Page 32 of Holiday Hook Up

“Greetings.” He hopped onto the stage, taking off his hat and bowing to her. Twenty pairs of eyes were now glued to them.

“So, should we spend some time with each child?” She pulled her camera off her shoulder. “Perhaps walk around the room, and I could take pictures and upload them to my website for their parents to download.”

“Love that idea, but I was thinking we’d do some role-playing, too.” Adam winked while adjusting his hat. “A little improv. I know you’re good at thinking on your feet.”

The children continued to stare at them. They needed to get this show on the road. “So, what do you have in mind?” she asked.

“You’ll see S. Elf.”

Bethany blinked. “S. Elf.”

He grinned, leaned in, and whispered, “That’s code for Sexy Elf.”

“Adam.” She playfully swatted him. “Don’t call me that. Bethany the Elf will work just fine.”

He nodded his agreement. “Okay, follow my lead, Bethany the Elf.”

She chuckled and motioned her hand to give him the floor. “By all means.”

Adam turned to face the kids and clapped his hands. “Good evening, Elf Recruits. Welcome to the North Pole. I’m Adam the Elf and this is Bethany the Elf.”

Bethany smiled and waved.

“Do you know why you’re here?”

The kids gave him the similar wide-eyed expression.

“Because it’s Christmas!” a young boy with red hair, who looked around six or seven, yelled.

“To make tree ornaments,” said a little blond girl behind him, holding up her red crayon.

“You’re both right.” Adam jumped up in the air and spun around, causing all the kids to bust out in laughter. “It is Christmas and that makes this elf happy.” He hopped off the stage. “But you want to know a secret?” he whispered loudly.

A resounding “Yes!” filled the room.

“Do you promise you won’t tell another living elf? Cross your heart.”

The image of them all crossing their hearts was simply precious. Bethany snapped a picture.

Adam put his hand to his face so Bethany couldn’t see his lips. “I’m going to ask Bethany the Elf to marry me right now!”

Holy night!Bethany moved the camera away from her face while Adam returned to the stage and got down on one green knee, grabbing her hand. “Bethany the Elf, will you make me the happiest elf in the entire North Pole and marry me this second?”

She looked down at a grinning Adam, still holding her hand. Nowhere in her wildest fantasies concerning Adam was he ever proposing in a pointy yellow hat and green tights. “Oh, Adam the Elf, we can’t possibly get married tonight.” She held up four fingers and flashed them to their audience. “It’s four days before Christmas and there’ssomuch to do. We’ll never get it done in time if we get married right now, and Santa is counting on us.”

Adam gave her a wink that he approved of her improv and continued, “But we have our new batch of recruits.” He motioned to the kids. “Look at all of them. Santa says they’re the best group he’s ever seen. They can help us.” He glanced at the kids. “Won’t you recruits?”

A sea of tiny heads nodded in unison.

“Well . . .” Bethany started. “Maybe it could work if they really concentrate on their assignment.”

“Awesome! Okay, Bethany the Elf. What is the last thing on your list that we need to do?”

Bethany looked down at her imaginary list, loving this little skit more and more. “We need to make Christmas cards for the residents at the senior center. Many of them could use some holiday cheer.”

“Recruits, is that something you’d be willing to help us with?” he asked his question, and put his hands together in prayer.

“Yes!” filled the room.

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