"Welcome to the show, ladies and gentlemen," the magician smiled from the low stage at the audience, sitting close- more of a parlor setting than any grand stage, which made what they were about to see even more impressive.

"Is everyone ready for the holidays? I'm about to do some holiday gift wrapping, and I'm happy to show you how."

He pulled out a stool, and placed two square boards on top. "And, here to help me, is my lovely elf assistant, Ellie!" A blonde woman, hair in pig tails, stepped out, dressed in a very short green dress, with short sleeves, trimmed with white like an elf costume. "Come here and have a seat, Ellie."

The assistant hopped up and sat on the stool, her butt on the boards. She rested her bare feet on the cross brace as the magician pulled out some more boards. "Let's start packaging our gift." He attached some of the boards to the ones on the stool, creating a back behind Ellie. Then boards on either side, stacked- the top ones had holes, and Ellie stuck her arms through as he put them in place. The boards were close to either side of her chest, a tight fit indeed.

"All right, we're almost done boxing her up. Wave to the audience, Ellie!"

Ellie giggled and waved, as the magician slid the last boards in place in the front, a hole scooped out on each for her legs to remain exposed. She smiled as he stacked two more to cover her top. He put two square boards on the top, with a bow attached to each. "There we go, all boxed up." He stood turned the stool around so the audience could see from all sides, it was decorated like a present, with Ellie's arms and legs sticking out and visible.

"Right, now, how many good girls and boys are in the audience?"

There were quite a few cheers. "Oh dear, that's a lot, and I only have one present! It looks like we'll have to share..."

The magician pulled out a broad blade, as wide as the box was high. "Ellie, are you ready in there?"

She giggled, "As ready as I'll ever be, I guess!"

The magician slid the blade between her legs. "-oh, that's cold!" she exclaimed, then he slid the blade between the boards in the front. Her arms stiffened then went limp as the blades slid through and out the back, dividing the box, and Ellie, in two.

"Oh dear, I hope our present isn't broken... Ellie?"

The assistant remained silent, but she did start to wave and move her legs. "Oh, probably has something in her mouth, I assume. Now, let's see. I still don't think there's enough of Ellie to go around yet..."

The magician pulled out two more blades, as broad as the box was deep, and, one at a time, slid them through the sides where Ellie's waist would be. "There we go! I think we're almost there. Now for the packaging."

He pulled out some dividers with a festive design on the sides, and slid them in on both sides of all the blades, neatly dividing everything into four parts, before removing the blades.

"All right- you four, come up and get your presents."

Four members of the audience came up and the magician handed them each one of the four boxes containing his assistant. "There we go, you can see, quite real and quite divided. And off she goes- remember, don't open until Christmas!"