Have you ever had one of those great, great days when what feels like free money just appears out of nowhere? This happened to me recently. I’ll spare you the details, but in a nutshell: I had a nice little check for $500 show up in the mail last week. Basically I was only getting a refund related to something from last summer, so it wasn’t exactly free. However, I had absorbed the original loss of this $500 into my budget long ago, which made this check showing up when it did feel very much like an out of nowhere surprise.
So the question became: What to do with it? Pay bills? Well, like I said, I’d already absorbed the loss into my budgeting, so this wasn’t showing up at a time I really needed it for bills. So what about savings? Another reasonable idea since I’m a big believer in being prepared for the rainy days. But because I already kind of live my life that way...well, I don’t exactly NEED to save that money right now. Typically that’s what I would do, and as a result it’s the rare occasion when I would take a windfall like this and just enjoy it. (And for the record -- believe me when I say I have a full appreciation for how blessedly lucky I am to be in this position.)
So the question changed from what to do with this bonus and instead became what would be a good way to enjoy it? First off, I feel absolutely justified in the idea of taking money like this and possibly spending it on something completely unnecessary; after all, my sister just narrowly avoided a near-death experience less than a month ago, and something like that happening makes you pause and evaluate things. I don’t really have anything on what I’d call a bucket list, and I like to think of myself as being relatively level-headed and introspective enough to be able to sidestep anything as self-indulgent as a midlife crisis. So where does that leave me? Would it be to spend little wad of cash on a thing, or use it for an experience? And are those really the only two options I have?
The only thing I’ve kind of decided on is I’d like to find something that can keep my head occupied for as much of the next three weeks as possible. I’m thinking this check showed up when it did because I’m meant to use it as a way to distract myself from how awful January is and how much I hate it. But how? I still have the job I have to show up at and do every day. It’s still cold and windy and snowy and stupid outside. So what would be the best distraction possible?
I don’t know how helpful it would be to ask for suggestions. I’d expect most ideas would be reflections of what the people offering ideas might do in my place, or they might go in such a broad direction I wouldn’t know where to begin. But I sure could use a distraction. I’m not exactly soliciting ideas here, but if somebody was absolutely sure they had the perfect one, I could be convinced to listen....
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Sunday, December 28, 2014
My Year in 15 Moments
The end of the year Facebook trend of 2014 is for people to share highlights of the year through some of the photos they’ve posted. After being prompted at least a dozen times to look at mine, I decided the pictures I’d either posted or had been tagged in didn’t represent my year very well, so I chose not to make one. Instead I did a month-by-month review of what I had posted on Facebook in 2014, thinking there would be at least fifteen moments (which I’m estimating is the average number of pictures used in the year-end photo cards) which would summarize my year. Here’s what I found, along with some background information about why each moment made the list:
January 28
“I don't mind saying it: Going back tomorrow to a full day meeting after having three of the last four school days off from the cold, and being somewhat limited in the amount of planning I'm able to do right now leaves me feeling a bit disoriented and apprehensive about the rest of the week.”
There was very little about the winter of 2014 that could be given a positive spin. To begin with, last January was historically, unreasonably cold. And if that wasn’t enough, the teachers’ union in our district was on Work to Rule for several weeks during prolonged contract negotiations. This fueled contentious moments of distraction for many people with different perspectives, and even being on the periphery of such things eventually took its toll on a lot of us.
February 20
“Nature is Lucy. Spring is the football. We're all Charlie Brown.”
The winter dragged on relentlessly. More than once we thought we could see the light at the end of the tunnel, only to be greeted the following morning by a twenty-degree temperature drop and eight fresh inches of snow on the ground. It was disheartening, to say the least.
March 16
“I found out today ‘Following Infinity’ made the cut for another writing contest. A boatload of agents who represent similar works will be looking over the excerpt I submitted in the next few days. This makes having to go back to school tomorrow a bit easier to take.”
The list of finalists in Brenda Drake’s Pitch Madness contest went live just as Spring Break came to an end. We’ll call the inclusion of this moment a bit of foreshadowing.
