The Christmas Gnome

Piney sat fidgeting, she worked on her tree her whole life. Her purpose was to create the best North Pole Christmas tree. The best way for a Gnome to spread cheer was through their talents, of tree, or plant growing. This day was something Piney looked forward to every year and she was just sure her tree would be chosen. Pepper Mint, the head Elf, stared at each tree. He finally made it to Piney. Her best friend, Joy who was the Elf over Christmas cheer, stood next to Pepper, looking at Piney’s tree. It was a 75 foot blue spruce, very fragrant. It even sparkled a bit. Rocking on her heels she smiled at the elves. “Very nice.” The elves discussed and then turned to everyone else. “ The tree we have chosen to bring Christmas cheer to the village this year is the Frazier Fur, 69 ft tall grown by Fergus Fur Tree Gnome. “ The crowd cheered. Piney was so disappointed , her tree was not chosen. What would she do now? She thought and thought then suddenly made her decision. She quickly grabbed a bag of Elf magic, the portal belt with buttons, and keys to the deployment hall. Piney slipped into the hall, where elves travel to the human world. She nervously locked herself inside and pressed a button on the belt. “Joy we have a situation at the deployment hall, we have a code pine.” “What?!” Joy could see Piney staring at the opened portal. “Get her out of there!” “We can’t she locked the door.” “Five gold rings!!!! Piney no!!!!!!” Just as Joy screamed Piney jumped through the portal. “Well hi? Who are you?” Piney stood still maybe if she stood there they wouldn’t actually see her. “It’s ok don’t be afraid, I won’t hurt you.” Slowly turning Piney saw a young girl sitting in a hospital bed. Smiling at her she walked over to her. The little girl reached down and picked up piney. Piney was so small she fit in the hand of this child. “My name is Kenna, what’s yours? “ “I’m Piney, I’m from the North Pole.” “An Elf!? I knew you were real!!” “Elves are real but I’m actually a Christmas Gnome.” “Well you are cute, what are you doing here?” “I’ve come to spread Christmas cheer. What do you want for Christmas? Have you been a good girl?” Kenna nodded. “I want to be home for Christmas, and have a big beautiful tree.” Piney stared at her, she looked slightly pale and wore a pink hat on her head. Piney looked around the room it was dark and gloomy,she had some Elf magic and thought better use it. Piney blinked three times and snapped her fingers loudly. Kenna watched mesmerized, her hospital room transformed into a homey place. The colors of the walls changed from a pale blue to a warm red with gold trim with Christmas decorations everywhere. “Wow, this is cool. “ Piney blinked three times and snapped again to reveal Christmas cookies on a plate with hot cocoa for the two of them. Piney turned to Kenna with a mouth full of cookie and grinned. She looked into the bag of Elf magic. She realize she had used most of what she had taken. Gnome magic is for plants, not advanced like the Elf magic. “Kenna, I need help, how do you spread Christmas cheer without magic?” “I have an idea, what if we cut out paper snowflakes and take them to everyone?” “Let’s do it!” Piney watched as this little girl pulled out paper she had stashed in the cupboard next to her bed, she pulled out some scissors and they got to work. Piney cut so fast you couldn’t even see how she was doing it. She finished and opened it. It resembled a Christmas tree. Piney hung her head. “Wow how did you do that, it’s so cool.” Kenna pulled the tree snowflake and hung it next to her bed. This gave Piney more confidence. With a huge smile, cut a bunch more. A nurse came in to give Kenna her medicine and beamed at the sight of the room. “Well, you must be responsible for this.” “ Er um yes. Hi I’m Piney Tree Gnome.” “A Gnome, I thought you were an Elf.” “We are much smaller than Elves and our talents and magic are different.” The nurse smiled and put medicine into one of Kenna’s tubes. Kenna sat back getting a little weaker. Piney was not sure what was wrong, she reached out her tiny hand for Kenna to hold onto. Piney comforted her. The nurse reached down, she took the papers and placed them in the cupboard. Piney stared at her new friend while she slept. “So what did you do to Kenna? “ “Kenna has leukemia, she may not make it to Christmas.” “But she has to, her Christmas wish is to be home for Christmas and have a big tree. Where is her family?” “Her mother works down in the ER, she will be up here shortly.” Piney thought about how to make Kenna’s Christmas wish come true. If she can’t go home we have to make home come here. Looking down at the belt with buttons, she knew of only one person who could make this happen. She looked at the big red button that said Santa. Piney pressed the button and was magically transported to Santa’s office. “He’s waiting for you. You can go in.” The Elf didn’t even look up, she kept typing. Piney took off her Buffalo plaid hat revealing grey fuzzy hair with two braids down the side, she fixed her dress and brushed off the dirt. Taking a deep breath she entered Santa’s office. Walking through the red shag carpet was almost as difficult as walking through deep snow. Looking up she could see old fashioned toys. Snow globes covered the shelves. She gasped when she saw a photo of her father with Santa and his tree; an eighty foot blue spruce. Smiling, she gained a little more courage. “Piney Tree, I’ve been waiting for you.” The voice sounded soft, warm, kind, and firm. It came from the desk. Piney looked up timidly at the man talking to her. He had the list in one hand and a cookie in the other, he was dressed in his suit, with red suspenders over his white shirt. His coat hung on a hook behind him. His long white beard was slightly curly, and covered his lower face. She stared into his deep green twinkling eyes. He had his reading glasses on. He placed his cookie down and reached for her to climb into his hand. Piney stood in his hand as he lifted her to the top of his desk. Sitting back in his chair he placed the list down, and reached for the cookie again. “You stole Elf magic. Broke rules. You talked with humans, let them see you, and...” “But sir if I hadn’t gone no one there would even know it was Christmas. Plus, I need your help. I met a new friend who needs me.” “I admire you Tree Gnomes, you have so much passion, and you want to help everyone. What can I do for you? “Well I need your help to figure out how to get my tree to Kenna, and get her home for Christmas.” Hanging his head he smiled sideways. “I will do my best for Kenna, about your tree, that will be the simplest task. Now go back to be with Kenna. “ “ You are letting me go back?” “Yes, because you are right, she needs you.” Christmas Eve arrived. The wind began to billow up in front of the hospital, almost like magic was involved. “Piney, quick come look!” They both sat in watching with wonder. A small tree sprung out of the ground and began to grow at a very fast rate. The tree was filled with beautiful ornaments and flocked with white sparkling snow. It was the most beautiful tree Kenna had ever seen. “Sorry it took me so long, I had to make sure it would last for years to come.” “Last for years to come? What do you mean?” “That tree will be the Christmas tree for years to come, it’s a magic tree and will always stand there.” Kenna turned around slowly. “Santa!” She said smiling. He came over to her bedside and kissed her on the head. “Merry Christmas Kenna.” “Merry Christmas Santa.” With a twinkle in his eye, he was gone in a flash. Kenna smiled from ear to ear. “Thank you Piney, this is the best Christmas ever.” Kenna’s mom and sisters entered the room and Piney smiled. Kenna got her two Christmas wishes. “Merry Christmas Kenna!” Piney snuggled in close to her friend. They sat watching the beautiful tree as Santa rode out of sight. “Merry Christmas to all!”