Story: When the elves ran riot

by Grace Geraghty (aged 9) and Linda Cracknell (RHSC Writer in ResidenceChristmas 2014



Did you get presents last Christmas?

If so, you don't know how lucky you were.

At the 11th hour on Christmas Eve Eddie and Evie, Santa’s lead elves, decided they were going to make Christmas different. The elves thought it had got a bit boring. They chose one place to experiment on. And guess where? Yes, Edinburgh. They thought a wee change would make Santa laugh and give him a bit less work to do.

Eddie and Evie set off from Santa’s grotto leading a shower of playful elves across the night sky. First they went to The Mound and turned the Christmas tree upside down, planting its point in the snow. Then they switched off all the lights on the Castle and along Princes Street. They made the big wheel turn so slowly that all the people on it fell asleep and snored, drowning out the festive music.

The elves ran riot through the town
turning Christmas upside down.

Outside the Dome on George Street, they tweaked the sprinklers so that instead of fake snow, the posh ladies got sprinkled with custard. The elves laughed like squealing monkeys and the noise brought all the town’s robins flying in to see what was going on. The elves took the opportunity to paint their red breasts brown.

Then they scuttered down the chimneys of Edinburgh’s homes like spiders. They ate all the chocolate decorations on the trees, replacing them with mouldy cheese. They took down stockings from the fireplaces and jumped into them, pulling them up to their chins. They moved holly onto the seats of sofas and armchairs. Just for a laugh.

The elves ran riot through the town
turning Christmas upside down.

Like a swarm of bats, they swooped back up the chimneys, carrying away all the jellybeans that had been left for them. When they got back to Santa’s grotto, they fed the jellybeans to the reindeers which made them sick. This year the reindeers would have to be pulled by the sledges, and not the other way round.

The elves ran riot through the town
turning Christmas upside down.

Then they flew up to the cloud and downloaded all the presents stored there for Edinburgh’s children. This year they would give them to Santa instead. They piled them around him in a mountain the size of Ben Nevis so that only his nostrils, eyes, and hat could be seen. Eddie and Evie were so pleased with their work, they did a little dance.

But then, they noticed Santa's eyes.

The elves ran riot through the town
Making Santa wear a frown.

The wind whisked up then, so warm with fury it melted all the snow. And Eddie and Evie realised their mistake. Santa didn't want presents himself. He liked Christmas how it was. Oh dear.

It was one minute to midnight. There was so much work to do in such a short time that they had to call the leprechauns from Ireland and the pixies from Peterhead as reinforcements. They swarmed around Edinburgh, putting Christmas trees back the right way up, turning fairy lights on, and replacing stockings and chocolates.

The elves ran riot through the town
Turning Christmas right back round.

What a relief when they saw Santa start to laugh again and fill up his sack with presents. The sky was so happy that it flared up its northern lights into luminous pinks and greens, swaying above the Pentlands. Even the reindeers perked up, looking forward to a glorious flight.

The elves ran riot through the town
Turning Christmas right back round.

And so you got your presents. Remember?


THE END


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