March 26
“1A. Nice.”
As if I haven’t had cancer intersect with my life enough times already, it showed up twice this year, in a friend of mine and in a family member -- the relieving diagnosis of 1A referring to the latter. I am so very happy to report that as the year closes they have both successfully completed their treatments, with neither person experiencing more than minimal complications or side effects. Thank God for 21st century medicine.
April 15
“I am unreasonably, ridiculously happy to share this news: I have accepted an offer of representation from Carrie Howland, a literary agent with Donadio & Olson, Inc. based in New York City. I have no question that my manuscript and my writing career are in the best of all possible hands. More detailed information to follow soon....”
There isn’t much more to say about this that I haven’t already covered elsewhere. But it is worth mentioning that receiving a vote of confidence like this, from not just any literary agent but from her, led me to discovering a new belief in my writing I hadn’t allowed myself to own before.
May 11
This blog post: Rock and Roll Grandmas
My cousins, my sister, and I had a great time conspiring to put together a Mother’s Day gift of a trip for two little old ladies to a big time Vegas rock show in the summer. I couldn’t be happier that everything came together as perfectly as it did.
June 10
“Today will be, without a doubt, a great day at school. None of our students will be hurt on the field trip, or explode into filthy-mouthed rants, or steal anything, or get suspended, or make their friends cry, or try to argue how it's really okay that they didn't leave their phones in the main office like they're supposed to because they aren't using them. Plus everyone who is supposed to return items checked out from the school will bring them back right away in the morning, and of course those items will be in perfect condition. At least that's what I'm telling myself.”
If I remember right, June 10th, the second to the last day of the school year, was a pretty good day. But I found it interesting while I reviewed my posts from this year to discover how many references to my day job were less than enthusiastic.
July 15
“Whew... tagged by a distracted driver at a stoplight, upcoming appointments with Abra and Enterprise in a couple weeks, and all I can say is good thing for auto insurance. Now just to shake the residual unsettled feelings that follow.”
I felt lucky at the time that my accident, for as much damage as there was to my car, hadn’t been any worse. I really had no idea just how lucky I had been.
August 22
“Last Friday of the summer. I don't know whether to cry or cry.”
It’s never easy to say goodbye to summer break. It was particularly rough this year.
September 25
“A morning walk that began under the stars and ended inside of the sunrise, listening to Peter Gabriel's "Ovo" album and thinking about my characters for an hour. A nice start to the day.”
I had been in a habit of taking early morning walks through my neighborhood this summer and autumn. It was a beautiful way to start the day, and turned out to be a great way to fire up my writing brain. I look forward picking up that routine again after winter runs its course.
October 17
“I haven't given Harry Potter a second thought in years, and now this week I can't stop watching the movies.”
The whole Harry Potter universe has been a reliable escape for me when I needed it. It was great serendipity that a Harry Potter movie marathon came on while I was dogsitting for my parents, and one of the dogs became very sick for a very long week, capped off with two visits to the emergency vet. The movie marathon was the perfect distraction right when I needed it. (And the dogs are both fine now, by the way.)
November 15
“Yeah...Garth who?”
This November Garth Brooks had a stretch of something like ten or eleven consecutive nights of concerts in the Cities, and so many people were posting photos of how they were getting all cowboy’d up on the night they were going to see him, it rivaled the frequency the Ice Bucket Challenge. Now, I have nothing against Garth Brooks. Seems like a nice guy. But I’m not a fan. So when Motley Crue came to St. Paul the same weekend Garth was playing in Minneapolis, I felt it was important to make sure people knew which side of the river I was on that night.
November 28
“So I wake up this morning and see this thing staring at me. No idea what it is or where it came from. I'm a little freaked out.”
The first Cinnamon post, back before I had any idea what the response would be like. In fact, before I even knew his name was Cinnamon.
December 14
“It may have taken six days longer than she had originally planned, but my sister finally made it home from work tonight.”
