Hector brought his skateboard to a quick stop. Did he see what he thought he saw? Was that an elf? Was there more than one elf? Were there elves eating breakfast in the “Can Do” Diner?
Hector got back on his skateboard and went as fast as he could back to the diner. He peered in the diner window. He didn’t imagine it; there they were, not just one elf, but 4 elves!
Hector yelled to the other “Can Do” kids walking with Grandpa Dooley and Grandpa John to the recreation center. “Come quick! Santa’s elves are having breakfast in the diner!”
The boys all began to run. Willie yelled out as they ran,”I’m going to ask the elves to remind Santa what I want for Christmas.”
The girls walked faster, but they didn’t run; they thought that Hector might just be playing a joke on them. Grandpa Dooley and Grandpa John also picked up their pace.
Orrie, who was wheeling his chair as fast as he could, spun it around and said, “Why are the elves here? I’m sure Santa didn’t send them just to have breakfast in the diner.” Well that did it. All the “Can Dos” stopped running and started worrying. Nellie added, “What if they’re here to check up on us, to find out if we deserve presents?”
Grandpa John had an idea, he said, “Since Hector was the one to spot the elves, Hector can go in to the diner and invite the elves out to speak with all of you. Kids aren’t allowed in the diner without an adult, so I’ll go in with Hector. And that is just what they did. The rest of the “Can Dos” watched through the window.
Grandpa introduced himself to the elves saying, “Hi, I’m Grandpa John. Hector, who was always the first one to talk in class, and just about anywhere, was speechless! So, Grandpa John had to introduce him. The elves looked up from their breakfasts, smiled and each elf introduced himself in turn…
“I’m Nicky.” “I’m Ricky.” “I’m Micky.” “I’m Picky.”
Before he could stopped himself, Hector found his voice and said, “Picky, how did you get that name!” The other elves chuckled and Picky’s face turn beet red. “Well,” he said, “When I was a little elf, I was a picky eater. The name just stuck. Besides it’s better than my real name, which is Percivile.” Hector nodded, saying, “Picky is definitely better.”
After breakfast, the elves met with the “Can Dos.” Orrie worked up the courage to ask why the elves were in the diner. “That’s easy said Elf Micky, we were hungry.” Everyone giggled. Annie couldn’t stand it anymore and called out, “No, why did you come to “Can Do” Street? Does Santa want you to check up on us?”
The elves looked at each other, and giggled. They could see that the “Can Dos’ were worried, so Elf Ricky answered, “No, Santa already knows whose been bad or good. We’re here to make sure of the new addresses that Santa got for kids who moved to “Can Do ” Street since last Christmas. He doesn’t want to miss any children on Christmas Eve.”
The “Can Dos” looked relieved. Then Elf Nicky said, We’ve got to run; we’ve got work to do here, and then it is back to Santa’s workshop to get the toys ready for Santa’s deliveries on Christmas Eve.”
“Merry Christmas,” shouted the “Can Do” Kids. “Merry Christmas,” answered each elf as he walked away, turned the corner, and disappeared.
Christmas recess, the “Can Dos”are having a hard time paying attention in class. All they can think about is the long vacation ahead and, of course, Santa.
“Class, Jay is going to tell us about how Native Americans helped to make our first Thanksgiving possible,” said Miss Pat. “As you know, Jay is a Native American.”
