Holly Kane picked up the contents slipped into the mail slot in her front door and deposited them on her hall table. "Hi, girls," she yelled up the stairs. Like most days, she heard no response.
After dealing with them as a single parent for almost a decade, she should have this whole family dynamic down by now. However, she still had to drag even simple answers from her two young daughters. She loved them with her whole heart, but they were so much easier before puberty kicked in.
Kelly, the older one, finally meandered in from the kitchen. "Hey, Ma. What's for dinner?"
"What kind of a greeting is that? You're supposed to say, 'Hello, Mother. How was your day?' or some such perky small talk. Besides, wasn't it your turn to fix something tonight?"
"I traded with the brat a couple days ago. She's upstairs doing some kind of assignment with Jackie. They've been on her phone since she got home." The teen shook her head. "You never should have given her that phone. I told you she was too young. In fact, I called Ashleigh the other day to say that exact thing."
Holly just rolled her eyes. "Well, can you un-trade, just for me? In case you wanted to know, I had a horrible day, one I don't want to talk about."
"Can't tonight. I have to head over to Ashleigh's to study. Big history test tomorrow. Why don't we phone for pizza?"
"You're mighty generous with my money. Maybe you'd like to buy sometime."
"Like, I have any money. I can't earn money without, like, a job." After a moment's hesitation, the girl added, "I might just ask Grandma for my Christmas present a little early. She's always good for twenty bucks or so."
Holly sighed. "Have you even thought about working?"
"No one hires 15 year olds for anything but babysitting. And I have to do that for free for the brat." Kelly flashed her big brown doe eyes at her mother. "I could get a real job if I quit school. Can I? Please?"
"Of course not. Besides, I thought you liked high school. And who gave you the stupid idea to quit in the first place?"
"Well, you did…to have me."
Holly swallowed hard. "That was different. And I went back to get my GED."
"And that's where you met Dad and you fell in love and got married and had the brat…Yeah, I've heard that story before. Can't we just order the pizza? Ashleigh's waiting."
Holly smiled at her daughter. "Sure, sweetie. Let me see if we got any coupons today. In the meantime, fetch your sister down here."
"All right, Ma…I mean, yes, Mother." She turned on her heel and started calling, "Here girl. Here girl."
While Kelly headed upstairs, Holly sorted through the mail. Three bills, a throwaway paper without local coupons, and an advertising postcard. Nothing useful.
Holly rarely worried about money. Her husband, Greg, had life insurance in place when his plane disappeared. The policies paid off the house, created college and trust accounts for both girls, and left his grieving widow with enough to never require Holly to work again.
In the subsequent nine years since the disappearance, never a “crash” in Holly's vocabulary, the three Kane females had lived a fairly simple life. Nothing too extravagant. Holly continued working in the bookstore (for the fun of it, she claimed) and playing single parent as the girls grew up.
Kelly favored her mother, so much so that some strangers mistook them as twins. They were both short, barely five foot, and rounded but not overly so. They both wore their mousy brown hair cut short. Kelly pestered her mother to let them grow it out a little, but Holly insisted the teen having the bob she wore since a child. For clothes, they both frequented the second hand thrift places, not worried about the latest trends. Holly occasionally borrowed something from Kelly, usually to the girl's chagrin. The bluster between them was mostly for show. Holly was just happy her daughter finally hit her puberty growth spurt. In fact, the girl could almost fit in her mom's bra if she wanted.
On the other hand, Riley, also known in their household as the brat, was different, looking much more like Greg. She had bright red hair, just like his only hanging down her back in braids. At least she didn't have his beer gut at 12. Her limbs were long and gangly, her body almost flat like a board. While that helped her in sports, it also made her attractive to the more athletic boys in her class. Holly was just waiting for that hormonal spurt for her preteen to star in basketball.
Holly had put both girls on birth control right after their first period. Not because of sex, heaven forbid, but to help with their skin. She herself had terrible acne as a kid and wanted their faces to remain wholesome.
Greg loved both girls, but especially Kelly who wasn't his biologically. He adopted her as soon as they married and before Riley was born. He never asked Holly about the one-night seduction or what happened to the man she only knew as a family friend named Nick.
The mere thought of that stranger from the past made her pussy tingle, even now. That night he made her feel like a princess. Just from his charisma, she would have given him everything she had. As it was, he claimed her virginity and nine long months later, she bore his child. Yet, even with the remorse she harbored, if he came back into her life, she'd do it all again.
Focusing back on the mail, and not her daydream, Holly tossed the trash and put the bills in the pile for later. Then she looked at the card, all green and red with golden lettering. "The Complete Santa eXperience," it read. "Four weekends only. Fun for those 4 to 14. Family sessions and sleepovers available."
