Cucu the Elf
One Sunday evening in December, the Cortez family went to Chipotle for the Chipotle Employee Christmas Party. They had closed the restaurant so that all of the employees could take a break and celebrate the holidays together. Everyone was excited because there was going to be a piñata, cake, and presents at the party.
The Cortez Family had been looking forward to the party all day. All four members of the family were going: Mommy, Papá, Arnold, and Cucu the Elf. Mommy, Papá, and Arnold are permanent members of the Cortez Family but Cucu is a December Member. December Member means that Cucu only lives with the family between Thanksgiving and Three Kings’ Day. The rest of the year, Cucu lives at the North Pole with Santa where he helps the other elves in the workshop. During the holidays, however, Cucu’s job is to be a scout for Santa. His assignment is to report back to Santa every evening on Arnold's behavior so that Santa can make a more informed decision about whether or not to put Arnold on the Nice List or on the Naughty List.
Since they were going to a party, Cucu was nervous that Arnold would get excited and run off. Cucu hated when he had to tell Santa bad things about Arnold because not only did Santa get really sad about it, but Cucu loved Arnold very much. He wanted him to get what he wanted for Christmas. Cucu thought it would be very wonderful for Arnold to get Cranky the Crane for Christmas, but he also knew that Arnold had to be an exceptionally good boy to get it.
The whole family walked into the restaurant. Papá went to set up his magic (he was going to be the entertainment) and Mommy looked around. She was sad about the lack of decorations. Arnold saw some kids, but he decided to go exploring instead of play with them. Cucu followed him.
As Arnold headed to the back seating area, Cucu was thinking about how he was pretty sure Arnold was about to get in trouble. He wished that he could warn Arnold, but Santa had forbidden all of his Scout Elves from speaking to children five years ago in an effort to prevent another information leak such as that of the Great Leak of 2005 (ie Kids now know about the Scout Elves). Just as Cucu was wishing Arnold would turn around and go back, Mommy appeared. She knelt down in front of Arnold, “Arnold, you’re not allowed to come back here. They want us all to stay up front so they only have to clean one area once the party is over.”
“Oh good,” thought Cucu. “He didn’t know he wasn’t supposed to do it! So long as he doesn’t do it again, he won’t go on the Naughty List.”
Unfortunately, about ten minutes later, Arnold decided he wanted to explore the back seating area again! To Cucu’s horror, when Mommy then told Arnold to come back to where he was supposed to be, Arnold refused to do it! Cucu was very sad as he watched Arnold sitting in time out.
That night, after Arnold had gone to sleep, Cucu was troubled as he flew back to Santa’s workshop. “What am I going to do?” thought Cucu. “The Boss is going to be so disappointed.” Cucu could hardly bear the thought of the tear that might roll down the Big Man’s face.
Once he was back at Santa’s workshop, he waited in line with the other elves. Cucu asked the other elves for advice. “How can I tell Santa? Arnold was already punished by his mommy. It doesn’t seem right that he shouldn’t get his present from Santa either.” The other elves, Eye and Nate, told Arnold that it would be better for Arnold if Cucu just kept a stiff upper lip and told Santa the truth. Eye told Cucu, “Once, I started to lie to Santa about something Ralphie had done. Santa always knows though. He could tell I was lying and he started to think that Ralphie had asked me to lie. I had to tell him the truth because if he thought Ralphie was making me lie, Ralphie wouldn’t have gotten anything for Christmas at all.”
Soon it was Cucu’s turn to talk to Santa. When he told Santa what had happened at the party, Santa looked thoughtful. “Did Arnold tell his mommy that he was sorry once he finished time out?” he inquired. Cucu nodded.
“How long were you at the party after Arnold finished being in time out?” asked Santa. Cucu thought carefully. He wanted to be sure to give Santa all of the details accurately.
“I’m pretty sure we were there for an hour more. It’s harder for me to keep track of time when I’m with the Cortezes. Time feels different with them than it does at the North Pole,” confessed Cucu.
“Oh, that’s because we’re so close to magnetic north. It confuses elf perceptions,” explained Santa. “When you’re with the Cortezes time would feel different to you than it does here.”
“Hmm,” mused Cucu.
“Well, it sounds like Arnold was truly remorseful. Not only did he say he was sorry, but he did not repeat his misbehavior.” Santa tapped his nose. “True remorse counts a lot with me. I don’t think this will move him to the Naughty List. If he continues as he has begun, he should still be able to get Cranky for Christmas.”
Then Santa became stern. “I know you love Arnold, but Cucu, you must remember to not give in to temptation. I don’t ever want you to even THINK about warning him again. Breaking that rule could require a new assignment for you.”
Santa winked at Cucu’s shocked expression. “Santa always knows.”
So it was with a happier heart that Cucu returned home to his December household. He snuck into the house and hid behind Arnold's train set. "I wonder how long it'll take Arnold to find me today?" he wondered. He put on his customary smile and waited for outside to return so Arnold could wake up and they could see each other once more.
So it was with a happier heart that Cucu returned home to his December household. He snuck into the house and hid behind Arnold's train set. "I wonder how long it'll take Arnold to find me today?" he wondered. He put on his customary smile and waited for outside to return so Arnold could wake up and they could see each other once more.
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