ALFRED THE ELF'S VACATION

Four
The Sugar Blossom Festival

Santa's Castle at the North Pole often resembles a huge beehive, as over two hundred elves busily prepare for the next Christmas Eve. Amidst all the planning, new toys and games are created in Santa's workshop from January until early June. Then Santa and Mrs. Claus choose which are the most interesting and fun to play with, and those toys are added to the list of toys to be made for Christmas. The Sugar Blossom Festival is the beginning of a two-week vacation for everyone at the North Pole. A time to relax before the rush to finish everything for that special night. Some elves go skiing in the mountains. Others depart to a small island near Hawaii called Menehune where the great wizard Zanzibar lives. The island and everyone who comes to it, are invisible as long as they are on or near the island, thanks to the magic of the great wizard. No one on the other islands around it even knows Menehune Island exists. Still, others stay at the North Pole, preferring to spend the time reading or playing in a large game room in the castle, filled with a jukebox, pinball machines and every video game ever created.

A week had passed and final preparations for the Sugar Blossom Festival were being completed. Alfred walked into his room and found Henry busily packing a duffel bag. "Almost ready to go, I see." "I want to be ready to leave early tomorrow," replied Henry. "I'm looking forward to doing some fishing." He neatly folded a shirt before stuffing it into the bag. "This year, Zanzibar promised he'd teach me how to catch a shark! Why aren't you packing?" "I don't know," Alfred replied sadly. "I guess I haven't decided where I want to go." "I know just what you're thinking," Ticker said roughly, "and Santa is never going to allow it!" "What's he talking about?" asked Henry. "Nothing. He's just a crazy old clock," snapped Alfred, as he walked over to the nightstand and picked up Ticker. "Quiet!" Alfred whispered. "I will not be quiet! You simply can not go on vacation with a child!" cried Ticker. "With Megan? The child you met last Christmas?" asked Henry, who had stopped packing and joined Alfred on the edge of his bed. "Where's she going?" "Her family's vacationing at the beach and she's invited me to join them." "Children and elves do not go on vacation together!" repeated Ticker, pointing his long minute hand straight up in the air. "I think you should ask Santa. Maybe he'll let you go," said Henry. "Let's see now, a hundred children playing on the beach, but wait...who's that with the long pointy ears and bells on his sandals!" teased Ticker. "Well, he's right about that," agreed Henry. "You would kind of stand out in the crowd." Alfred placed Ticker back on the table. "I know you're right, but I can't stop thinking about how much fun it could be." Henry stood up and looked at Alfred. "If that's really what you want to do, I think you should ask Santa. He'll have the answer." "It's never gonna happen!" shouted Ticker. Alfred stood up and started walking toward the door. "Let's go to the festival. I'm not quite sure what to do, but I know I'm hungry!"

They could hear the band playing as they approached the Great hall. Many of the elves, along with Santa and Mrs. Claus, were dancing out on the gray marble floor. Alfred waved to his friend Joel, playing a trumpet in the band, as they entered the room. Joel was one of the junior elves who took part in what had become known as the elf in the ornament experiment, along with Alfred, Henry, Alexander, Laurie and Ralph. They got together often to discuss their adventures, though most wanted to hear about Alfred's. He was the only one to actually talk with a child, making him a bit of a legend around the castle. Other junior elves will have the same opportunity in the coming years, due to the success of the experiment. During the weeks before Christmas Eve, the junior elves will live in a special ornament, hanging on Christmas trees of unsuspecting children all over the world. Since most elves never get to observe a real child, this gives them a chance to learn more about the children they may one day be making toys for at the North Pole.

"Joel's getting really good at playing that trumpet," shouted Henry over the music and noise. "Yes he is! He's always practicing!" Alfred shouted back. Henry felt someone tap him on the shoulder. "Do you want to dance, Henry?" He turned to find Lizzie and an outstretched hand. "Hello Lizzie," Henry replied politely, taking her hand and leading her to the dance floor. Alfred grinned as he watched the two twirling around. Henry was almost five feet tall, making him one of the tallest elves in Santa's Castle. Lizzie was barely three feet, with dark brown hair and round, orange glasses. She was always telling jokes, most of them not very funny, but she was always fun to be around. Alfred strolled over to a long, yellow table, covered with desserts. Millie, an elf in charge of the bakery, w