My sister was driving home from work one night and when her car was blindsided on the highway. She ended up in the hospital for nearly a week, and still has months of recovery ahead of her. Which is awful but also a blessing, since she was millimeters away from things being so much worse. I’ll say it again -- Thank God for 21st century medicine.
December 19
“The last day of school before winter break has always been one of my favorites. By this time in the year I've known my students long enough for them to become truly important to me, so the hyperactive and joyful tone of the day is more like riding a wave than trying to survive one as it crashes against me. The upcoming time away from school also helps me appreciate getting to work with so many talented and dedicated people, many of whom have become my good friends. For all of the stress and frustration that comes with the job, days like today serve as a reminder that things could be so much worse.”
I’ve been teaching for a long time now, so I’ve been around to see many different patterns and trends and philosophies and ideals cycle their way through the profession. As much as things change and as frustrating and discouraging as they can become, it’s always worth remembering that having both a great class and working with people you respect can make a tremendous difference in the best possible way.
And that puts a cap on 2014. As for 2015? Simply put, I can’t think of the last time I’ve had a year ahead of me with so little about it I felt I could predict.
I kind of like that.
January 28
“I don't mind saying it: Going back tomorrow to a full day meeting after having three of the last four school days off from the cold, and being somewhat limited in the amount of planning I'm able to do right now leaves me feeling a bit disoriented and apprehensive about the rest of the week.”
There was very little about the winter of 2014 that could be given a positive spin. To begin with, last January was historically, unreasonably cold. And if that wasn’t enough, the teachers’ union in our district was on Work to Rule for several weeks during prolonged contract negotiations. This fueled contentious moments of distraction for many people with different perspectives, and even being on the periphery of such things eventually took its toll on a lot of us.
February 20
“Nature is Lucy. Spring is the football. We're all Charlie Brown.”
The winter dragged on relentlessly. More than once we thought we could see the light at the end of the tunnel, only to be greeted the following morning by a twenty-degree temperature drop and eight fresh inches of snow on the ground. It was disheartening, to say the least.
March 16
“I found out today ‘Following Infinity’ made the cut for another writing contest. A boatload of agents who represent similar works will be looking over the excerpt I submitted in the next few days. This makes having to go back to school tomorrow a bit easier to take.”
The list of finalists in Brenda Drake’s Pitch Madness contest went live just as Spring Break came to an end. We’ll call the inclusion of this moment a bit of foreshadowing.
March 26
“1A. Nice.”
As if I haven’t had cancer intersect with my life enough times already, it showed up twice this year, in a friend of mine and in a family member -- the relieving diagnosis of 1A referring to the latter. I am so very happy to report that as the year closes they have both successfully completed their treatments, with neither person experiencing more than minimal complications or side effects. Thank God for 21st century medicine.
April 15
“I am unreasonably, ridiculously happy to share this news: I have accepted an offer of representation from Carrie Howland, a literary agent with Donadio & Olson, Inc. based in New York City. I have no question that my manuscript and my writing career are in the best of all possible hands. More detailed information to follow soon....”
There isn’t much more to say about this that I haven’t already covered elsewhere. But it is worth mentioning that receiving a vote of confidence like this, from not just any literary agent but from her, led me to discovering a new belief in my writing I hadn’t allowed myself to own before.
May 11
This blog post: Rock and Roll Grandmas
My cousins, my sister, and I had a great time conspiring to put together a Mother’s Day gift of a trip for two little old ladies to a big time Vegas rock show in the summer. I couldn’t be happier that everything came together as perfectly as it did.
June 10
“Today will be, without a doubt, a great day at school. None of our students will be hurt on the field trip, or explode into filthy-mouthed rants, or steal anything, or get suspended, or make their friends cry, or try to argue how it's really okay that they didn't leave their phones in the main office like they're supposed to because they aren't using them. Plus everyone who is supposed to return items checked out from the school will bring them back right away in the morning, and of course those items will be in perfect condition. At least that's what I'm telling myself.”
If I remember right, June 10th, the second to the last day of the school year, was a pretty good day. But I found it interesting while I reviewed my posts from this year to discover how many references to my day job were less than enthusiastic.
