Chapter 7

***Usual disclaimers. I don't own TWD or anything to do with TWD. That's all other people.***

Carol set a plate of cookies and glasses of milk before Sophia, Carl and Enid. "I do have a few things you can help with, sweetheart. It adds up to maybe four or five hours of work, all told. It may not be enough to get you the rest of the money you'll need for Michonne's gift, though."

Carl grinned at her and took a cookie from the plate. "I'm doing some other stuff, too. Mrs. Haskins has me cleaning out her rain gutters, I'm walking some dogs for Mr. Dvorak while his relatives are visiting and Dad is gonna pay me a little to watch Jude when he takes Mich on a date this weekend. I also sold a few of my old video games, so if you have only a little work for me, that's cool. I shouldn't need much after all the other stuff."

Carol ruffled his hair as he took a huge bite of cookie. "You're such a good kid! I need some help organizing some things in the garage that have been hanging out for a while. Nothing too tough, should take us an hour or two, tops. There's also one other thing at the church we've been looking for some help with. Are you free this upcoming Sunday?"

"Yup!" Carl replied around his mouthful of cookie.

"You might want to hear it before you agree, Carl," Carol cautioned. "We've got Mr. Jorgensen to agree to play Santa for the Sunday school classes, but we need a couple elves to help manage and escort the kiddies over to him. I'd need you to be one of the elves."

Carl began coughing as his mouthful of cookie went down the wrong pipe. Sophia quickly handed him his glass of milk while Edith thumped him gently on the back. "You gonna live?" she teased him gently as he took a huge gulp of the milk.

"Oh Carl, are you alright?" Carol asked worriedly. "I wasn't trying to make you choke! It wouldn't be that bad, you know. We already have a costume for you...and you actually know the other elf."

Carl took another sip of milk as he tried to stall for time. Dressing like an elf was not something he'd had in mind when he'd offered to help Carol...his main thought had just been about bridging the small gap he had left to earn the rest of the money he needed for Mich's gift after he completed the other work he'd lined up. The thought of donning an elf costume, even if just in front of small children, was embarrassing enough to make his cheeks flush a little. Not to mention the thought of people he actually knew seeing him dressed that way. Sophia would be there...as would Enid.

On the other hand, he did need the money. And Carol was always so nice. She'd been completely willing to give him things to do to help earn the money for Mich's gift. She was like a cool aunt. A cool aunt that made the best cookies in the world. He really hated the thought of disappointing her. That more than anything prompted the next words he spoke.

"S' okay...that bite just went down wrong. I can help out on Sunday. Who's going to be the other elf?"

"It's me," Enid grinned. "I've already got our elf names picked out, too. You're Jingles and I'm Holly."

Carl felt his cheeks flush. "You're the other elf?" he questioned her incredulously. "Don't you think that-" He was going to finish with, "that's really embarrassing," but then he remembered Carol was right there, and shut his mouth abruptly.

"I do think it's a great way to help out the church and that the kids will love our elf names," Enid responded sweetly, the tone of her voice at odds with the sly look of amusement she shot at Carl while Carol turned back to the stove to check on the sauce she was preparing for that night's dinner. "It should be a lot of fun."

"Sophia, you didn't want to be an elf?" Carl asked her, looking for something to distract himself from the conflicting emotions he felt at the prospect of being an elf with Enid. On the one hand, the thought of having to dress up in the costume and being in the public eye was humiliating. But on the other hand, it was time with Enid, and they'd look like a...well, like a couple. Maybe a couple of dumbasses, but still...a couple.

Sophia shook her head emphatically. "Nuh-uh. All those people staring, having to wear that costume...Mom asked me already. There's no way."

Carol gave her daughter an exasperated look. "I think it would be good for you, honey! We need to get you out of your shell, more."

"Sure. And when I'm describing it to a therapist in ten years, you can pay the bill," Sophia cracked. "Besides, I'm in the live nativity scene as one of the wise men!"

Carol sighed and shook her head. "Fine. I know Carl and Enid will do a wonderful job, anyway. We've got candy canes for you to hand out to the children while they wait to see Mr. Jorg-I mean, Santa. It should be a lot of fun, you two! Thanks so much for agreeing to help out." She beamed at them before turning back to tend to her sauce.

"So it's you and me, Carl," Enid singsonged, giving him a gentle elbow in the side. Her eyes danced merrily as she gave him a long look. "Better practice your elf voice before Sunday."

"Elf voice?" Carl asked uneasily. "What do you mean, 'elf voice?'"

Enid pitched her voice high and replied giddily, "Gosh, Jingles, I mean we gotta talk like this! The kids are expecting real elves! Give it a try!"

Carl looked at her as if she were mad. "You can't be serious," he swallowed heavily.

"I'm one-hundred percent serious. Go on, Jingles."

Carl cleared his throat and opened his mouth. Nothing came out.

Yeah, a couple of dumbasses for sure. What have I gotten myself into?

To Be Continued