The Christmas elf

On a cold winter night, snowflakes fell thickly from the sky. Meanwhile, in their warm homes, the people of the small village were preparing for Christmas. The festive lights twinkled in the windows, and the cosy atmosphere of Christmas permeated the whole village.

There was only one person who didn’t really feel the Christmas spirit. An old man who had lived alone for years. His wife had passed away, his children and grandchildren lived far away, and this Christmas, for once, it seemed that they would not be able to visit home because of the heavy snow.

Christmas was the old man’s favourite holiday, but somehow he didn’t feel as happy as he used to. This year something was missing. He didn’t know what it was, he thought he was used to being alone.

One night, as the old man was getting ready for bed, he heard someone knocking on his door. He opened it, but saw no one. He thought that, in his old age, his senses had been fooled.

But just as he was about to go back to bed, he heard the knocking again. What else could he do, he got up again and hurried to the door. He opened it, but now he saw no one. He was about to get angry when he happened to glance down at the floor and saw a little elf standing in the doorway.

The old man rubbed his eyes, for he had not believed in the existence of elves for a long time. As he wondered what was happening to him, the elf spoke:

Hi! I am one of the Christmas elves. I’ve come to you to help you find what’s missing from the holiday.- Hi! I am one of the Christmas elves. I’ve come to you to help you find what’s missing from the holiday.

The old man welcomed the elf. He offered him some cookies and warm milk. Meanwhile, he told the elf that this was not a happy holiday for him. He’s always feeling a sense of lack, but he doesn’t know what to do about it.

The elf nodded and reached into his pocket, holding some kind of shiny powder in his hand. Then he said:

I know what’s missing from the holiday. You miss the people you don’t get to see: your wife, your daughter, your two sons and your grandchildren.- I know what’s missing from the holiday. You miss the people you don’t get to see: your wife, your daughter, your two sons and your grandchildren.

The old man thought about it and realised that it was indeed the cause of the tight feeling in his chest. Although he did not admit it to himself, he felt very alone and missed his family.

The elf imagined how the old man’s Christmas could be merry again, then closed his eyes and blew the dust in his hand at the old man. The old man then understood that the elf had magic powers. However, he had no idea what was about to happen.

The elf said:

I can’t bring your wife back, but I can still make your Christmas happy. Rest now, and you’ll see the Christmas spirit will return to you tomorrow!- I can’t bring your wife back, but I can still make your Christmas happy. Rest now, and you’ll see the Christmas spirit will return to you tomorrow!

The old man’s heart was filled with gratitude, and he thanked the Christmas elf for his help with tears in his eyes. Then he went to bed and fell into a deep sleep.

When he woke up in the morning, he thought he was dreaming. He sat up in his bed and searched with his feet for his slippers. As he looked around the room, he noticed a small glimmer. Then he saw that some of the magic dust the elf had sprinkled on him had spilled on the floor. Before he had time to recover from his amazement that this strange night had really happened to him, there was a knock at his door.

He got up, opened the door, and lo and behold, all his children and grandchildren were standing in the doorway with big smiles on their faces. A strange feeling had taken hold of them during the night, and at dawn they set off to spend Christmas with him, despite the inclement weather. Of course, only we know why. Shh, don’t tell anyone, in case the Christmas elf comes to surprise him today!