Multiplying Elves Part 2

Noel followed Joy through Santa's snowmen, poised outside his house like frosty guardians. One of them seemed to stare at her through its coal eyes and wiggle its carrot nose. But when she looked again, the snowman's expression went blank.

“I'm not sure this is a good idea, Joy.” Besides, she wasted precious time. She had twenty more barbie doll dresses to do.

“Santa's busy feeding the reindeer. He won't even notice.”

Indeed, the glow of Rudolph's nose reflected from the valley below. Their most important reindeer was awake and ready to go. Noel pulled herself together as Joy slipped through a window.

“Come on slow-snow-shoes.”

The chill crept up Noel's legs, and Santa's house smelled like warm cookies. It was so cold the jingles in her shoes stopped working, which was a good thing if you were an elf sneaking into Santa's house. “Okay.”

She hoisted herself up and plopped down the other side. A molten fire crackled in a brick fireplace besides a lush evergreen decorated with silver bells. Noel took a whiff of the pine and sighed. She'd always wanted to come into Santa's house but he'd never invited her.

“There it is!”

The clay jar rested on a pedestal beside the fire. Painted in swirls of red and green, it looked like a Christmas ornament.

Joy moved before Noel could stop her. “We just need a little bit: one sprinkle.”

Her friend reached into the jar and threw sparkle dust at her. It landed right in her face and Noel stifled a sneeze. “Joy! Why did you do that?”

“So you can come and play with me and Ralph, silly.”

Her limbs tingled and she felt dizzy, as if she'd eaten too many sugar plums. “Oh no.”

“What is it? Can you see any more of you?” Joy tugged on her arm, making her feel worse.

“No. I feel like I'm going to puke.”

All of a sudden, her feet rose from the floor. The room swirled in front of her as she struggled to keep her balance. “Joy, I'm flying!”