A Unusual Stocking Stuffer
I wanted to write something for the holidays lol. So enjoy this lil story!
The holidays were always a buzz for the beans. Rushing around, trying to get everything in order, packing or unpacking tons of food that could feed a borrower for a life time, Giant boxes wrapped up surrounding a tree where the big beans would catch the little ones taking sneak peaks; it was so chaotic. Carol would watch from a small hole, or even the vents sometimes, at all the chaos.
It wasn’t like she could sleep with all the noise in the house. It was Christmas Eve and the home was full of people, and she had never seen this many people before. She saw smaller parties from time to time but the beans of her home had never hosted Christmas before and it was almost too much. Kids running around and screaming, parents chatting with each other about whatever a ‘politic’ was, teens looking bored and getting dragged into the little ones games, the eldest beans sitting and chatting with one clearly trying to stay awake, and the adult beans who had no obligations were drinking fancy drinks that made them loopy.
Carol watched from the vent; ‘jeez this is crazy, why couldn’t they leave like the other times?’ Oh how she loved when they didn’t host parties. The house was completely quiet, nothing but the wind rattling the walls and windows, passing cars on the road, maybe a bird chirp, but overall silence. She would wonder around the empty house without a care in the world. She could go on a borrowing spree, and it was an amazing bonus if the bean family accidentally forgot something like a container filled with brownies or cookies. She would happily take one every-time despite the fact that she could easily get caught. Not to mention at night when they just leave all the leftovers out because they’re too tired to put everything away. Then there were the milk and cookies for Santa which the parents usually just eats but she sneaks a few bites anyways.
Suddenly Carol was shaken out of her pleasant thoughts of sweets and treats by the shouting of beans. She glanced through the vent and saw a small crowd of them laughing and cheering over some game on the tv, meanwhile a few children ran around below. One crashing into the wall shaking her up a bit. ‘This sucks’ she thought as she walked away. She couldn’t even just sleep and wait for them to leave because of all the noise. So she just waited and watched, occasionally moving from vent to vent or to a small peep hole she made.
As the night dragged on she felt hungrier and hungrier, and more annoyed. Her whole plan was to stock up on some food today, like she had always done, but no they had to host this year, she didn’t even know they were until a day ago! Apparently they had to change plans or something, but she didn’t really care she just really wanted some of that food. They had all this food out and about and yet she couldn’t get any of it! There were so many different kinds of potatoes, a turkey AND a ham, various vegetables, a plate just full of cheese, and sweets upon sweets. Carol would watch the kids sneak more sweets before running off and she couldn’t even get a single bite. She wouldn’t risk it either with all these beans around. That would be a very fast way to get seen by a lot of people, or be seen as a toy for some child. She shuddered at the thought, but continued watching the beans celebrate.
Carol watched as they feasted and then came together to open presents. She watched as they tore open the gifts, flinging paper and ribbons everywhere. They laughed and gasped while others happily exclaimed how they knew they would love it. Meanwhile others grimaced at their gift pretending to love it. She watched from the low vent and whenever a small ribbon fell nearby, she reached out and quickly snatched it. It would be useful for climbing ropes or just tying things together and they were gonna throw it all out anyway. All the kids opened their presents from their family members, excitedly holding new toys or screaming at how awesome the toy was; and once their presents were open they ran off with their new toys to play with.
Finally, after what felt like hours, it was starting to settle down; kids playing with their toys and showing off to the other kids, adults sitting and chatting or packing up presents and food. ‘No don’t pack the food just leave it out’ Carol pouted to herself, watching the plates of food disappear into containers with ease. One by one the plates of food disappeared and the beans eventually started to leave. Until finally, after an annoying day filled with screams of joy and off key singing, everyone had left except the home beans.
The father bean scooped up the two sleeping young beans and took them to their rooms. They had passed out earlier, after all the other kids had left and only the older folks with no little kids were still hanging around. Meanwhile the mother bean cleaned up a bit.
“Hey honey what’s up?” Asked the father bean, who had come back downstairs.
“Oh I know I should clean everything up but, it wouldn’t hurt to leave some out right? I’m just too tired from today” she sighed.
