Snow fell soft, like “shh-shh” on the roof. Lights twinkled. The tree went “tinkle-tinkle” with shiny balls.
In the warm room, a tiny gingerbread elf woke up. His hat was red. His shoes went “tap-tap.” He was the Christmas Prank Elf. He loved silly, kind tricks.
“Time to play!” he said.
He tip-toed to the table. On the plate were cookies. He did not eat them. Nope. He lined them up in a long row, like a little train.
“Choo-choo!” he said. “Hop, hop!” He put a candy cane in front, like a train nose.
Then he slid to the mittens by the door. He put one mitten on a chair. One mitten on a book. One mitten on a big teddy bear.
“Tee-hee,” he said. “Mittens on a trip!”
Next he saw the stockings. He gently took the pom-poms from the garland and dropped them in, one by one.
“Plop! Plop! Plop!” went the pom-poms.
The room looked funny and bright. The elf clapped his tiny hands. “Clap-clap!”
A little child woke up and walked in with sleepy eyes. “Hi,” said the child.
“Hi,” said the elf, and he bowed. “Look! A Christmas surprise.”
The child saw the cookie train. “Choo-choo!” said the child, and giggled.
The child saw the mitten trip. “Silly mittens,” said the child.
The child peeked in a stocking. “Plop balls!” said the child, and laughed.
Then the child looked at the tree. One shiny ball was on the floor.
The elf's eyes went wide. “Uh-oh,” he said. He picked it up right away, slow and soft. “All safe,” he said.
“Help?” said the child.
“Yes,” said the elf. Together they put the ball back on the branch. “Tinkle-tinkle,” it sang.
They put the mittens back. They made the cookie train into a circle on the plate. “Yum-yum,” said the child.
The elf sat by the lights. “Good night,” he said.
The child waved. “Night-night.”
Kind jokes are best when we play, then tidy up with love.
