' were heard and then the sound of spoons and other utensils scraped around in bowls and on plates. The music playing in the living room changed to 'Carol of the Bells' and could be heard lightly in the background. It was rather fitting, even though it was still a Christmas song.
Hark! How the bells, sweet silver bells
All seem to say, "Throw cares away."
Christmas is here, bringing good cheer
To young and old, meek and the bold
Ding, dong, ding, dong-That is their song
With joyful ring, all caroling
One seems to hear words of good cheer
From ev'rywhere, filling the air
Oh how they pound, raising the sound,
O'er hill and dale, telling their tale,
Gaily they ring, while people sing
Songs of good cheer-Christmas is here!
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
On, on they send
On without end
Their joyful tone
To ev'ry home
Ding, dong, ding, dong.
I looked around at everyone. They were all laughing and conversing and smiling. It truly was the family I always dreamt of. I smiled to my self and looked at the food at hand. Something seemed off…like something was missing. Santa and Charlie realized his distress.
"Bernard?" The table suddenly went quiet and everyone turned their gazes to Bernard.
"Where's the burritos?" ²
ˡ -I put Bernard in one of Neil's ugly sweaters because of his attraction to one in the first film.
² -The burritos line is a reference to the same scene as the sweater scene in the first film when he stole a pita-looking burrito and started eating it, until Neil took it from him.