“We can deal with it in the early morning when we, ya know…have Santa visit” he nudged her with a grin and she laughed.
“Alright alright that should be fine” the two then headed back upstairs to catch some sleep.
Finally, FINALLY! Carol could finally get some food and supplies. The beans had left out some sweets and homemade bread, not to mention the basket of fruits they had received.
Carol waited a few minutes, listening to the distant ticking of the clock as the house went quiet. She crawled out of her hiding spot and started her hunt.
She dashed around the tree where some gifts still lay for the morning. Grabbing any left over wrapping paper that had been missed from the earlier clean up. It may seem useless to the beans, but for her it had so many possibilities. Decoration for her walls, a simple way to store different foods like flour or rice, or even just something to draw/write on. She quickly stored her gatherings back into her hiding spot, as tonight would hold many journeys.
Eventually she made her way to the kitchen. Standing under the table where she had seen the food laid out, she grabbed her hook and string. Swinging it around and around she let it fly up and onto the table, hoping it would hook onto something stable. With a few tugs, and a quick dangle check, she started her climb upwards. Once at the top she looked around the tale at all the goodies. Some cookies of various types lay out on a plate, a small pile of fudge sat nearby, biscuits with jam sat off to the side, and the basket of fruit!
Carol quickly ran over to the cookies and scratched some of the chocolate chips for bits of chocolate. She took a two pieces of fudge, before walking back to her climbing gear. Rifling through her bag she grabbed another folded bag from inside. She unfolded it, loaded the fudge and chocolate before loosely tying the bag onto the string and letting it go. The bag gracefully fell down and landed onto the floor with a quiet tap. She had learned this trick from her dad who preferred to get as much as possible in one trip. Carol then grabbed some crumbs from the biscuits, and gathered more crumbs and bits from the cookies.
After sending down another bag, she looked towards the fruit basket. She grinned as she climbed the weaved side and peered over the edge. Apples, clementines, pears, grapes, bananas, strawberries, and more filled the basket. She gently jumped down and started to gather some bits. She grabbed a strawberry and hauled it over the baskets edge, letting it drop onto the table. She did the same with a few grapes and a single clementine. Sadly, Carol couldn’t take the bigger fruits, as they would surely be missed.
Carefully, after dropping the fruit down, she made her way back to the ground, yanking her hook free she looked at all her goodies with pride. She the grabbed as many things as she could before booking it across the floor and hiding her stuff in her spot. Once all she gathered was back she started her many trips to drop it off at her lil home.
Her little abode was hidden within the fireplace. It was up a ways but she enjoyed it. Whenever the beans turned the fireplace on, which was quite rare, it would warm up her home, but never too hot. She wasn’t that close to the fire, that would be crazy.
Once everything was stored away she paused, trying to think. ‘Perhaps I could enjoy this quiet moment? There’s no harm in it right? I can just relax! I don’t even need to bring anything…maybe some chocolate though’ She thought.
Carol then grabbed a chunk of the fudge before making her way out a lil hidden passage that led to the mantel above the fire place. She moved the broken brick and placed it loosely back, before walking out and sitting down with her legs dangling while looking out over the room.
It was quiet, and peaceful. The Christmas tree was a gentle colorful light in the room. It glowed blue despite all the different color of lights on it. The ornaments twinkled the lights back making the tree look even brighter than it was. Outside it was dark, and it had started to snow. The snow was hard to see in the night but with the tree next to the window, some flakes would reflect the trees light. The presents left under the tree sat with sparkled bows, sparkling blue in the night. The clock in the distance ticked on and the house gently creaked as Carol just enjoyed the almost silence. It was truly a peaceful moment.
She glanced down at the stockings, which were empty. The beans celebrated with the stockings on a different day than the beans from her old home. Even the stockings were different. Her former home, where she grew up, had simple single colored socks with fuzz at the top, which would be stuffed on Christmas Day. However these ones were stuffed over a week ago with candies and toys. They also were fancier, with bells and a dramatic curl at the tip. They also were stuffed with fluff to help them keep shape. They had colorful patterns and were clearing meant for the holiday and not to be worn. Sometimes a candy cane would’ve placed in them on Christmas but that was pretty much it.
