Morning comes, and after a somewhat uneventful night (all the elves fell asleep, either on the floor in a bed or sofa) Maurice wakes up somewhat refreshed, and quickly grabs some breakfast from the kitchenette. A glass of orange juice, a piece of toast with jelly, and a granola bar would have to suffice for now. He grabs Bentley and trudges the five minutes from the Club House to Santa’s Workshop Number 86, where he has been assigned.
“I hope I can meet with Santa before the rest of the elves get here. I don’t want them to think I’m asking for special privileges or something.” He arrives just as Santa does, and for once, something goes right since he’s arrived here.
“Good morning, Santa,” Maurice calls. “I hope you had a good night’s rest.”
Santa glances up from the letter he retrieved from the mailbox. “Oh, it’s you, Maurice. Good to see you made it. What about the rest of the gang from the Club House? Are they here already?”
“Well, Santa, to be honest,” (and doesn’t Santa like honesty?) “those guys were a bit rowdy last night, partying until midnight. I did manage to clean up a bit for them before I went to bed, but got up early to get here to ask you a favor.” Maurice was beginning to get a bit nervous, asking the man who is being asked all kinds of favors this time of year.
“What is it, my boy?”
“Is there another place I may stay rather than that noisy Club House?”
Santa thought for a moment. “I think the ski chalet may be available. There’s only one catch.”
“What’s that?” He thought anything would be better than a bunch of noisy elves.
“The owner has his dog still there, and while the supervisor comes and takes care of it during the day, it does sleep there at night. If you decide to stay there, you would have to do the ‘evening chores’ for the dog.”
“What would that involve?” Maurice asked, not having owned or cared for a pet before.
“You let him out on a leash so he can have his ‘comfort call’, then you bring him back indoors, rub his fur to warm him up, then feed him. When you go to bed, the lights are turned off and he’ll go to sleep. That’s about it.”
Maurice thought this over and decided one dog was better than a bunch of noisy elves. “Okay, I’ll do it. Where is this place?”
“After today’s shift I’ll have the supervisor meet you here and you and he can go there. Now, it’s almost starting time. 8 o’clock in the morning is early here.” Santa went in and headed to his office. Meanwhile, Maurice told Bentley that he won’t have to worry.
Bentley, however, wasn’t so sure about being near a furry four-footed animal.
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