July 15
“Whew... tagged by a distracted driver at a stoplight, upcoming appointments with Abra and Enterprise in a couple weeks, and all I can say is good thing for auto insurance. Now just to shake the residual unsettled feelings that follow.”
I felt lucky at the time that my accident, for as much damage as there was to my car, hadn’t been any worse. I really had no idea just how lucky I had been.
August 22
“Last Friday of the summer. I don't know whether to cry or cry.”
It’s never easy to say goodbye to summer break. It was particularly rough this year.
September 25
“A morning walk that began under the stars and ended inside of the sunrise, listening to Peter Gabriel's "Ovo" album and thinking about my characters for an hour. A nice start to the day.”
I had been in a habit of taking early morning walks through my neighborhood this summer and autumn. It was a beautiful way to start the day, and turned out to be a great way to fire up my writing brain. I look forward picking up that routine again after winter runs its course.
October 17
“I haven't given Harry Potter a second thought in years, and now this week I can't stop watching the movies.”
The whole Harry Potter universe has been a reliable escape for me when I needed it. It was great serendipity that a Harry Potter movie marathon came on while I was dogsitting for my parents, and one of the dogs became very sick for a very long week, capped off with two visits to the emergency vet. The movie marathon was the perfect distraction right when I needed it. (And the dogs are both fine now, by the way.)
November 15
“Yeah...Garth who?”
This November Garth Brooks had a stretch of something like ten or eleven consecutive nights of concerts in the Cities, and so many people were posting photos of how they were getting all cowboy’d up on the night they were going to see him, it rivaled the frequency the Ice Bucket Challenge. Now, I have nothing against Garth Brooks. Seems like a nice guy. But I’m not a fan. So when Motley Crue came to St. Paul the same weekend Garth was playing in Minneapolis, I felt it was important to make sure people knew which side of the river I was on that night.
November 28
“So I wake up this morning and see this thing staring at me. No idea what it is or where it came from. I'm a little freaked out.”
The first Cinnamon post, back before I had any idea what the response would be like. In fact, before I even knew his name was Cinnamon.
December 14
“It may have taken six days longer than she had originally planned, but my sister finally made it home from work tonight.”
My sister was driving home from work one night and when her car was blindsided on the highway. She ended up in the hospital for nearly a week, and still has months of recovery ahead of her. Which is awful but also a blessing, since she was millimeters away from things being so much worse. I’ll say it again -- Thank God for 21st century medicine.
December 19
“The last day of school before winter break has always been one of my favorites. By this time in the year I've known my students long enough for them to become truly important to me, so the hyperactive and joyful tone of the day is more like riding a wave than trying to survive one as it crashes against me. The upcoming time away from school also helps me appreciate getting to work with so many talented and dedicated people, many of whom have become my good friends. For all of the stress and frustration that comes with the job, days like today serve as a reminder that things could be so much worse.”
I’ve been teaching for a long time now, so I’ve been around to see many different patterns and trends and philosophies and ideals cycle their way through the profession. As much as things change and as frustrating and discouraging as they can become, it’s always worth remembering that having both a great class and working with people you respect can make a tremendous difference in the best possible way.
And that puts a cap on 2014. As for 2015? Simply put, I can’t think of the last time I’ve had a year ahead of me with so little about it I felt I could predict.
I kind of like that.
Thursday, December 25, 2014
The Conclusion of the Cinnamon Invasion
Day 22
I find this sign on the garage door when backing out to go to school this morning. I hope Cinnamon has a good hiding spot picked out. His days are looking numbered.
My day goes on without as much as a passing thought toward Cinnamon and his shenanigans. I walk out to the mailbox when I get home and find out that now it seems mail addressed to Cinnamon -- from someone who knows him primarily by his Elven name -- is being delivered to my house. Today he received what could be fairly described as a threatening jigsaw puzzle. As a result, his stress level is very high this evening.
Day 23
The arrival of that puzzle last night really got to Cinnamon. I find him sitting back in the sun room this morning, exhausted from trying to shed his anxiety and frustration all night.