She liked how they looked and sometimes would take some of the fluff in them. It was quite useful for bedding or even making thick warm clothes.
After a while her fudge was gone and Carol was ready for bed. She started to get up when she heard a door open from upstairs. Instantly she froze, however her balance was off and she quickly found herself slipping. She grabbed at the mantle but her hands slipped and she fell straight down with a soft bounce. Her heart was beating like crazy as she looked around, she had fallen into the stocking. Relief flooded her for a second before panic set in. She fell into a STOCKING.
Then Carol heard the worst thing to hear in these kinds of situations: Footsteps. Footsteps that were trying so hard to be quiet but were failing. Carol quickly tried to jump up or climb out, but the fluff below her made it difficult to stand, and the smooth material of the stocking gave her no grip. ‘Never mind I hate these things now’ she thought as the footsteps seemed to come closer. ‘Shit shit shit!!’
Carol froze as the footsteps stopped in nearby. She heard someone pick up a present and shake it a bit. A small soft giggle was heard before another box was shaken. It was the little girl, sneaking around to see if Santa had visited yet. The footsteps became loud for a second before ending even closer. Carol froze, her breath hitching as she waited for something to happen. ‘Please, please don’t be hers that I fell into. Oh shit please’ she thought.
Then the stocking she was in started to move, ‘no no NO NO NO!!’ Carol panicked as the stocking’s opening tilted and the little girl’s face appeared before her.
The little girl gasped in delight before reaching down and grabbing Carol. Carol quickly tried to struggle, ‘I’m not being some toy!!!’ She thought
“Woah!!!” The little girl whispered as she held Carol in her grip, to which Carol froze and stared at the girl. The girls brown eyes widen in wonder as she started turning Carol around in her hands, “Are you an elf? ARE YOU ONE OF SANTA’S ELVES?!?” She gasped in excitement, squeezing Carol.
“Uhh…yup! I’m one-one!! of Santa’s Elves” Carol responded trying not to die from the squeeze. It was probably a better excuse than telling her anything else.
“WOW! What kind of cookies does he like? What milk does he like? Mom says he prefers oatmilk but I don’t know. Do you know Rudolph? How many elves are there? How do you make the toys when you’re so small? Are all elves small?” The barrage of questions overwhelmed Carol. With each question making the squeeze a bit tighter.
“Wo-AH! Hold on. Don’t squeeze me!! Please!!!” She cried out.
“Oh!!! I’m sorry!” The little girl quickly released her tight grip looking down with sad eyes, “I didnt mean to hurt you…don’t tell Santa!! I was good! I really am good! I promise….” The girl eyes started to well up.
“It’s okay, don’t cry!” Carol quickly stated, she really didn’t want the girl to start crying. That might wake the parents, “You’re not…uhh…going on the naughty list,”
‘Damn,’ she thought, ‘I’m gonna have to remember all the Christmas stuff…shit’
The girl sniffed and wiped away a tear, “Really? I’m not?”
“Really! You’ve been a good girl!!”
The girl perked up before pausing, “umm is Santa coming here? Did you get left behind? Did he not bring us presents?”
“Um no! No, I wasn’t left behind! Cause I’m uhh….” ‘Shit what were they called…secret elf, no, hidden elf…elf secret..elf on…elf on a’
“I’m an elf on the shelf!”
“Oh!” She perked up, before tilting her head, “Is that why you’re small? Are all elves small like you?”
“Nope, only shelf elves are…I uhh, we are born smaller so we can hide better,” Carol was desperately trying to answer all the girl’s questions without exposing too much.
“Oh! So does that mean you live here? Do you watch us all year round? Did you tell Santa that I accidentally broke James’ truck?” She shrunk back a bit before watching for Carol’s reaction.
“Um yes, I live here in the shelf and I did see you do that,” it wasn’t a lie either. Carol had watched the girl step on the truck and broke it. It lead to her brother crying and her getting grounded, while she tried to explain she didn’t mean to. No one was hearing it, sadly. “But I know it wasn’t your fault so I didn’t need to…to report it.”
The girl sighed a breath of relief, “Thank you,” she paused, “So you report to Santa? And you’re sure I’m on the Nice List?”
