Penny

WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT I would feel the most beautiful I ever have in my entire life when I’m wearing an elf costume?

Me.

That’s who.

But I’ve never had the opportunity to prove my theory until this week.  The grin that’s been on my face constantly is starting to make my jaw ache.  Living the dream, I am.

I adjust the tilt of my pointed hat, the bell at the tip jingling cheerfully as I do, and then walk out of the employee break room at the upscale Knight & Knight Department Store with a skip in my step, just because I’m about to start my twelve-hour shift as a Santa’s helper in their world-renowned Christmas Village.  Most other workers bail at eight hours.  They let me work the maximum twelve, but I could go longer if they’d let me.

And, if I do say so myself, I’m head elf.  I mean, not actually head elf, but OMG, I’m good.

Better than good.

I was born for this job. 

Granted, my upbringing and my parents—especially my mother—would beg to differ.  See, I’m what others call a prodigy.  I’ve been playing piano concertos since I was five years old.  Playing the piano has been my life.  Well, my mother’s life more than mine.  And, in an ironic twist of fate, my other talent is completely freezing up in front of an audience.

Yep.  As long as I’m not on stage, I can play like Rubenstein.  But put me in front of even a small roomful of people and I’m all thumbs and no fingers.  So, twenty-one years old, one of the most talented pianists in the country, and I can’t take the stage.  What an embarrassment.  Enter my mother’s last-ditch effort to present her daughter to the world.  An intensive, month-long, deprogramming, therapy, torture chamber of a place, right here in New York.  A place that guaranteed her I would be cured.

Only, I had different plans.  And when I got here, settled into the nice, pre-paid penthouse my mother set up for me, I put those plans into place, knowing I’d be spending December right here in the Mecca of Christmas cheer: New York City and the Knight & Knight flagship department store. 

At the top of the stairs, I pause at the metal door that separates the magical Christmas Village from the sterile, concrete backrooms of the massive store.  Closing my eyes, I draw in a deep breath and smell the evergreen scent the store pipes into the village.  I smooth my hands down the green and red plaid skirt, rise on the tip toes of my elf shoes—complete with curved upward toes and bell to match my hat—and my mind stills.

When I enter every day, I feel like an Olympic athlete at the starting line of the final race.  I visualize the wonder and joy of Christmas, then open the door and I’m in full character.

On the other side, I’m enveloped in the magic of Christmas.  Knight & Knight’s Christmas Village takes up the entire top level of the store.  It’s just over an acre of space, all twinkly lights, ‘Silent Night,’ and the sound of a crackling fire—although it’s fake for safety’s sake because, you know, kids and all—overtakes your senses as you enter through the Candy Cane lane and are ushered by yours truly into Christmas paradise.

People wait all year for Knight & Knight to open up the Village on December 1^st.  Unfortunately, I was unable to arrive for the opening day, and I count myself lucky to have been able to secure one of the prestigious elf positions so late in the season.  It’s already December 15^th and I’ve been working here just over a week, but from all outward appearances, and my supervisors all agree, you would think I’ve been doing this job my entire life.

Because.

As I said.

I was born for this.

The Christmas carols playing on the speakers from the grand piano at the back of the village greet me as I make my way through to check in and take my position in the queue, ready to escort the next lucky family on the adventure of a lifetime.

With each step my toes jingle wonderfully, and I pause for just one last moment to tug up on my red-and-white-striped tights.  They never seem to completely stay up.  Sagging down, and it’s a bit of a battle during my entire shift to inconspicuously shift and pull them up so they are not drooping down to mid-thigh.

My elf costume was the largest size the store had left by the time I took the job, and even though for most it would probably be too big, I constantly have to suck in my tummy to get the zipper to make the tight trek upward to keep me inside.

“Hey, Penny.” 

As I round the corner of the first of the Village’s many gingerbread houses, heading into the main village area where families are patiently waiting for their personal elf escort, I run smack into David Lippencot.

Ugh. 

“Hi, David.”  I lower my eyes and sidestep to make my way past him without further conversation. We are close enough to the waiting families that I can feel their eyes on me. I look into the crowd at the anxious eyes full of wonder and take note of a dark-haired man staring right at me. 

My stomach flips.  It’s not just a glance, he’s looking at me.  No, right into me.  And for a moment, I fantasize that it’s because I’m just so stunning that he can’t take his eyes off me.  Then, a boy about ten years old squeezes out from behind the man with an impatient look on his face, and reality descends.  He’s been standing in line probably an hour by now, and at this point any elf looks good.

But, dang, he’s not just any other father.  He’s gorgeous.  Eyes the color of dark chocolate burn into me.  He stands above any of the other people in the crowd, his dark hair close-cropped but easy,  slight waves tucked behind his ears.  For a moment I’m struck dumb by the square of his jaw, realizing that the whole shape reminds me of a younger Sean Connery—my father’s favorite actor in the whole world.

“You look...”  David’s voice startles me out of my wonderland.  His voice trails off but it’s not hesitant, there’s no suggestion that he’s nervous.  No, it’s more that he’s impatient for me to turn back.  And when I do, his smile grows.

It’s not the kind of smile that makes you smile back.  Instead, it makes me swallow hard and pinch my lips together as he matches my sidestep and blocks my forward motion. The thump of my heart, which moments ago quickened from excitement, now becomes slow and dark.

David runs a hand across my shoulders and I shrug away, glancing up to see him biting his lower lip before he speaks.  “You look...decent.  How about I take you to my place for a drink after your shift?  I’m not going to keep asking.  Three strikes and you’re out.  This is strike two. Not every day you get asked out, is it?”

I want to smack him right in his stupid face, but I’m just not that girl.  I’m nice.  A little weak, yes, I admit that.  And his insults—which to a more secure girl my age would run off like water on a duck’s back—stick me right in my extra-large size elf costume.

“I...can’t.”  I lie, unable to just tell him to stick a candy cane up his butt.  “My mom and dad are coming into town.”  My stomach clenches and I shift from one foot to the other.  “Sorry... They’ll be at my place after I get off.”

He chuckles as I inch my way forward, trying to end whatever this is.  “You get off much, do you?”  His condescending tone only runs more heat into my cheeks as I realize he’s twisting my words into something I didn’t mean.

“No.”  I fluster, looking up to see the man in the crowd still staring at me.  Only this time, he’s stepped forward.  He’s being held back by the red velvet rope, which is just as well because the look in his eyes has turned to something angry. 

“Suit yourself.”  David shrugs, not taking his eyes from mine.  “But, you and I could have some fun, Penny. Grown-up fun.”

“Excuse me.”  Pushing past him, I hear his low chuckle, my face feeling as red as Santa’s suit.

He grabs a tangle of my hair as I go by, adding, “You’ll be back.”

Staring straight ahead, knowing that he’s watching my ass as I leave, humiliation pours over me as I finally sign in and wait for my next family.