Team Ahimsa Blog Relay, Various Contests

Task #11 - Elf Auditions

For Task #11 of "12 Days Of Christmas 2024" 
Words: 469

"Now, on my whistle - HO HO HO!"

"But - Ma'm -"

Mrs. Claus raised an eyebrow. "Well, Amisha Elf, what is it?"

"Ma'm, isn't it Santa who does the Ho Ho Ho? Why is it part of our Elf Audition?"

"Because, Amisha Elf, it is the Elf Motto to stand in for Santa if he needs it. Now he hasn't needed anyone to HO HO HO for him in centuries, but that doesn't mean we don't stay prepared. If there are no more questions - on my whistle - HO HO HO!"

"Right." Mrs. Claus looked each aspirant up and down before saying, "Elf #7, Elf #9, Elf #2 - please step forward."

The three of them did so. Amisha Elf, being #4, stayed at the back.

"You three are through to the next round. Congratulations! Step off stage and go to the waiting lounge to await your next task. Those left here, you have three more attempts - try to get it right -"

"Please Ma'm?"

"Yes, Amisha Elf, what is it again?"

"I don't know what to put right, Ma'm because I don't know what I did wrong the first time. Please tell me."

"All right, Amisha Elf. Your "HOs" have to stay the same volume but get higher pitched. Only slightly mind, don't get falsetto on me. Now, on my whistle --"

This time, Amisha Elf got through.

When all the aspirants had either "HOed" to Mrs. Claus's satisfaction or finished their number of attempts and been eliminated, she joined them.

They had to load a sleigh in teams of three.

The key was to co-ordinate with each other and not get into arguments. It's not easy, loading a sleigh with packages of all shapes and sizes meant to go across continents. Everyone had his or her own idea of how it could be done. Amisha Elf thought she could have worked better just alone, but the idea was to work in teams.

Amisha Elf's team came third as far as 'timing' went and fourth on 'overall efficiency'. The team that came sixth on timing actually topped overall efficiency by a long shot. They had really taken everything Santa might encounter along the way into account.

Then was the most delicate task of all - mending toys so that they don't appear to have been broken-and-mended. Amisha Elf's eyes were smarting and fingers aching by the end of that one.

The elves didn't realise it, but even the cocoa break was part of the audition. How polite they were, how much gusto they showed for the cocoa and whether they washed their own mug at the end - Mrs. Claus was making her notes!

You'll be happy to know Amisha Elf was selected.

The main point in her favour was - "She asks questions and gets clarifications if she doesn't understand something!"