christmas
Tinsel

59
Elf on the shelf comes to life. You and your family have a tradition that had started a few years ago of secretly moving a small elf doll decoration around the house and posing it in different mischievous poses. It has become a holiday gag game to blame misfortune and grief on the actions of this elf doll as a way to frighten the children into good behavior by saying things like, “Be nice to your brother, because the elf is watching,” or “Stop jumping on the couch or the elf will tell Santa!” Lately things have gotten more and more out of control with the severity of the game but no one would ever admit to being the one that did it. The joke that maybe the doll was actually doing it was suggested by one of your family members, but lately you have begun to wonder if maybe it is. It is four nights before Christmas, and you are peacefully asleep when you are abruptly woken up by a noise that sounds like it is coming from the living room. You decide to look and see if everything is okay.