That year had been EXTRA busy. It seems a lot of people were busy popping out those little bundles of joy. My name is Ervin my Mrs. name is Ruby, we work with Mr. C.
Like I was saying it was a busy year. Two billion children in the world that wanted their Christmas wishes to come true.
The world had changed and so had the "I wants". Toys were so much easier to produce a century ago, now it is high end electronic gizmos.
We had just wrapped up everything for the year. The depots were all set for refilling the sleigh and launch time was just three hours away.
My job was done as loading and delivery systems manager. I went home to connect up with Ruby before the launch. When I got home, she wasn't home yet. I wasn't concerned, sometimes she is a few minutes late. She worked in the N&N department.
Ruby finally came dragging in an hour late. I quizzed her about that, she had never been this late before. I asked her what happened to make her so late. She gave me a exasperated sigh.
"Well. We had dis glisch inda sysem, da N&N, liss wassn't acu, ac-u-er-ate." Ruby said.
Three things I noticed right off. She had that twinkle in her eyes, and she was definitely slurring her words. The third thing that was concerning, her hair was let down and mussed.
"Buut we fisked it." Ruby said and giggled. "Everythhing is a go."
"So, did we celebrate early? " I asked, giggling.
I stepped up and wrapped her in my arms. My little lady breathed out a 'Yes'. I could smell it on her breath.
I asked, 'How much did we celebrate?'
"I h-had juss one hot shocolate." She giggled. "It was goood. Oh, no I h-h-had two."
Ruby held up three fingers and giggled.
I asked who was at this little party, she told it wasn't a party it was just her and Chris. I felt my blood pressure rise, I know about Chris. Ruby said he helped her find the glitch in the system.
I reached down and felt bare butt cheeks under her green dress 'That son of a....' went through my mind. I'm sure he gave my Ruby a hot chocolate liqueur. Elf women get smashed pretty quickly with alcohol, then he took advantage. He should be on the naughty list!
I asked if we were going to the launch and send off event, Ruby said of course. We never miss one. She had sobered up some by that time we were to leave.
The event went wonderfully, perfectly. The music, the dancing, singing, all the magic of the Christmas season.
Then the launch of Santa and the sleigh. We called out the countdown then cheered loudly as Santa rode off in wonderful magical light. Some more brief celebrating then all of us elves left for our homes.
I managed to catch Mrs. C as she was leaving and explained to her I needed to speak to her sometime soon. I guess she saw urgency on my face and felt my not so wonderful spirit. She glanced at a now more sober elf wife, who kept glancing away.
"Come along then Ervin. I assume Ruby will be joining us. We will take my sleigh to the lodge." Mrs. C said, with a sigh.
We got to the lodge and chatted a moment about how everything went well this year, no major problems. Well except for this one.