Gordon , Santa’s elf 53, did as he was told, no more, no less. If told to make a car it was just a car shape, cut out of a piece of wood. It would look like a plank with a hump, not a Ferrari. It would do!
Santa decided Gordon would do the delivery run on Christmas eve. Gordon said he was a construction elf, not sales. He would obviously need persuading. The promise of cocoa and Lincoln biscuits did the trick.
At the first house , he had to deliver to a boy called Archie. He grabbed a wooden farm, that will do.
At the bottom of the chimney Gordon saw a boy still awake.
“ Are you Archie “ Gordon asked
“ yes “
“Why are you still awake?”
Archie was rubbing the stump of an arm.
“I’ve got a pain in the bit that's missing” said Archie. “I happens when you have lost a limb, called a phantom pain. It’s very painful and you can not do anything about it.”
“Well here is your present from Santa.” said Gordon and placed a wooden farm on the table. It was rough, badly made. It was one of Gordon's presents, and would not do.
Gordon grabbed the present and shot back up the chimney. He pulled out the traveling work box and set to work. In seconds he was finished (elves are very quick) and went back down, placing the beautifully made present to the table.
It was well made everything could be opened with one hand, all the handles , doors, stables, and pens easy to open. Archie was thrilled and gave Gordon a one armed hug, very tight.
“ you are my favourite elf, what is your name.”
“Gordon .” Gordon mumbled very embarrassed and disappeared up the chimney.
At the top Santa looked at Gordon something had changed.
“Are you alright, you have a tear in the corner of your eye.” Said Santa
“ I think so, I feel different, more alive and I feel like crying. I’ll get over it.”
“You silly elf it’s love you are feeling. Every Elf has a little bit of love in them. It just stays inside doing nothing good or nothing bad, just sits there. The moment you give it away, it explodes inside. Lights up the body, makes it feel alive, able to build plan and think of others. Every one has it, few get the chance to give it away. The more you give even more is left behind. You can never give enough love, the more you give the more you have.” Said Santa
On ward to the next delivery
The next delivery was for a girl called Alice that wanted a car. Gordon did many cars one of them would do. Gordon and the present went down the chimney, the room was black. Something moved.
“Who’s there” said Gordon's
“Alice “ the girl replied
“what are you doing moving about in the dark.” said Gordon
“Is it.”said Alice
“It’s as black as pitch.”said Gordon
“Sorry I didn’t know I’m Blind, do you want a light on, There is a switch here somewhere.”said Alice
“No it’s alright.” said Gordon switching on the fibre optic pom pom on top of his hat.
“What do you want for Christmas “ asked Gordon
“A car .” said Alice
“I’ll just go and get it.”said Gordon
The present he had in his hand would not do. Up the chimney he went, pulled out the work bench and set to work. He was finished in a second. Elves can work very fast especially at Christmas time. He returned with a car that would do, and gave it to Alice. Alice run her hand over every part and was giggling.
“Something wrong?” asked Gordon
“No it’s wonderful each part has a different texture, is it a colour?”
“Yes different texture for each colour, that colour is pink. The bottom is black and the wheels silver.”
“Ooh the dials are in braille I can read the dials. This stick says indicator, the other washer. What does that mean?”
“It’s windscreen washer to clean the windscreen, so you can .. never mind it has a water spray.”
“There is a doll in the back with long hair in pink?”
“Yes that is pink, lady Penelope.”
“So the one driving must be Parker I love Parker so loyal.”
“Yes the one driving is Parker that colour is grey. Will have to go , lots to do, merry Christmas.”
Alice hugged him and kissed him before he left.
Both eyes were wet.
“Onward we go.” said Santa
“This house is where George lives he is old and will give you a list to complete. The list is of people in need but too proud to ask, like George. George only wants his walking stick repaired. “ Said Santa
Gordon went down the chimney there was no fire , and had not been a fire for days. The room was cold, ice cold. Icicles hung down from the windows. Gordon was sitting in a broken rocking chair huddled under a thin blanket.
“Hello George I’m Elf 53 you can call me Gordon. You have a list for me?”
“Ah yes I have it here somewhere, I’m afraid it is longer than normal, we seem to be in an interesting time, as the economist call it.”
George struggled out of the chair resting on a broken walking stick, and handed the list to Gordon.
“Oh, this is going to take some time, why don’t you lie down while I get things done.”
Gordon helped George into bed, and covered him in a thick duet, with the maximum tog rating.
First Gordon fixed things not on the list. A warm house, food in the pantry, running water from the tap not down the walls, a proper rocking chair (padded) and a new walking stick in ebony with a shepherds crook at one end. At the tip of the crook the head of an Anglo Nubian goat.
He then went off to fix what was on the list, mainly food, warmth and aid for the elderly to get about.
He made a cup of dandelion tea for George and a plate of Orcadian oatcakes.
George woke, thanked Gordon for the tea.
“Oatcakes my favourite.” said George “You know what those oatcakes are crying out for? Settled goats cheese.”
George got up and went to the pantry. On the shelf were three mature Settled goats cheeses.
“One of those cheeses is for Santa, one for my grand daughter when she comes, and the other I keep just in case Charlie the elf calls again.”
“You know Charlie? He was my Dad. He was shot down delivering aid to Yemen.” said Gordon's
“Oh you poor elf, Charlie was one of the best. A bit like you. Santa is very lucky to have two good elves to work for him. As I recall Charlie loved the Settled Cheese and said he always kept some for his son.” Said George
George gave the two cheeses to Gordon. Gordon hugged George too tearful to speak. Then shot up the Chimney with the cheeses.
Santa placed the cheeses in the cool box and headed for home. Gordon was sobbing uncontrollably.
As they entered the home leg Gordon said “ If you can not get anyone to do the delivery run next year, would you consider me.”
“If that is what you want?”
“Yes please. Said Gordon's”
“That will do nicely “said Santa “that will do.”