All that sounded good, except for the assumption that teenagers would be interested in Santa. Most hadn't believed in years.
"Relive Your Happiest Christmas Seasons."
I wish I could, thought Holly. Riley would have loved those days.
"Wanted 15-17 y.o. for Elf Duty. No experience necessary. We will train you."
That last line caught Holly's eye. This was like killing two birds with one stone. She would pay good money to see her older daughter parading around in a fancy elf costume, helping out the big guy. It was probably a position like crowd control, moving the kids through the picture line. On the bright side, it would provide an iota of experience on her resume. Better than babysitting the local rug rats.
"Oh, girls, come down here now. I have something to show you."
Holly's presentation to the girls lasted thirty-eight seconds, barely enough time to read the postcard aloud. That was quite long enough for Riley to start jumping for joy. She would do anything as an excuse for a sleepover.
Kelly took a minute longer. She needed to find a pencil and paper to copy down the address along with the times for elf interviews. 25 St. Nicolas Road. Sounded easy enough. And better than dropping out of school. Besides, she always looked her best dressed in green.
Holly smiled at the prospect. It had been years since the girls spent time together. This experience would be like a family-building exercise.
After devouring the pepperoni and pineapple pizza, Riley's favorite kind, she headed upstairs to bed. She had already finished her homework and prepped for her math test. That allowed her free time. That meant calling her BFF Chloe McMann again.
"Hey, Chloe," she said flopped out on her bed.
"Hi, Riles. What's up?"
"Do you remember when we got the orange balm at the mall?"
"Oh yeah," said Chloe with a sigh. "When I put it on my lips, I swear I heard voices telling me all kinds of…sexy things to do."
Riley giggled. "That's funny I thought the same thing. I mentioned it to my sister, and she said I was going schitzo or something. Anyway, I filled out the information card about the slumber party hosting place. Today my mom got an answer. I think we might have one."
Both girls screamed into their phones.
"When?" asked Chloe when they settled down.
"If we do have a party, it'll probably be for my birthday the week after Thanksgiving."
"I don't know if I can wait that long."
"So what do you want to do about it?"
Riley pulled her shirt off exposing her bare chest. "I'm too hot, so I'm stripping."
"Good idea. I am too."
Riley rolled over and reached into her nightstand, pulling out the plastic tube. "I got the orange balm."
"I got my strawberry one."
Riley twisted opened the cap and squeezed a glob out. Instead of putting it on her lips, she applied it to her right nipple, slowly rubbing it in. Between gasps, she told her BFF what she had done. "Oh, that feels good."
"I've got to try that," said Chloe. "Oh, Gawd, Riles, it does."
Riley closed her eyes and imagined her best friend caressing herself on the other end of the phone. Only a month ago, neither girl would have dreamed about touching themselves. But a trip to the mall and their purchases from that little pop-up store had change that. Now, at least for Riley, applying the goopy goo made her body tingle. Her mind blanked and if someone wanted to control her, she'd do anything in that state.
They wanted to sleepover together, but so far their mothers couldn't come up with a free weekend. That's why this party was so important.
"I feel so peaceful," said Riley. "I wish I were with you, in your arms."
"I do too. It's like living on a cloud. Oh yeah, this is the life, Riles." The silence while the girls enjoyed their repose ended with Chloe's shout. "Mom!"
"Chloe, what are you doing?" said the loud voice from the phone.
"Gotta go," said Chloe as the phone went silent.
Riley clicked her phone off and closed her eyes again. I wonder what the slumber party place looks like, she thought. I bet we'll have so much fun.
It was Tuesday after school when Kelly walked into the former Alpha Suites building on St. Nicholas Street. She had ridden her old bike, the same rickety one her mother pedaled way back on her tenth birthday. Paint peeled and rust overtook the frame. She was the laughingstock of the ninth grade, but it beat being dropped off by her mom. Besides it was only a year until she could take her driver's test.
Kelly had never been in that neighborhood before. The company filed for bankruptcy three years previously and no one showed any interest in a small hotel located a bit out of the way in the dodgy part of town.
As she bravely walked from the bike rack, three mattress company delivery trucks pulled up, parking out front next to the Party Hearty rental truck. A steady stream of people carried supplies from the trucks into the building.
Kelly entered the former hotel through a revolving door. She had loved them as a kid, trying to catch her sister, the brat, between the panels. Usually that brought a time out from her mother, but it was well worth it.
In the lobby, delivery people scurried around like huge assembly lines, their movements replaced their predecessor just as those behind them filled in theirs. She counted them: one, two, three, four. The mattresses crowded into the elevator before the doors closed. As it rose, its mate opened to repeat the process.
Someone cranked up the air conditioning, making Kelly shiver a little. She regretted not wearing her bra under her knit shirt. Her nipples puckered up with the indoor temperature lower than the nice November weather outside.
