🜍 Advent Calendar — Day 5
Chibi — “Waiting for the Wrong Visitor”
❓ If you weren’t sure whether Saint Nicholas or something else was coming… would you still wait by the window?
You notice it only because Chibi keeps checking the clock even though he absolutely doesn’t understand how clocks work.
He paces the room, hoodie sleeves dragging on the floor, muttering calculations that have nothing to do with mathematics.
Finally he stops, eyes wide.
“Eljara… what if tomorrow… it’s not Saint Nicholas?”
Eljara looks up from the tiny gift she’s wrapping. “What do you mean?”
Chibi leans in, whispering dramatically:
“What if it’s Knecht Ruprecht? Or Krampus? Or the Backup Krampus? Or the Apprentice Krampus? Or the Union of Seasonal Punishers Local 13??”
Mara giggles. “You’re being silly.”
But Chibi shakes his head.
“No no no. Silly is when you think a snowman can’t move. THIS is serious.”
He grabs a cookie plate, holds it up like a shield.
“I have to bribe the right one. Nicholas gets cookies. Ruprecht gets… uh… forgiveness? Krampus gets— oh no. What does Krampus even eat?!”
Eljara tries not to laugh.
“Chibi… why are you so worried?”
Chibi looks at the window. The snow outside shifts— too fast, too light, like something small darting past.
He lowers his voice.
“Because they visit first.”
“Eljara’s little folk?” Mara asks.
Chibi nods.
“They check the houses. They decide who gets which visitor. They see everything. Every good deed. Every bad deed. Every cookie you said you didn’t eat but absolutely DID eat.”
Mara gasps. “You think they’re judging us?!”
Chibi spreads his arms wide.
“Tonight… everyone judges us.”
Eljara opens the window. Cold air spills in. Small shapes flicker in the dark— not quite birds, not quite sparks, curious and fast.
A soft tapping against the sill.
The little folk. Choosing.
Chibi swallows hard.
“Eljara… if they pick wrong… I’m not tall enough to outrun Krampus.”
Eljara puts a hand on his shoulder.
“Then let’s give them kindness. So they choose kindness back.”
The candles flicker once— as if something unseen agrees.
❓ If winter’s smallest watchers chose your visitor… would you fear their judgment— or trust their kindness?