Page 15 of Naughty Elf: Aster
“No way. That has to be the best job ever.”
“It is and I am. But you know how you can’t tell people about Daddy being a wolf?”
“Yeah, it’s against the rules, and Daddy will get in a whole lot of trouble. I don’t talk about it at school at all. Ever, ever, ever. And when I turn into a wolf, I’m not gonna talk about it to anybody either.” He had such a solid head on his shoulders for such a young boy.
“Well, this is kind of like that. We don’t talk about my job with other people, but we can talk about it together.”
“How come? I’m a person. Daddy’s a wolf. How come we’re allowed to know you?” Nothing got past Noel.
I didn’t really have a solid answer for that, so I went with, “Because you’re the one who picked me off the shelf.” It was sort of true.
“So, you make cookies for Santa?”
“I do make cookies for Santa. I also make cookies for other elves. Sometimes I even make cookies for Christmas presents. When people ask for cookie jars for Christmas. I make a lot of cookies.”
“I make cookies too.” He pointed to the cookie platter on the counter. “I’m a very good baker.”
“I know. I had some cookies last night, and your dad said you helped bake them.”
“I did. I’m big now, so I get to stir.”
“Well, you did an excellent job, as good as an elf.”
“Really? Which elf is that?” He was dead serious.
“Me. Your cookies were as good as mine.” I snuck one this morning and they proved the “rule” that cookies taste better the second day.
The smile on his face lit up the room.
“Maybe we can make cookies together?”
“I’d like that. I’d like that a lot.” And I hoped we’d have time before Santa decided he needed me back.
Chapter Eleven
Wolfe
After breakfast, Aster insisted on helping to clean up, and even Noel came in to dry his special cup and plate, wanting to be part of the fun. The elf’s pancakes were incredible, although I still had my doubts that they were as nutritious as the regular kind. He laughed and said, “You mean the mix in the cabinet you just add water to? It had a picture of pancakes on the box, but the ingredients were not what I use to make…anything.”
I supposed after the salt incident he was being extra careful, and he was right. The box mix was a quick thing I’d picked up because my scratch pancakes were never as good as David’s had been. They always ended up burned on one side and raw in the middle. Not that I couldn’t cook or anything, but I knew what battles were not worth fighting. For some reason, the mix ones came out golden and perfect, and Noel loved them.
A little guilt swirled, and I fought the urge to either try to read the ingredient panel or just toss the box. But pancakes were my son’s favorite breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and unless I improved, it was mix or nothing. I’d have to mull that over later.
Or ask Aster to teach me? If he stayed long enough.
“Daddy!” Noel came pounding back from the restroom where he’d gone to wash his hands all by himself. He was getting big fast. “Daddy, it’s still snowy outside.”
I held out my arms and caught him up for a quick spin. “It’s been snowy for weeks!”
“Wheeee…” His little legs flew out while he went around just three times. More than that… Clean up on aisle kitchen. When he was standing on his feet again, he swayed but only a bit. “Daddy, let’s go out and play!”
“Noel, we have a guest, and maybe he wouldn’t like to do that.” I nodded to Aster. “Maybe he’d rather stay in and drink cocoa by the fire, put a puzzle together, or play a game.”
Noel stalked over to him and looked up and up. I couldn’t say anything about the rest of Santa’s elves but Aster was a tall drink of water. “It was his idea. Remember?”
Wolfe gave him some serious side-eye.
“Mr. Aster, do you want to sit in the house and be bored doing a dumb puzzle or go out and sled! My sled is the fastest and it’s big too. Daddy and I ride it together and we can take turns.”