On three story high ladders, people strung strings of lights, garland, paper banners, and snow flake streamers across the ceiling. Another group struggled to hoist a huge sleigh along with a team of eight tiny reindeer between the front desk and the staircase to the third floor.
The lobby was only partially decorated, yet already it looked festive.
One man, short in stature and dressed in a red bow tie and green polo shirt, stood on the front desk and appeared to be directing the controlled mayhem. Kelly decided to ask him where to go.
"Please, tell me you're with pool maintenance," he said as she approached.
"No, I'm just a kid. Actually, I want to be an elf."
"A lofty goal for one so young. Let's see." He climbed down and gave her a thorough scan, walking around her three times. "Well, I like what I see. Great potential. You're hired."
"Really?"
"Well, no," he said as he chuckled. "Smart yet so very naïve yet. My dear, you have to go through the formal interview process first. But as far as I'm concerned, you meet the basic qualification."
"What's that?"
"You would fit in an elf suit." With that, he climbed back up on the counter. "Are you still here?" he asked.
"Well, I'm not sure where to go. For an interview, that is."
"Elf interviews are second floor, room 214. I suggest the stairs, the elevators seem to be occupied today. And tell them Mr. Manx recommends you."
"Thanks, Mr. Manx."
Ignoring his advice, she hitched a ride with room painters in the elevator. These were not just people tossing white on the walls. They were covered in red and green, carrying stencils for making the wall into art.
"Having designs like that in the room sounds so cool," said the girl as she exited on the second floor. She hated the boring white, or worse, beige walls of most hotels.
Kelly headed for room 214, passing the entrances to the indoor pool and the garden spa. She hoped elves got time off to spend and enjoy those places.
When she arrived at the room, she found it almost empty. It contained precisely one desk, three chairs, one of which was behind the desk, and no people. "Hello?" she said with a quaking voice to no one in particular. She was in luck. No one answered her.
She headed for the desk and took a seat in a chair. From that vantage point, she saw a sign opposite the desk that read, "Ask Santa for…"
"What the fuck." She glanced around the room to see if anyone heard her swear. She rarely said that word outside of her bedroom. Only inside the bedroom of her friend Ashleigh's, and then she used it as a verb. She was relieved when nothing happened.
Feeling a bit foolish, she asked, "Santa, can I have an interview for the elf job?" Then she added, "Mr. Manx sent me."
No sooner had the words left her mouth, but a side door she hadn't noticed before swung open. A small man in a long maroon suit jacket entered the room, circled behind the desk and took a seat on the chair there. Without looking up, he said, "I'm Digby. Hope you haven't been waiting long. I've been backed up all day."
Kelly simply stared at him, her mouth wide open.
"Miss? Miss? Are you all right? Are you dead?"
"Are…are you a real elf?" she asked.
He glared at her. "My dear, that is rude. You know quite well real elves don't exist. And even then, we are rarely called upon to renovate a hotel. However, a bright girl like you knew that, did you not?"
"Well, yes, I guess, but…" Kelly took a deep breath, having blown the interview. "Just forget I said anything," she said. "Please give me a second chance."
"You haven't had a first one yet. As for me, I'm just a little short with everyone. So much to do and so short a time, you know." The short man shook his head. "They simply refuse to move Christmas to some less busy month like February. All over some nonsensical reason like…tradition. It drives me bonkers."
"I'm sorry."
"Well, my rant's over, time to move on. Now, what is your name?"
"Kelly. Kelly Kane."
"Ah, a girl with three names." Digby typed something into the computer. "Hmm. Do you have any experience as an elf?"
"No," she said, giggling.
"Too bad." He typed something else into his computer. "And you had your heart set on being an elf, didn't you?"
"Does that mean…?" All the color drained from her face.
"Yes. It means you must start as an elf trainee."
"What the hell does that mean?" Realizing what she said, she tried to apologize. "Sorry."
"Perfectly all right. Just never in front of minors. It is the quickest way to get on the Naughty List. The penalties are stiff there, but the penance can be enjoyable." The small man smiled in a creepy way. "Now where was I?"
Kelly shrugged her shoulders.
"Oh yes. The elf trainee. We all have to start somewhere. Not everyone can work with the big guy right away. He is kind of peculiar, or is it particular, I can never remember the difference, about whom he associates with. As an elf trainee, you will have to attend two training sessions before Thanksgiving. Both are unpaid, of course. Then you can spend a week serving as an apprentice elf to make sure there are no slip ups. I notice that you do have a…language issue."
"Okay. I guess I can start there."
He pushed a button and three papers printed and fell into Kelly's lap. "Read these and sign them. If you're under 16, a parent must initial them also." He shook his finger at her. "Don't even think of forging a signature. Santa would know and put you on the Naughty List. Worse than swearing in front of a minor."