"I thought squeezing this tennis ball was supposed to help me get rid of my stress!" he shouts with his demented cartoon chipmunk voice. "It isn't working!"
"Now, you do realize you're sitting in the sun room," I point out, "and you're surrounded by windows, and anyone looking for you would be able to see exactly where you are?"
He closes his stupid plastic eyes and lets the ball roll to the floor. "I don't think it makes a difference anymore," he says, sounding utterly defeated.
Day 24
When I didn't see Cinnamon this morning, I knew better than to hope he had moved on. He hadn't really bounced back from his depressive spiral yesterday and this concerned me; not because I was worried about him, but I didn't want anything damaging going on inside my house.
I began to hear a quiet, low-pitched rumble in the middle of the afternoon. It almost sounded like a poorly-maintained engine idling somewhere down the street, but whenever I stepped outside to try and figure out what it was, it would stop. After some careful exploration, I figured out it was coming from my grandmother's piano, almost as if it were alive and breathing. Then I noticed the hat.
"Why? Are you in the piano?" I ask. He doesn't respond. I slam my palm down on an octave of keys and hear him skittering awake.
"What? What?" he screeches. Raw panic. I don't think he could tell he was trapped in place by the hat. I let him struggle there for a few moments, enjoying the sound of his fright more than I care to admit.
"WHY ARE YOU IN THE PIANO?" I shout.
"What time is it?" he whispers.
"Late afternoon, almost sunset," I said. "Why could you possibly care?"
"I thought over what you said yesterday, about hiding places," he answers. "Today is the Winter Solstice. I need a good hiding place now more than ever before."
"Because?"
"Because?" he repeats, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Because? You really can't be this stupid. The Winter Solstice is the longest night of the year, which almost means it's the darkest day of the year. For Dark Elves, this is the day when our powers are the most...heightened."
"Really. And your smiley-faced elf powers are so mighty that you need to hide in a ninety-year-old piano."
"There's only one of me," he finally replies. "There are more of them."
"So I'm guessing you don't get along with the other elves very well."
"They aren't all elves," he says. "It's a guild. The elves just lead it. Or at least we had at one time. I really don't know anymore. Now, please just leave me alone. One way or another you'll be rid of me soon."
And I think, Not soon enough.
Day 25
I left the house early to finally get my Christmas shopping done. It went fast, so I was home sooner than expected. I walk in with my packages to the sound of bloodcurdling shrieks.
"Help me, please!" Cinnamon screams. "They've found me! They're here in the house RIGHT NOW!" I see him sprawled on the floor, restrained in a manner which gives me a moment of pause.
"Where are they?" I ask, setting down my gifts and hurrying into the living room, searching.
"I think...there's only...one," he replies, the strain in his voice evident. I rush down the hallway, more than ready to finally put an end to all of this ridiculousness. No sign of anything or anyone. Just as I turn back I hear a loud grunt and a painful cry. By the time I return to the kitchen, he's gone.
"You shouldn't have done that." A menacing voice fills the room. "Coming in when you did surprised me. You gave him the moment of distraction he needed for escape."
"Yeah, did I?" I answer. "Well, your problem, not mine."
"Unless I decide to make it your problem," came the amused reply.
"Seriously?" I say. "I've had that little freak taking over my life for the past month, and now you really think I'm going to put up with whatever YOU are? Show yourself!"
A figure rises from behind a chair. Twenty-five days ago this sight would have had my jaw dropping to the floor. But now?
"Of course," I say. "You. It makes perfect sense now."
"We'll continue this later," I hear as it vanishes, the sound of the voice trailing off into nothing like dissipating smoke.
Day 26
I'm awake much too early. There's an unfamiliar sound coming from the living room, and immediately I know something is wrong. I stagger out of bed and down the hall. As both promised and threatened yesterday, she's back.
I'm in no mood for this. "What?"
"Where is he?" she asks.
"I don't know, and I don't care. Just get out of my house. I never had any purpose for an elf, and I surely don't have one for a doll."