“Yup! 100% you’re definitely on it” if the presents hidden in the closest were any indicator, she was a very good girl this year.
“Okay! Why were you in my stocking though? Are you my gift?”
‘Nope nope nope!!! Not being a gift’ Carol quickly thought, “NOPE, I just uh was preparing for Santa to come! When I slipped. I have to send him a message that everyone is asleep and that the fireplace is cooled down…uhhh could you put me down though?”
“Ope! Sorry! I’m just excited!” She said while looking around before deciding that the mantel was the best place to set Carol. The girl gently placed her onto the mantel and stepped down from the fireplace. She looked back up and Carol smiled.
“Thank you,” Carol said, she was truly thankful to get out of those hands. They were starting to get sweaty and hot.
“Soooooo…..Santa won’t come if I’m awake?”
“Uhhh yep! You have to go to sleep”
“Awww…but I really wanted to see him…to tell him thank you…and that I’m a good girl…I always try to be…”
Carol softly smiled before kneeling down, even though it didn’t make much of a difference, “don’t worry, I’ll tell him that for you Anna”
She gasped and was in awe, “You know my name! You really do work with Santa!” Carol chuckled, “wait, do you have a name?”
Carol paused in shock before nodding, “yup I’m Carol. Now you should go to bed so Santa can come.”
“Awwww but I’m not tired anymore…” Anna pouted.
“He won’t come if you’re awake, OH! And don’t tell your parents you saw me or you won’t get presents”
With that Anna gasped before dashing away and upstairs. Only to then run back down.
“Merry Christmas Carol! Sorry I grabbed you! I won’t tell anyone! Okay night!” And Anna dashed off again.
Carol waited for the click of the door before letting go of her breath that she had been holding this whole time. She walked back and slumped against the brick wall.
‘Damn…that was lucky…but now what…am I supposed to be an elf forever? I don’t want to leave…hopefully she just forgets about this…but maybe I could use this? Mmmh’
Carol thought for a while before going back inside and rummaging through her stuff. She grabbed an old necklace pendant hanging off her wall. She had a bunch of them, after collecting a few that had fallen under the floorboards. The one she grabbed was a bright red with a swirl of pink and purple within it. It was one she had found on her travel to this home.
Carefully she cleaned it up and using old chain she had, she hooked it on to it to make a necklace. Then with some wrapping paper lying around sh e wrapped it up and used some tape to keep it closed. With a pen she awkwardly wrote ‘Anna’ on it.
She snuck out and dropped the gift into the stocking she had fallen into earlier. With that she went back inside and straight to bed.
The next morning was filled with joyous laughter and screams. The kids ran down and opened their presents, exclaiming “SANTA CAME!!” Carol peaked out to watch.
The kids were tearing through the presents when Anna looked up at the mantel with a smile.
“What are you looking at Anna?” Asked James.
Anna looked around before leaning in, “Don’t tell anyone but I met an elf last night.”
Carol had forgotten about the brother and shock her head, ‘kids’
James gasped, “really!?!?”
“SHHHHHHH mom and dad can’t know!!!”
“Why?”
“Because then Santa won’t bring us presents!”
“Ohhhhhhhh ok!”
Carol rolled her eyes as she watched the kids open their gifts. Their parents eventually came down and watched. It was a nice scene.
Eventually the kids were off playing and the parents were settled down playing a game. When lil Anna came up to the mantle to grab her candy cane from her stocking. She reached in and found the small gift. She looked around before opening it, her eyes widened before she looked up.
“Thank you Carol!” She whispered, “shhh I got something for you too,” she placed a small poorly wrapped gift onto the mantel, hiding it behind one of the decorations, “I hope you like it!” With that she bounced away smiling.
Carol waited a minute before sneaking out and grabbing the present and dashing inside. She opened the gift and inside was a collection of random things. A sparkly pink rock with a smiley face drawn on it, a dolls sweater that was bright blue with a snowflake on it, and a folded up paper with a written note. “Dear Carol, thank u for being our elf! Merry Christmas! From Anna”
With the first few words being big and becoming smaller and running up the side by the end.
Carol smiled and stuck the note onto her wall where the pendant used to hang.
“What a weird Christmas”
