Page 10 of Naughty Elf: Shimmersnap

“Hello.”

Shimmersnap smiled broadly. “Hi, Mr. Drysin, it’s really great to see you.”

Jim laughed. “Most people wouldn’t feel that way when the big boss walks down the hallway, Shimmersnap.”

“Well, that’s just silly. Sounds like those people worry that they’ve done something wrong. Walter and I haven’t done anything wrong. We’re ahead of schedule thanks to Walter’s organization.”

In reality it was due to him, not me, but now wasn’t the time to argue. I’d make sure Robert knew exactly why I was as efficient as I was these days. It was all because of Shimmersnap.

“Well, that might be the case for you, Shimmersnap, but Walter, we’re coming up on the holiday season. Need I remind you that you have obligations?”

I groaned.

Shimmersnap’s brow furrowed. “What sort of obligations?”

“Each team member is required to volunteer at a certain number of events throughout the year. Walter doesn’t enjoy volunteering, and he always puts it off till the very end, which makes no sense to me, because now he’s stuck with all the holiday events. And we all know how Walter feels about the holidays.”

I didn’t have any particularly strong feelings about them, but I let him have his assumptions. Just because I didn’t deck the halls with boughs of holly didn’t mean I was a scrooge.

“Holiday events?” Shimmersnap’s eyes practically sparkled. I swore it was like glitter rained down from the ceiling. It had to have been a trick of my eyes, though.

“It’s not volunteering when it’s mandatory,” I said.

Jim chuckled. “I understand the sentiment, Walter, but it is policy.”

“He does have a point,” Shimmersnap said. “What sort of events are there?”

Jim looked at the clipboard in his hand. “There is a hot chocolate bar at the Christmas Festival...”

“Oh, that sounds amazing! Put us down for that.”

Jim didn’t bother to wait for me to agree. He wrote our names down. And since when did it becomeour?Shimmersnap wasn’t required to go with me.

“We need someone to shop for Holiday Family Number Three,” Jim continued.

“Oh, put us down for that! I love buying gifts for people, don’t you, Walter?”

I didn’t get a chance to say another thing, because Jim was already writing our names down.

“And last but not least, the Santa event down in the community room. The kids from some of the local schools come out, visit Santa, and get a small gift. We need help with crowd control and keeping the children entertained.”

“Oh, that sounds amazing! Can we do that one?” Shimmersnap asked.

“Walter’s only obligated to do two. But we won’t turn away volunteers. The more the merrier.”

“Oh, but we would love to do three, wouldn’t you, Walter? Put us down,” Shimmersnap said.

I did not get a chance to argue, and Jim didn’t give me a chance to protest either. He just smiled at Shimmersnap.

“Thanks. We appreciate it. I’ll email you guys the details and make sure the events are on your calendar.”

“Thanks. We’re looking forward to it,” Shimmersnap replied.

I was not looking forward to it. I might like Christmas movies, but Christmas in real life was an absolute fucking disaster. Greedy people running around, buying gifts for people they didn’t really care about, buying things they didn’t need, or begging for things from others that they didn’t need. It was not the giving season that I longed for. Plus, it was one more reminder that I was completely and utterly alone.

“This is going to be great, Walter! I am so excited.”

“Really? I couldn’t tell. Why don’t you get excited about work, and we’ll focus on that?” My words came out harsher than I intended. Shimmersnap didn’t even bat an eye.

---