"Doll?" Evil laughter follows. "I am no doll. This is merely the appearance I chose to get his attention. I needed a way in here so I could watch him closely." She pauses. "What it it with so many of you males, by the way? All it takes is long hair and a short skirt, and your brains shut down. It's quite pathetic, really."
"So if you've been here all this time...."
She anticipates my question. "I've stayed hidden in that chest filled with the Legos your nephews used to love so much, waiting for the proper moment. I tried going after him several times but was never strong enough to act on my own until the Winter Solstice. Clavicus may have evaded us for the time being, but he knows his days are numbered. And there are several of his brethren around the country that need to be dealt with before Christmas arrives. With my powers at their current peak, I'm needed on other fronts. This may be the last time we see each other, unless he's fool enough to come back here. And if he does, you'd best beware." With a flash of light she was gone.
I went back to bed, hoping this bizarre Christmas toy civil war going on around me was only a dream. If Cinnamon showed his face today, he'd better have some answers.
Day 27
No sign of Cinnamon or Evil Barbie for over 24 hours. Part of me hopes he got away, just because she was so awful and I'd rather not see her win. But on the other hand, considering everything that's happened this month...I don't know he wouldn't deserve whatever he had coming. I keep thinking back to how I never actually heard anything like a slamming door when he broke free the other day. If he did get away, I'm not sure how far he would have made it.
I step out to get the morning paper and see shredded red fuzz scattered around the doormat. No hat, no bits of Cinnamon anywhere. Did he only make it this far before she found him, or is this the sign of another struggle from which he narrowly escaped? Knowing his tenacity, I suspect he's still out there somewhere. But with Christmas Eve only hours away and the Season of the Elf rapidly coming to an end, I can only wonder.
I find this sign on the garage door when backing out to go to school this morning. I hope Cinnamon has a good hiding spot picked out. His days are looking numbered.
My day goes on without as much as a passing thought toward Cinnamon and his shenanigans. I walk out to the mailbox when I get home and find out that now it seems mail addressed to Cinnamon -- from someone who knows him primarily by his Elven name -- is being delivered to my house. Today he received what could be fairly described as a threatening jigsaw puzzle. As a result, his stress level is very high this evening.
Day 23
The arrival of that puzzle last night really got to Cinnamon. I find him sitting back in the sun room this morning, exhausted from trying to shed his anxiety and frustration all night.
"I thought squeezing this tennis ball was supposed to help me get rid of my stress!" he shouts with his demented cartoon chipmunk voice. "It isn't working!"
"Now, you do realize you're sitting in the sun room," I point out, "and you're surrounded by windows, and anyone looking for you would be able to see exactly where you are?"
He closes his stupid plastic eyes and lets the ball roll to the floor. "I don't think it makes a difference anymore," he says, sounding utterly defeated.
Day 24
When I didn't see Cinnamon this morning, I knew better than to hope he had moved on. He hadn't really bounced back from his depressive spiral yesterday and this concerned me; not because I was worried about him, but I didn't want anything damaging going on inside my house.
I began to hear a quiet, low-pitched rumble in the middle of the afternoon. It almost sounded like a poorly-maintained engine idling somewhere down the street, but whenever I stepped outside to try and figure out what it was, it would stop. After some careful exploration, I figured out it was coming from my grandmother's piano, almost as if it were alive and breathing. Then I noticed the hat.
"Why? Are you in the piano?" I ask. He doesn't respond. I slam my palm down on an octave of keys and hear him skittering awake.
"What? What?" he screeches. Raw panic. I don't think he could tell he was trapped in place by the hat. I let him struggle there for a few moments, enjoying the sound of his fright more than I care to admit.
"WHY ARE YOU IN THE PIANO?" I shout.
"What time is it?" he whispers.
"Late afternoon, almost sunset," I said. "Why could you possibly care?"
"I thought over what you said yesterday, about hiding places," he answers. "Today is the Winter Solstice. I need a good hiding place now more than ever before."
"Because?"
