Snowflakes tapped the window like tiny hands. Leo, a little boy of four, tiptoed to the tree. The lights blinked. The room smelled like cookies.
On the shelf sat the Christmas Elf. His hat was red. His eyes looked bright, like he had a joke.
Leo whispered, “Hi, Elf.”
“Hi,” said the Elf. “Watch!”
Zip! The Elf slid down a ribbon. Plop! He landed in the cookie bowl. Flour puffed up like soft snow.
Leo giggled. “Silly!”
The Elf popped out, white on his nose. “Ho ho,” he said. He patted the table. Tap tap tap.
Then, shh-shh, the Elf lined up Leo's toy cars in a long train. He put a tiny bow on the first car. He put a tiny bell on the last. Ding-ding!
Leo clapped. “Train!”
“Train!” said the Elf. “Now look up.”
The Elf had hung three candy canes on the tree… on Leo's mittens! Leo tried them on. The candy canes swung and clicked. He laughed and waddled like a penguin.
Mom came in with warm cocoa. “What a merry mess,” she said.
The Elf waved. “All safe,” he said.
Leo took one cookie and gave it to the Elf. The Elf held it and sat still again, like a small star on the shelf.
A gentle joke is best when it makes everyone smile together.
