This is a slightly edited/updated version of In the Spirit of the Season, posted to DeviantArt December 20212, and written December 2006!

"All right kids, Santa's tired now. He needs to get to bed so he can see you tomorrow." Disappointment spread through the crowd, but they dispersed without incident, which let me close the entrance to the 'North Pole.'

"So, Ann, what are you going to do with today's paycheck?" Christopher said, as he got up and stretched. I didn't blame him, sitting in that chair all day would be damn uncomfortable.

"Buy stuff, duh." I said in my best 90's teenager impression. "I just hope its worth wearing this stupid costume."

"I think you make a cute elf."

I laughed at that before analyzing myself. I wore the obligatory green curly shoes, with a ring of fur around my ankles. Then, my legs were encased in red and white striped tights. My skirt was green and trimmed in fur, as was my v-necked vest, which revealed more red and white stripes on my chest, arms, and neck. Green gloves and a hat with a red feather, both with fur trim, completed my ensemble.

"So? Just because I look cute doesn't make the costume any less dumb. Anyway," I continued, "I was thinking of buying a new TV, or maybe a few games and a new video card."

"Nothing for your friends and family? Or did you already get them presents?"

I snorted, "$10 gift certificates for the lot of 'em. And don't give me that  'Spirit of Giving' crap. I've given plenty of presents, and I never feel any better about it."

"Maybe you haven't given the right gifts."

"So? What's the right gift?" I said as I walked a little ahead of him.

Christopher smiled and laid his hand on my shoulders. A tingle of memory long forgotten, of Christmas mornings rushing to see what awaited me beneath the tree. But then the memory changed, somehow, to a Christmas morning waiting to see who would unwrap me, and the transformation began.

First, my candy-cane shirt and hose fused to my skin. Then, my hat sewed itself to my head and my hair turned to brown yarn. My gloves, vest, skirt, and shoes stayed the same, but began to shrink, and decided to take me with them. By the time I fully realized what had just happened, Santa Chris was holding me around my waist, my body now just a stuffed doll.

"I'll see you in a year, Ann, to see if you've figured things out by then."

Wha . . . but . . . HEY! This can't be real. It can't be, I thought as Santa carried my stuffed body to a father and five year old girl.

"Hey! What's your name?" Santa bent down to the child.

"Laurie," she replied. Her father was keeping a close eye on Santa, just over his daughter's shoulders.

"Well, Laurie, this is Ann."

Santa . . . I thought as he held me up

"I'm all out of room in my sleigh. Do you think you can keep her for me?"

Laurie grinned, "Yes."

How can you just give me away! Santa? I've learned my lesson! I'll spend all my money on gifts! Please! I don't want to be a toy!

"Excellent," Santa said, handing me over to Laurie. The girl, now my owner, shoved me into her father's face.

"Daddy, look what Santa gave me!" He picked his daughter up.

"She's pretty neat, huh? Why don't you thank Santa." Laurie turned to do that, but Santa had disappeared.

"Where'd he go?" He wondered and looked around, "Huh." He shrugged it off before walking toward the exit. Laurie, in his arms, held me tight against her body. And I . . . I just wondered if Christopher's last name was Kringle.

An entire year passed, and I stayed in the company of Laurie nearly every moment she was awake. The girl had a meager collection, and I rapidly became her favorite. She called me Ellie the Elfie.

Well, when Chris did pop up, of course on Christmas Eve, was a night I had fallen out of Laurie's arms onto the floor beside her bed. Before I knew he was there, I was human again, though still in costume.

"Santa?" I asked, looking at the man who changed my life.

"I said I'd be back in a year to see if you learned your lesson. Have you?"

"I . . ." turned to look at Laurie and patted the girl on the head, "She's a lonely kid, Santa. I really hate to admit it, but I think I need to stick around."

A moment later, I was snuggled in Laurie's arms again. I realized as I drifted to dreamland that I really was Laurie's toy, and that I love being her toy.