And now for something completely different from my other contest story--more like a Christmas cookie. Happy holidays!
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"And to all a Good Night!"
She watched the team and sleigh sail away in the deep blue night, off to make their appointed rounds. Soon, they were only a distant silver line reflecting the moonlight. She blew a kiss as they disappeared, as her window fogged over, leaving the winter outside.
So intent was she that she hadn't registered the secret scurries, jostles and rattles in the room behind her. Only when she turned to the warmth of the fireplace that did she stop and cock her head.
Too late!
A small body, half the size of her own, sailed through the air and onto her chest. Tiny fingers curled around the hem of her dΓ©colletage, and as the body slid to the floor, the front of her bodice ripped away.
"What the...?"
As she bent to scoop the torn fabric and cover her exposed breasts, a diminutive foot kicked her ample bottom with the sound of a water-filled bass drum: BOIMM!
"Oh!" She teetered to maintain her footing.
Little bodies emerged from behind the furniture, and streamed in from the side rooms, until they filled the parlor. Dozens of elves, boisterous and randy. Shoving his way to the fore was their leader, Dundollo, his inky eyes glistening. It was obvious: They'd been drinking the grog.
She knew you must put some steel in your voice when they are like this. "You devils."
"That's not very nice," Dundollo said. One of the others was attempting to juggle objects from the fruit bowl: an apple, an orange and a walnut. Dundollo snatched the apple and took a sharp bite. It rolled out of his small hands and fell with a thud. "You used to invite us in, remember?"
She looked down, without an answer. There, before her, the heavy elf, Grundig, jumped up and up, barely leaving the ground but trying to fix his mouth on her breasts. This one was relatively docile but single-minded: There never was any stopping him. Now, with Dundollo to deal with, she let Grundig have them, but slapped the top of his head. "Not with your teeth."
"Where is Herrick?" Dundollo called. "Find me Herrick."
"Here he is!"
A surge of bodies pushed through the room, many arms gleefully nudging a central figure to the head of the pack. Red-headed with long meaty sideburns, Herrick was otherwise not so very remarkable in looks or size. Even his air was listless, contrasting with the enthusiastic pats and congratulatory arm-pulls from those around him. Why, even Dundollo brightened, cracking a boyish grin as he rushed to Herrick's side, pulling him along by the elbow.