"Because?" he repeats, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Because? You really can't be this stupid. The Winter Solstice is the longest night of the year, which almost means it's the darkest day of the year. For Dark Elves, this is the day when our powers are the most...heightened."
"Really. And your smiley-faced elf powers are so mighty that you need to hide in a ninety-year-old piano."
"There's only one of me," he finally replies. "There are more of them."
"So I'm guessing you don't get along with the other elves very well."
"They aren't all elves," he says. "It's a guild. The elves just lead it. Or at least we had at one time. I really don't know anymore. Now, please just leave me alone. One way or another you'll be rid of me soon."
And I think, Not soon enough.
Day 25
I left the house early to finally get my Christmas shopping done. It went fast, so I was home sooner than expected. I walk in with my packages to the sound of bloodcurdling shrieks.
"Help me, please!" Cinnamon screams. "They've found me! They're here in the house RIGHT NOW!" I see him sprawled on the floor, restrained in a manner which gives me a moment of pause.
"Where are they?" I ask, setting down my gifts and hurrying into the living room, searching.
"I think...there's only...one," he replies, the strain in his voice evident. I rush down the hallway, more than ready to finally put an end to all of this ridiculousness. No sign of anything or anyone. Just as I turn back I hear a loud grunt and a painful cry. By the time I return to the kitchen, he's gone.
"You shouldn't have done that." A menacing voice fills the room. "Coming in when you did surprised me. You gave him the moment of distraction he needed for escape."
"Yeah, did I?" I answer. "Well, your problem, not mine."
"Unless I decide to make it your problem," came the amused reply.
"Seriously?" I say. "I've had that little freak taking over my life for the past month, and now you really think I'm going to put up with whatever YOU are? Show yourself!"
A figure rises from behind a chair. Twenty-five days ago this sight would have had my jaw dropping to the floor. But now?
"Of course," I say. "You. It makes perfect sense now."
"We'll continue this later," I hear as it vanishes, the sound of the voice trailing off into nothing like dissipating smoke.
Day 26
I'm awake much too early. There's an unfamiliar sound coming from the living room, and immediately I know something is wrong. I stagger out of bed and down the hall. As both promised and threatened yesterday, she's back.
I'm in no mood for this. "What?"
"Where is he?" she asks.
"I don't know, and I don't care. Just get out of my house. I never had any purpose for an elf, and I surely don't have one for a doll."
"Doll?" Evil laughter follows. "I am no doll. This is merely the appearance I chose to get his attention. I needed a way in here so I could watch him closely." She pauses. "What it it with so many of you males, by the way? All it takes is long hair and a short skirt, and your brains shut down. It's quite pathetic, really."
"So if you've been here all this time...."
She anticipates my question. "I've stayed hidden in that chest filled with the Legos your nephews used to love so much, waiting for the proper moment. I tried going after him several times but was never strong enough to act on my own until the Winter Solstice. Clavicus may have evaded us for the time being, but he knows his days are numbered. And there are several of his brethren around the country that need to be dealt with before Christmas arrives. With my powers at their current peak, I'm needed on other fronts. This may be the last time we see each other, unless he's fool enough to come back here. And if he does, you'd best beware." With a flash of light she was gone.
I went back to bed, hoping this bizarre Christmas toy civil war going on around me was only a dream. If Cinnamon showed his face today, he'd better have some answers.
Day 27
No sign of Cinnamon or Evil Barbie for over 24 hours. Part of me hopes he got away, just because she was so awful and I'd rather not see her win. But on the other hand, considering everything that's happened this month...I don't know he wouldn't deserve whatever he had coming. I keep thinking back to how I never actually heard anything like a slamming door when he broke free the other day. If he did get away, I'm not sure how far he would have made it.
I step out to get the morning paper and see shredded red fuzz scattered around the doormat. No hat, no bits of Cinnamon anywhere. Did he only make it this far before she found him, or is this the sign of another struggle from which he narrowly escaped? Knowing his tenacity, I suspect he's still out there somewhere. But with Christmas Eve only hours away and the Season of the Elf rapidly coming to an end, I can only wonder.
THE END
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