"The Elf Who Saved Christmas'' It was a bright sunny morning when John Stainly woke up.

"Three days 'til Christmas'', cried Paul his younger brother. He was very excited.

John was not that excited about Christmas because his parents believed that he was too old to get toys so all he got was clothes. Well he was excited about Christmas but in a different way.

You see his parents are going away to their grandparent's house for Christmas but could not afford to take them with them.

They trusted John to take care of his brother Paul. Besides, there is always Miss Binkily next door - she was so nice and would do anything for John and Paul. John strolled down to breakfast.

Mean while when they were having breakfast there was a family of dwarfs discussing whose Christmas they were going to ruin. These dwarfs were well known for ruining a family's Christmas and they have lasted for generations.

Their names were Nosy, Hungry, Lazy, and Scruffy.

That day was just one of those regular days. All John did was sit around doing absolutely nothing. All during the day he wished that his parents would hurry up and go. Slowly the day went by.

Their parents kissed them good bye the next morning and their father gave them a great big bear hug they both said they would miss them and they would bring them a gift.

"Don't worry Paul, it'll only be for a few days!'' John cried with joy. "At least they'll bring us a present.'' "Hey why don't we ruin the Stainly's Christmas. After all their parents are going away for Christmas and the oldest one couldn't wait `til his parents left so we might as well make his Christmas worth while?'' Asked Nosy as if he poking in their business.

"Ya, there might be some beds there maybe even two,'' yawned Lazy.

"There might be a stash of food there and a bath tub for Scruffy.'' Chuckled Hungry.

"Hey!'' Scruffy yelled angrily.

"So do we all agree?'' asked Nosy.

"Ok,'' everyone mumbled.

"So do you want to go window shopping in Hamilton, Paul?'' asked John.

"Sure,'' Mumbled Paul. They slowly walked out of the door over to the bus.

"It's clear.'' whispered Nosy into his walky-talky. They crept into the house. Hungry hid in the trash can. Nosy hid in the dinning room under the coffee table under the telephone. Scruffy hid the closet and Lazy hid under the bed.

It was 10:55 when they got back home.

"Boy would mom be mad if we got home this late when she's home.'' moaned Paul.

"Yea, this is great,'' said John leaning all over the furniture something he is not allowed to do.

"Is not!'' wined Paul.

"Oh don't be just a goodie goodie. Hey I have an idea why don't we sleep in the guest room on that big bed that we always wanted to sleep on?'' asked John.

"OK,'' mumbled Paul.

"OK then you go get the sheets in the closet and I will go call Ms. Binkily in the dining room and tell her we are going to bed,'' demanded John.

`Mmmm bibl bibl mmmmm bibl.' "What?'' asked John.

"I didn't say anything,'' said Paul. "But it sounded like it came from the trash can.'' He added.

"Alright carry, on it must have been my imagination,'' he whispered to himself. They walked off to do what they had to do. When they met in the guest room, they were in deep shock.

"I...I...I think I saw something,'' Paul whispered in fright.

"Me too, there was something under the coffee table.'' John whispered.

`Zzzzzzz zzzzz' "What was that?'' asked Paul.

"I don't know, it is coming from under the bed,'' said John. "Let's find out.'' They crept over to the bed took a peek under and.... ahahahaha. They ran straight out of the room and straight into the living room.

"Was that one of those dwarfs that ruin peoples Christmas?'' asked Paul. `I don't know I'm not the one who listens to Grandpa Billy's stories,'' boasted John.

"Well if you put it that way I won't tell you how to get rid of them.'' he said.

"Fine well just sit here until Christmas is over.'' moaned John.

"John I don't know I'm just lying.'' Paul truthfully told him.

"Ah but I do!'' said a little voice by the window.

"Who said that and know what,'' demanded John.

"It was me and I know how to get rid of them,'' shrieked the little green dressed man with pointy ears. He was just about the size of the palm of your hand.

"What is Bermuda turning into one minute there is dwarfs and now there's elves, shesh,'' John mumbled.

"You see there are a lot of people whose lives have been affected by these dwarfs so put their misery aside and do what I tell you,'' said the elf.

"Ok anything to get rid of those dwarfs!'' exclaimed John.

"Ok all you need to do is ignore them for two hours, don't look them in the eyes. After two hours get a red scarf wave it over four candles lit in a row and repeat these words three times in a row: `Depart proceed withdraw. Not to brisk not to lagging, Just go and vanish from sight. Nosy Lazy Scruffy and Hungry leave,'' he instructed.

"Fine we will do just that,'' replied Paul. They fell asleep in the living room.

The next morning the two boys did just that - no matter what the dwarfs did they pretended it was just the wind. Then the time came, John took his mom's best and only red scarf over the candles and repeated the words three times.

As soon as he finished repeating the words he heard screaming, awful screaming. They ran out the door and saw four puddles.

"We better clean this up before it stains.'' John requested.

They cleaned it just in time as their parents had walked in the door.

It just so happens that their flight was cancelled. They wanted to surprise the boys the next day so they stayed in the Marriott Hotel that night.

John and Paul never told their parents what happened and they never will.

Drawings by Tanyalyn Bailey SHORT STORY COMPETITION CPN