Savvy does not let go of Mars’ hand, and that is a good thing. It’s a very disorienting thing—to stand in deep darkness. Mars thinks the sound of the theater is swallowed up, too, but then she hears breathing and whispering. Savvy squeezes her hand again. “Mars, Mars, Mars?” She whispers and squeezes in time.
“Hi, Savvy,” Mars answers and squeezes back.
Mars assumes nothing has changed about where they are. As much as the darkness takes over space, Mars can tell they are still in the big, big theater. The more she listens, the more attune she is to the vibe of waiting. It is so, so intense. She feels her butterflies, and Savvy’s hand tremble in her hand, and their breathing together. There is something scary and also amazing. She’s never felt anything like it before.
Another gong from the bell pierces the darkness. Mars experiences it with a jolt. But then, light comes, and it is brilliant.
Two tall, wide doors open in the back of the theater. The movement sends vibrations through the floor. As they open, light slices through the deep darkness and slowly floods into the room. As the light spills in and the cheers from the crowd fill the space, Mars can see the elaborate carvings on the doors—a whirl of swirl of vegetables, meats, herbs, and baked things, with the ribbons and bells from all the other carvings she had seen.
And then she can smell it.
The smell of good, good food floods in with the light. Whatever it is she is smelling, Mars wants to eat it. All of it. Savvy squeezes her hand so hard it is feeling numb. The bell gongs again. The doors fully open, the crowd cheers, then Jerome’s bell gongs one more time. Mars marvels at the change of the room as the bell’s vibration retreats and the door’s vibration stops. What remains is the stillness of a growing silence.
The light that spills into the theater is enough to illuminate everyone in a soft light. Mars can see the crowd of elves on its feet. They are hushing, turning their attention to the open doors and the wide, long aisle sloping downward from the threshold to the stage. There, the girls stand on their tippy toes, stretch their necks, and squint into the bright light. “Can you see anything?” Savvy whispers. Mars shakes her head.
They hear two heavy stomps from beyond their view, then a banging of something on the floor. There is only the sound. Mars can’t see anything. Then there are two more stomps and two more bangs. A shadow emerges in the doorway. A tall, stout elf broad of shoulders and built like a mountain, marches into the room. He stands resplendent with a high-tufted chef’s hat of glittering gold fabric with glorious onyx swirling around it. He wears a tunic and belt to match, with bright white pants wide and wavy. The girls can’t help themselves, letting out an “ohhh” and an “ahhh” at the sight of him.
He marches to the middle of the aisle, stops, then brings a gloriously shiny golden whistle to his lips, which he blows three times. The sound of hundreds of feet marching in unison booms from beyond the door and into the room. Elves of every shape and size, as resplendently dressed as their leader, march down the aisle. Each carries a tray of mugs, tall and frothing, foggy from their coldness in the hot and crowded room. Mars has to lean forward and look more closely. The elves don’t march in. They groove in, swaying to the beat they make with their feet. Mars watches those trays move and sway, the mugs staying in place, not a single drop spilling.
Mars guesses that the tall elf must be the leader of the Chef Corps. He takes the stage as his chef elves line both sides of the aisle from top to bottom. Facing the aisle, their backs to the audience, the chefs hold their trays level. When all have taken their places, the room falls reverently silent.
“What now?” Savvy whispers to Mars. Mars shrugs. How can she even guess?
The Chef Corp elf looks down at the two of them, and laughs a deep, single laugh. They shrink a little. He’s so tall. Taller than Tiffany and Jerome! But then he winks at them and whispers, “Watch this.”
What else can they do but lean forward and watch?
“Let the last elf enter,” He says to the door, his voice filling the room. The room stays silent, as if the elves are holding their breaths. Mars notices she is holding hers. She doesn’t hear Savvy breathe, either.
The shadow of the last elf appears in the bright doorway. She isn’t terribly tall, but the black twists towering atop her head are enough to make up for that. The twists on her head are tied up beautifully in red and white ribbons. Oversized bells hang from her ears, their silver shining and twinkling against her deep brown skin. She wears a tunic unlike anyone else’s, purple, long, and regal. She wears shoes that twinkle and match her too-cool glasses, which frame expressive eyes with long lashes. The woman walks down the long aisle, smiling and nodding at elves who catch her eye. People whisper excitedly or even cheer as she walks by. The head chef bangs his staff on the stage when she draws near. She steps onto the stage with a most dignified air that Mars wants to copy when she grows up.
“Big Sister Jessica, the Family is ready for you. Will you lead us?” The chef elf asks, his voice still ceremonial and proud.
There is no answer when there should be an answer. Jessica stands silently, getting a good long look at Mars and Savvy. Mars doesn’t know if she should shrink back a bit or stand taller. She remembers what Mama Claus said, so she raises her chin and meets Jessica’s gaze. She tries to smile and not be nervous.
