After a Thousand Years
Far Away

Fingers gently brushed the hem of her Christmas green skirt straight before reaching up to straighten the Christmas red pointed hat on top of her head. Finally pleased with the way she looked, Mindy nodded her head to the mirror, her shoulder-length brown curls bobbing slightly as she did so before she took off down the stairs.

"Walk, don't run," her aunt said, making Mindy freeze upon the stairs, almost screeching to a halt.

Mindy raised a hand to ensure her pointed hat was still on her head, frowning at first but then breaking out in a grin. "But this is walking for me!"

Her aunt looked up from where she was making breakfast, frowning. "It's not using your magic, not actually walking, Mindy dear."

"I don't know why I can't use my magic to get places faster," Mindy said, picking up a piece of toast and placing it into her mouth before speaking around it. "I could get to school faster, for example."

"Mindy!" her aunt sighed, shaking her head. "Don't speak with your mouth full. And sit to eat rather than always being in such a rush, dear."

Mindy swallowed the bite of toast. "I really don't understand because I don't have accidents with my magic. I'm not like him, you know."

Her aunt stiffened, then cleared her throat. "Now, don't be that way. He's your older brother."

"And he never graduated from the elf academy," Mindy said, rolling her eyes. "George has to remind me every single time I get into trouble, you know. 'Why do you have to cause trouble like that brother of yours, Mindy.' I'm lucky he never does it in front of anybody else because I don't want to admit Bernie's my older brother."

"Come now. Your brother Bernard is a very special elf," her aunt said.

"I know what that means," Mindy said, her nose wrinkling. "It means difficult, challenging, doesn't fit in. All of that. That's what I've already heard about Bernie, so can we just not talk about him?" She flinched at the look her aunt gave her. "You know what. I'm off to school."

"Mindy, don't…."

Except Mindy already had, using her magic speed ability to carry her through the kitchen door and towards the elf academy where all elves trained—or were supposed to train—before they were placed. She looked up at the school, taking a deep breath, toast in hand with only a bite out of it. She took a deep breath and let it out, so it formed a mist in the cold air. "Don't worry, Mindy. You'll make the family proud and be a toymaker elf like your mom and dad. You know you can do it."

She heard the sound of giggling and turned her head, frowning as she did so to see another group of young female elves that had already noticed her, but the leader of the gaggling group nodded her head. "I see you're not here with any friends today, Mindy."

"I'm just early, Pepper," Mindy said.

One of the elves with the one who spoke leaned over, whispering into her ear. The first nodded her head. "My twin wants to know if the rumors we've heard are true."

"What rumor?" Mindy asked.

"Pepper! Mint!" another called out. "What have I told you and your friends about bothering Mindy?"

The two glanced up, their arms hooked together right before there came squeals from the gaggle of young females before they took off towards the school, whispering among themselves and giving various looks which made Mindy wonder what exactly they'd heard that time as it always seemed like they were trying to find some rumor to hold against her.

"Morning, Mindy," the older female elf said, stopping a few feet away. She straightened her Christmas red dress out. "Sorry for my sisters. They can be a bit much at the time, and I know the three of you don't get along. I wish you did, though."

"It's alright, Ms. Patty," Mindy said, smiling. "And thank you for getting me out of trouble with George last week. If my aunt had found out, she would have been displeased."

"It's just Patty," the older elf said, frowning. "You know, Bernard," she started saying, making Mindy tense up.

"What? Who are you talking about?" Mindy said, her voice straining. "Who is this Bernard?"

"Mindy!" Patty said, startled, giving her a horrified look. "Your older brother."

Mindy stared, mouth open. After what felt like forever, her mouth closed. "I don't have a brother."

"Yes. Yes, you do." Patty cleared your voice. "Actually, I was wondering…."

"Mindy!"

Whatever Patty was saying was interrupted by the sound of Sammy calling out. Mindy turned to see her friends approaching. Sammy waved one hand in the air while pushing up her eyeglasses, and Cam waved his arms enthusiastically."

"I'd best get to class, hadn't I," Mindy said, smiling ear to ear.

"No, wait. I need to ask you something."

Mindy turned, preparing to use her speed ability to escape, when Patty grabbed onto the back of the basic Christmas elf uniform.

"Hold it, Ms. Elfbright," Patty said.

"Is Mindy in trouble again?" Cam asked, his usual smile fading.

"Probably. Let's head on to class," Sammy said, reaching out to tug him along. "She'll be mad if we embarrass her further and ask questions."

"Oh. Yeah. If we're not in trouble as well, it just makes it worse," Cam said before they, too, disappeared.

Mindy sighed, wishing they'd stayed to get her out of her current predicament, and yet there was—

"He's your brother," Patty said.

"I don't," Mindy started to say.

"Mindy! Really?" Patty said. "All I was going to ask is if you've heard from him of late and knew how he was doing?"

Mindy frowned, turning. "Why? Why are you asking?"

Patty frowned. "How to put this? You do know that we went to the academy together, right? Bernard and I?"

Mindy frowned. "Then you should know Bernie didn't graduate."

Patty laughed. "I'm well aware that an exception was made for him. I've not had very good luck running into him since then, and when I do, well," Patty paused, a look of amusement on her face. "He does tend to be a bit oblivious, don't you think?"

"I don't know," Mindy said. "He never stays around long, but I've not seen him in over a hundred years at least."

"You haven't?" Patty frowned. "You mean to say he's not taken a break from his work?"

"How should I know?" Mindy said. "I'm not his keeper, Patty. I don't even know what he does at the North Pole, and he doesn't come home for the holiday festivities after all the presents are safely delivered." Mindy looked at the ground. "If he doesn't care, should I?"

"Hey, look at me," Patty said.

Mindy turned but didn't look at Patty.

"So, I know your older brother can be," Patty paused. "Difficult."

"That's kind of an understatement," Mindy said. "Isn't it."

"You've not gotten to know your older brother, have you?" Patty said. "Which means I take it you're not planning on inviting him to your graduation ceremony? Or even letting him know you will be testing for becoming a Christmas Elf soon?"

"Why?" Mindy said.

"He would want to know, you know," Patty said. "And, at least on my part, it would be nice to see him."

Mindy frowned, looking up at Patty. "Nice to see him?"

"That surprises you?"

"Yes. I've heard there were quite a few magical mishaps while he was at the academy. That he couldn't control his magic, which is a bad thing," Mindy said.

"Mindy, there's a difference between being a young elf whose not yet learned to control their magic and being a young elf whose magic is beyond their ability to control."

Mindy let out a sigh. "I really don't see the difference. It all sounds like being difficult, troublesome, and a bother no matter how you word it."

"Yes, well, it's for different reasons?" Patty said, the look on her face saying she hoped Mindy got what she was trying to say.

"Can I go to class now?"

"Sure, sure," Patty said, letting out a sigh. "If you hear from Bernard, let me know."

"I guess," Mindy said, shaking her head.