Dreams Can Come True! by Gordon

The countdown clock for Christmas is ticking. Santa's elves begin working their magic on the assembly lines, but the line comes to a screeching halt when rumours leak that one elf is going to get let go that day.

Dreams Can Come True!
by Gordon MacAulay

The roll call started: “Elmo, Janny, Bunle, Spark, Ellie, Bounder, Kallie, Jikney, Blitzie, Baffle, Rando, Purdy, Danno, Abran, Wulkie, Zanzwi and Ripplo.” “All present” yelled Ripplo the senior elf.” This was always his response as the last name on the rambling list was read. Immediately, they all began to work at their production line producing hundreds of items a day.

Team spirit was the essence of an elf’s life. Elmo knew exactly how to cut the two pieces of cloth and pass them to Janny who stitched with an elegant movement of arms and threw the result to Bunle and so it went day after day. Of course, Zanzwi was at the end of the line and many times Abran and Wulkie would finish with the labels and wrapping leaving Zanzwi without work. Zanzwi would yell over the noise to his fellow elves “Hey what about sharing, I will be out of a job tomorrow.” For a little while Zanzwi would be busy as he knew Santa’s senior manager, Dancer, would come in regularly to see how work was progressing.

“Smoko” said Ripplo. Zanzwi rushed outside although he never smoked. Wulkie followed. They sat on a bench overlooking the ice-covered lake. Zanzwi thought for a few moments. “What would it be like to be not working”, he said, turning to look very directly at Wulkie. “Imagine what you could do? I could travel over the tundra, I could spend time exploring the wilderness, I could play with my children and I could even climb a mountain. I could be so free and relaxed. No one would be watching what I am doing all the time and no need to sit waiting while everybody else catches up with me.” “Wow”, says Wulkie, taking in a big sigh. Wulkie paused and in a slow and deliberate manner said: “Would you miss us?” There was a long silence between the two. Eventually Zanzwi said: “I think I would.”

Ripplo, watching the time carefully, pressed the button that rang a bell through the igloo-shaped building reporting the end of “smoko.” Slowly Zanzwi and Wulkie walked back inside the building without saying anything. Ever alert to the slightest innuendo or rumours, Ellie slid up beside Wulkie and said: “Better be careful, I have just seen Ripplo talking to Dancer. They were looking very secretive—almost whispering to each other. “ “What do you think?” said Wulkie. “My guess is we are in for downsizing. You know we have just had an economic crisis!” he whispered. “Be careful that what you wish will come true”, retorted Zanzwi.

The bell suddenly rang again and they all stopped work. They had all been working hard to finish a batch of 1000 pieces. Ripplo stood and said: “I bring you all some good news and some bad news. We have just completed a new record number of items for a year and finished two days before Christmas eve. Well done. The bad news is Zanzwi, you are to be made redundant.” Slowly, in complete silence, sixteen elves walked out of the building.

27 March 2010