Jessica smiles back. It’s a genuine smile, not the fake one adults wear sometimes. Jessica’s whole face warms up, too, as though she has learned something about Mars and Savvy in that moment and is pleased. Mars feels good about that. Then she realizes she is on her tippy-toes again. She lowers herself and tries not to let her cheeks puff in embarrassment. When Jessica turns to look at Jerome, he stands at attention. She smirks and says, “Mmmhmmm” the way mamas do when they catch you doing something and can’t decide whether they are angry or proud of you. Tiffany and the head chef elf snicker.
With hands raised, Jessica turns to the theater as she proclaims, “The time has come to give our Thanks.”
The audience, from center stage to the back of the room and all portions in-between, responded in unison: “And we shall give it. We are prepared.”
She begins. “We thank the backs that carry the load.”
The audience responds, “Thank you brothers, thank you sisters.”
And they continue:
“We thank the minds that make the plans.”
“We thank the legs that run the errands.”
“We thank the mouths that provide direction.”
“We thank the eyes that confirm our success.”
“We thank the ears that honor our stories.”
“We thank the hands that sustain this body.”
“And we thank this body for its power and grace.”
“Every part plays a role. Every part makes the whole.”
Jessica pauses with a smile and a sigh. The entire room exhales. Then she says, “Greet your family.”
From respectful silence, the room breaks into wide-armed hugs and kisses on the cheek. Mars and Savvy watch, stepping back as the elves on stage greet each other. Mars can hear the elves whispering to each other, “Merry Christmas. Peace and Prosperity to you in the new year.” This happens for a while, with elves leaving their seats and rows to seek as many as possible to greet and embrace.
The elves sweep the girls up in the greetings, some joining them on stage to wish them a Merry Christmas, many leaning down to give them hugs. It takes a minute for Mars and Savvy to find their way back to Jerome in the middle of the stage.
“Merry Christmas, Jerome,” Mars says.
“Be productive this year!” Savvy says with a wink and a giggle. Mars gives her a little shove with a sigh.
Jessica steps into their circle, tall and powerful and serious. Jerome stands up straight, trying his best to look innocent, even as he is clearly standing next to two human children. Mars wants to laugh at the way he looks, but Jessica clears her throat to get their attention. She speaks to both girls in that way adults do sometimes—a warm but in-charge way. “What a wonderful gift it is to have such lovely young ladies join us for Christmas dinner!”
Savvy grabs Mars’s hand again. Mars’s butterflies return. They both smile at Jessica, but don’t say anything while trying to mirror her seriousness. It doesn’t seem like the moment to be little girls. They both try to be as big as they can. Jessica smiles in approval again, then turns to Jerome. Jerome’s smile drains away. She puts a hand on his shoulder.
“Jerome,” she says, “you’re a great Liaison. I know you worked really hard to get here. I even admire your choices and how much you love these two girls. That’s why it’s so hard for me to do what I must, but it’s my job and duty: Jerome, you broke the rule that matters most. We can’t bring the world’s children here. I’m sorry, but we will need to reassign you after the break. You’ll remain Savina’s Liaison until you bring these precious girls to Papa Claus. Then we’ll find a more suitable job for you.”
The girls gasp. Until that moment, Mars thought that maybe getting the award would mean Jerome was forgiven. Or maybe everyone would just forget because it’s Christmas and Christmas is for forgetting serious things. Why would they give him that big award and celebrate him just to snatch away his job? She shakes her head and opens her mouth to say something, but then Savvy lets go of her hand and takes a step toward Jessica. “But it’s not his fault! I made the wish that got us here! This was about my—”
“—Savina. Please. It’s okay.”
Jerome is the one who stops her. He isn’t sharp, but his tone is firm. It is time to listen and follow directions. Mars frowns, but steps up to stand next to her friend, take her hand, and be solid for her. Savvy is silent, but she bends her knees and bobs up and down. Mars feels her shake, watches her bite her lip, and breathing fast. Mars doesn’t squeeze her friend’s hand. She just stands solid and still and breathes evenly to help Savvy feel steady again.
Both adults watch calmly, but then turn to each other after a moment. Jerome nods at Jessica. “I understand, Ma’am.”
Jessica nods back, then steps around the shocked little group of three without saying another word. Jerome turns to follow her, his bell from the Warm Heart Award still in hand. Around the theater, elves still give hugs and Christmas greetings. Slowly, they make their way back to their seats. Anticipation for the next Christmas event fills the air again.
The girls stare at Jerome’s and Jessica’s backs. Jessica stands relaxed and ready, her arms clasped behind her back, her head swiveling back and forth as her eyes scan the crowd. Jerome stands as straight and tall as he can, not so relaxed, but waiting. Savvy sniffles and shakes. Mars feels ok to squeeze her hand now. She wants to say so many words to Savvy, to remind her they are ok, that they have each other, and that they have Jerome with them for a little bit longer.
Just ahead, Jessica turns to the head chef, who pounds his staff on the stage three times. His voice booms through the noise of the crowd. “Dinner is served!”