"Come on. Is there really a Naughty List?"
"Santa really compiles one of those. Of course, as you grow older, he grades more on a curve. And once you're an elf, you might get better duties."
"Like what kind of duties?"
The little man stood up from his chair and approached the teen. "A full elf listens to commands with a blank mind. They trust in the small voice of instruction, and they know it is their duty above all to give pleasure to others. Is this what you wish for yourself?"
Kelly nodded her head, not certain exactly what he meant.
Digby took a glass tube from his pocket and held it under the girl's nose. "Are you sure?"
The girl bit her upper lip and then nodded her head. Digby pressed his thumb into the glass, cracking it like an egg. "Breathe deeply," he said with a chuckle.
Kelly did, detecting the strong, minty aroma and her mind fogged. As it cleared, her selfness dissipated and her sense of duty increased. She would do anything for Mr. Digby if he asked.
Without a word, he opened his jacket and undid his pants, letting them fall to his feet. From his fly out poked his little cock. "Don't make fun of it," he said. "Show me how, in accepting advanced opportunities, you would handle it."
Kelly knelt in front of him, taking the small appendage in her hand and stroking it to life. She hadn't seen one like it since that time babysitting with Ashleigh at the Websters. At seven, little Danny wasn't much bigger. But the boy got the thrill of his short life when the girls kissed and licked his thingy a lot.
Without her partner in crime, Kelly hesitated, but as it became engorged, she proceeded business-like to jack him off.
"Nice," he said. "But do you have more in mind? Use your imagination."
Kelly knew what he meant, though she'd never done it to the end. Danny was satisfied just to be touched there. Taking a deep breath, she bent forward, bringing the slippery pre-cum tip to her lips. Sweet, she thought as she tasted the goo. Not the salty taste she expected. But from a person who probably subsisted on candy canes, what else could it be?
Following the advice from the slumber party hearsay, she licked it like an ice cream cone. While the man moaned, she knew she wasn't done. The tip disappeared into her mouth. Then little by little, more followed inside.
Kelly kept expecting for the man's hair to start tickling her nose. Instead, the organ went farther in. As it touched her uvula, she gagged, pulling off the invader. "Try harder," he said.
Kelly took the largest gulp of air in her life before enveloping the now larger cock. Ignoring the reflex, the tip entered her throat. Still not to the end, she let it enter her esophagus. It blocked the trachea, leaving her unable to take a breath.
Kelly panicked, then heard a tiny voice. "Believe in the magic." She relented, letting her muscles pull him farther in.
The sensation made her mind begin to race through a field of red and white candy canes toward a castle made of ice. She saw the familiar faces of her mom and the brat in the distance, ready to welcome her. Along side, Ashleigh ran with her, hand in hand. "Enjoy it now, because you must return in a few steps."
She gasped back to reality, her throat again unoccupied. In the next moment, a warm splash hit the back of her mouth.
Kelly opened her eyes to see Mr. Digby re-buttoning his jacket. "You surprised me, Kelly Kelly Kane. I haven't met a new recruit who could do that." He staggered back to his desk, and fell into his chair. "At least, not during the first interview."
"Did I pass the test?" she asked out of breath. "Am I an elf?"
"There will be more training. And of course the paperwork." He handed the papers to the exhausted girl. "You always have things to sign."
She looked at all the text, some of which was tiny. "Do I have to read every word?"
"I know of some who read every other word and get enough information to figure it out. My advice is not to skip any."
"Then what?"
"After you sign and complete each level of training, return all the forms and test results to the mail slot in room 214."
"But that's this room?"
"That way I get them. Any other questions?"
"So I can be an elf?"
"Of course, you can. You do have a one-track mind, don't you? Mr. Manx recommended you, did he not? So you must fit into the costume."
"Okay." Kelly got up to leave. "What about my friend, Ashleigh? Could she become an elf, too?"
"We are always looking for new elves. Is she by any chance…a special friend?"
"Well, she is my BFF."
"Then we will make her your ELF."
"What's that?"
"Why, an Everlasting Long-time Friend, of course. Much better than Best Friend."
Kelly giggled. "Thank you, Mr. Digby."
"I look forward to working with you, Kelly Kelly Kane."
Kelly left the office, determined to become the best elf, and to suck her friend in with her.
The girl never noticed the figure standing by the door leading out of the lobby. He stroked his long white beard as she passed him and exited the building. Peeking out the window, he watched her take the bike from the stand and examined the bright red paint job. Craning her neck, she searched for the bike she brought, not this better looking one. He could read her thoughts by her body language. It had to be an illusion, a fucked up memory, because it was her bike lock on her own chain.
The man chuckled. His dreams were coming true also.
