A Christmas Short Story

“Hot Chocolate and Marshmallows”

Emily loved this store, especially at Christmas. The Book and Gift store was a mishmash of books (new and used), toys, a Hallmark store, and even a growing used music section. The store seemed more like an antique mall instead of a regular shop. Book and Gift sat in an old J.C. Penny’s building downtown. But all the owners did was take down all the walls. There were columns everywhere and the carpet pathways were blocked with shelving or boxes of books. Each section of merchandise had its core, but bled over at the edges. The checkout was the old customer service desk in the back. There were old park benches throughout the store for people to sit.

It was a magical place on its own, but during the holidays it was a wonderland. The ceiling was lit by strings and strings of lights that wrapped around the columns. Random holiday characters could be found next to the benches or sitting on a shelf. Doug, the owner, always dressed in some 70’s band t-shirt, provided a free hot chocolate station, with little marshmallows, for the last few days before Christmas. Emily held a cup of hot chocolate, with a good helping of marshmallows, as she walked the store looking for a few last minute gifts.

As she stood in front of the Just Arrived book section she noticed a young man pacing in the music section. His blue hoodie was up over his head. Every few seconds, he would pull up his tattered jeans, act like he was looking at a LP, then pace some more. He projected an anxious energy. 

Emily returned to the books, thinking about what Jill, the secretary at the office, would like. The young man in the blue hoodie was walking toward her, she wished her husband was here, but he was down the block at the sporting goods store. The young man walked past and Emily swore she could feel his energy prickle her skin.

“Give him a cup of hot chocolate.” She heard a voice say as a styrofoam cup of hot chocolate, with marshmallows appeared in her other hand. It took all of her control not to yell or squeeze the cup in her hand.

Emily looked around for the voice. “Hello?” she quietly asked.

“Trust me, all you need to do is give him the cup of hot chocolate.”

“Who are you, where are you?” Emily’s heart was racing. Nervously she looked into her own cup of hot chocolate for an answer.

“I’m not in your hot chocolate.”

“Oh, that’s good,” Emily said and laughed a little. “But who are you, what’s going on here?”

“Look up.”

Emily slowly raised her head. On top of the bookshelf sat an elf. But not decked out in red with a plastic smile. A real elf, just like the Christmas shows. A small blue triangle shaped hat. A matching blue shirt, with white and blue striped pants. His shoes were white with blue fuzz around the top. He even had pointed ears.

“I’m Dell, a Christmas elf.”

Emily almost crushed both cups as she stepped back.

“Whoa, it’s alright. Look around, I’m not the only one.”

Emily’s eyes grew wide as she saw at least eight other elves, all in different colors, some were female, long black hair flowing from their hats. Each of them seemed to be following a shopper. Emily turned to Dell with her mouth open.

“I don’t have time to explain, but let’s just say we are where people still believe in the spirit of Christmas.”

Emily could only nod her head.

“I really do need you to give Sam that hot chocolate, please.” And he was gone. Emily looked around the store, all the elves were gone. She turned her head back around to her left and the young man, Sam, was fidgeting with some Christmas ornaments. Emily froze. She thought she saw the handle of a gun when Sam pulled his pants back up.

“Give him the hot chocolate and go sit down. That’s all you need to do.”

Dell’s voice got her feet moving.

“Excuse me, young man, I thought you might like a cup of hot chocolate,” Emily looked down to see the marshmallows floating on top, “with marshmallows.” She held her hand out for him.

Sam had turned slowly around as Emily was speaking, tense, ready to run. He looked at her, then at the cup of hot chocolate, back to Emily, then took the cup without saying anything.

Emily awkwardly nodded at Sam then went to a bench in the book section with Rudolph standing next to it. As she sat down she felt her whole body tremble. She took a few long breaths and sipped her drink. She kept her head down for a few minutes, slowly sipping her hot chocolate.

Sam’s voice made her look up.

“Why did you give me this?”

Emily almost said because an elf told me to, but instead she said, “I thought you would like it. My favorite part is when the marshmallows melt a little, and you get the chocolate and the marshmallow in the same sip.”

Sam thought for a moment, then sat down next to her.

Emily honestly wanted to run. She looked around to see if Dell was there, or any of the elves. She only saw a few shoppers look their way, then back to whatever they had in their hands.

“My dad used to make us hot chocolate. On the stove. He had this old pot, you know, not the shiny kind we have now, but like cast iron?” Sam looked over at her. 

Emily said, “Yeah, like my grandma had.”

“Yeah, he said it used to be his grandmother’s. He would heat up milk, then use these chunks of chocolate, add salt even, and a splash of vanilla, I think.” Sam sat quiet for a second.

“Did you have little marshmallows?” Emily felt the need to keep Sam talking.

Sam laughed a quiet pain filled chuckle. “No, he would drop one big one in our cups. It took forever to even melt a little.” He turned toward Emily, a small smile on his face. She noticed he had soft hazel eyes.

“I bet,” Emily smiled back. She almost asked about his dad, but it seemed too big of a question.

“Anyway, I didn’t say thank you, so thank you.” Sam stood up.

Emily stood up, too. She held back the urge to hug him, instead she held out her hand. Sam took it. “Merry Christmas, Sam,” Emily said.

Sam stood there holding her hand, squeezing it a little at the sound of his name. His eyes wide with the question of how she knew his name, instead he said, “Merry Christmas to you.” 

Emily saw his eyes swell. She squeezed his hand to let him know she saw him. They slowly let go, and Sam lifted his cup to her and turned away taking a sip. Emily noticed his walk was steady.

“Thank you,” she heard Dell say. She looked down into her cup but then smiled and looked up as Dell was fading away with a small wave.