The Elf on the Shelf

This is for Mikeydred’s December prompt and Vocal’s Tales of Hearth challenge.

One must give to receive. - Michelle Liew

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Antique store owner Gus never liked the festive season- it was a waste of time and money. Fattening food, dull parties and his worst misgiving - GIFT GIVING. The fumbling old man was never a people pleaser - but his store had become known for having items that were not run-of-the mill.

One could hear a pin drop in the antique store - the faint hum of the heater was the only audible sound. Its bumbling owner, Gus, twisted and turned a few ornaments, including a porcelain elf figurine he had discovered among unwanted ornaments in an old box. It smiled crookedly, its expression almost smug. Something about the glint in its eye was almost - menacing. “You’re creepy. But I think customers will love you.” Gus muttered and set him near the cash register.

Outside, snow caked the streets, turning them into white blankets. Silence spilled into Gus’ store. The town square was empty. No carols chimed from towers. There was no activity-no one came into Gus shop anymore, not for gifts, and certainly not for decorations.

The first sign of something amiss came like a sudden blizzard. Gus stepped into his store, only to realize that the Christmas wreaths he had meticulously aligned had morphed into skewed snowmen. His favoured grandfather’s clock was tangled by a string of garish holiday lights.

By the third day, the whimsical elf had vanished. The cash register slammed shut on Gus’ hand and the word “DECORATE” flashed across the panel in angry red hues. “What…” Gus stumbled backwards, looking around in a panic. “This can’t be happening.”

“I told you this place needed some work,” Came a distinct, high-pitched voice sounding as if someone had let loose a couple of banshees. “You’d better do better.” Before a flummoxed Gus could utter a reply, the elf gave a resounding clap. Wreaths slithered like snakes across shelves. Baubles turned into marbles, and Gus’ cherished cocoa powder erupted in a cloud of brown snow. “There,” the wayward elf sneered. “Is that festive enough for you?”

“All right!” Gus hollered, banging boxes of decorations on the counter. “I’ll decorate. Just stop terrorizing the inventory!” The elf perched itself on the counter, legs swinging. It gave Gus a piercing look and a lopsided smile. “Finally. Spread holiday cheer now.”

Within a few hours, children drifted into the store in droves, drawn by its transformation. Gus grumbled but handed out toys, all the time shaking his head. He shot Snickerdoodle a weary look. “Look what you’ve made me do. You’ve turned me into Santa. And I never really liked the guy.”

“Well, you’ll fall in love with him now. Less grumbling please, more giving.”

As the last child left the store with a toy, Gus, exhaustion dragging his feet, slumped on to his armchair. The store looked like Santa’s reindeer fleet had crashed through, but the laughter of the children who had come by filled the air. It somehow gave Gus - comfort.

Snickerdoodle perched on the counter, his legs swinging. He flashed his crooked grin. “Not bad for a grinch who thought that gift giving was a waste of time. But there’s next year. Keep trying.”

He winked, and left in a glitter puff. And Gus with more cleaning to do.

Gus looked at the transformed store with an odd, but fulfilled feeling. “Next year, huh? Ok, I’ll get Santa to let me run that run-down workshop. And this time, I’m charging.” He shook his head. But he couldn’t help grinning.