Page 36 of Tangled In Tinsel & Knots
“Let’s go,” Hannah calls from the doorway, grinning back at us. “Time to spread Christmas cheer.”
We file out into the petting zoo area, and immediately chaos erupts.
“SANTA!”
“LOOK, ELVES!”
“ARE THOSE REAL REINDEER?”
Kids are screaming, parents are laughing, and everyone is trying to get through the gates at once. Hannah is managing the flow, directing families to different areas, explaining the rules about gentle touching and supervised feeding.
I’m stationed near the reindeer section. My job is to make sure overexcited kids don’t pull tails or try to climb on backs. Rook and Bishop are tolerating the attention, probably because Hannah snuck them extra treats earlier.
The next two hours pass in a blur of explaining reindeer facts, preventing disasters, and trying not to think about how ridiculous I look in this costume.
A little boy tugs on my tunic. “Mr. Elf, are these Santa’s reindeer?”
I crouch down to his level. “They’re in training.”
His eyes go huge. “For pulling the sleigh?”
“Exactly. Very intensive training program. They have to pass several tests.”
“Like what?”
Shit. I’m in too deep now. “Flying. Navigation. Cookie taste-testing.”
“Cookies?”
“How else do you think Santa knows which cookies are worth eating? The reindeer test them first.”
He runs off to tell his parents, and I notice Kane watching me from the goat section, grinning.
Around noon, I spot the demographic shift in visitors.
Fewer kids are coming through the gates. More women in their twenties and thirties, traveling in groups, giggling and pointing.
At us.
One approaches me while I’m refilling a water trough for the reindeer. “Hi! Can I get a photo with you?”
I straighten. “Sorry, no photos.”
“Why not?”
“Elf union rules.” The lie comes easily. “We can’t have our images posted online. Ruins the magic.”
“Oh.” She looks disappointed. “That’s too bad. You’re really hot.”
“Thanks?” I step back, creating distance. “Enjoy the reindeer.”
She lingers for another minute, clearly hoping I’ll change my mind, then moves on when I don’t.
This happens four more times in the next hour.
Chris is getting swarmed near the miniature horse, women lining up to sit on Santa’s lap. Kane is surrounded by them, and they are ostensibly interested in the goats but keep finding excuses to touch his arms and ask about his workout routine.
I catch Hannah watching from across the pen, and I swear there’s jealousy in her expression. Possessiveness.
