>>> Item number 31446 from WRITERS LOG9406B --- (107 records) ---- <<<
Date:         Wed, 8 Jun 1994 18:35:01 JST
Reply-To:     WRITERS <WRITERS@NDSUVM1.BITNET>
Sender:       WRITERS <WRITERS@NDSUVM1.BITNET>
From:         Mike Barker <barker@AEGIS.OR.JP>
Subject:      SUB: The Anecdote Punchline Game (The Elf)

I'm still having fun with these... although I've given up all hope of
one paragraph stories.

*hehehehe*
tink
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                                The Elf
                       Copyright 1994 Mike Barker

    The flight attendents on Flight 502 weren't quite sure about the
elf.
    First there was the delay to get the ground crew in to put a
seatbelt on the oak tree in the middle of the first-class section.  That
delay meant they had to let the last-minute business people on the plane
after all, which meant too many carry-on bags to fit in the corners.

    Carol pushed her loose bangs back with her arm, seeing the fabric
darken with sweaty makeup, then shoved futilely on the stack of bags
bulging out of the bulkhead compartment.
    "Won't fit?"
    The high toned voice surprised her, the clear clean sound of a
waterfall somehow cutting through the pre-takeoff noise.  She swung
around, still kneeling, and looked into wide golden eyes, slitted like a
cat's eyes.
    "No, sir.  But you should be in your tree, shouldn't you?"
    A hand waved, the limp wristed movement somehow making her think of
a tree branch moving in the wind.
    "Plenty of time."
    Then the hand darted past her head and tapped the bags, lightly.
    Even as she turned to see, the bags shrank, folded, and somehow
mashed themselves into the wedge of empty space between the seat back
and the bulkhead.
    She turned back, and one golden eye briefly disappeared behind a
long-lashed eyelid.
    "I'll be in my tree if you need any more help."
    He turned and walked off.  She couldn't help but notice that the
tunic didn't cover the sway of those buttocks under the tights very
well.  As she watched, fascinated with the play of tight muscles,
suddenly a line rippled down one well-rounded flank, then back up.
    She never saw anyone wink there before!
    Carol glanced back at the bags and touched them once, just to assure
herself that they were really there.  They squirmed under her fingers,
and moved back an inch.

    The next thing the flight attendants knew about was the carts.
It wasn't until much later that they heard about the wings, and then it
was just as part of collecting money to send flowers to the pilot and
co-pilot in the sanitarium.

    Angie pushed the cart forward, stepped on the foot brake, and picked
up a tray with each hand.  She swiveled to set them down, and glanced to
her side at the little figure that had come up beside her.
    "You'll have to wait a moment, sir."
    The silvery eyebrows drew together, and the wide stare glanced at
the trays, her uniform, and the cart.
    "Oh, my, this is awkward, isn't it?"
    His hand flicked behind her back, and she stiffened.  If he thought
he could get away with that kind of stuff...
    The cart wheel creaked as it rose.  She turned and stared at it,
then started to grab for it as it slid forward, trays sliding out and
down to each side as it picked up speed.  After grabbing futilely and
watching the trays swoop around her arms, she stopped, closed her eyes,
took a deep breath, then turned back and smiled as she opened her eyes.
    He was standing there, of course.
    "Thank you for helping.  And now if you'd like to get back to your
tree, sir?"
    He smiled as he passed, the white teeth and innocent joy of a
charmed child.
    She smiled.  She hoped she smiled, at least, and the habits of years
should make sure her face was frozen in something like a smile.
    She wasn't even surprised when the cart picked up the trays a little
later.

    But the real problem was when they landed.  The carry-on luggage had
unpacked itself nicely and found its owners, the ground crew had been
alerted about the flower arbors and other changes in the restrooms, and
the pilot and co-pilot were scheduled for long, long talks with the
staff psychologists.  But the elf kept dashing into and out of the tree,
long before the "fasten seat belt" sign was turned off.
    Carol didn't jump when he appeared before her.
    "I can't find them.  Did you see me with them?"
    "What, sir?  What did you lose?"
    He just shook his head, bit his lip, and dashed off.
    Angie blinked and took a deep, deep breath when he grabbed her arm.
    "Did I leave them with you?"
    She shook her head no, and he zipped away.
    A few of the passengers even laughed, especially when he ran the
length of the plane on the seatbacks, leaving tiny shimmering rainbows
wrapping them all in wonder.

    The tree and the elf were gone.  The flight attendents were taking
it slow and easy, still talking to each other about this flight.
Somehow no one wanted to hurry through the crowd, and they all waited
patiently whenever any of them would suddenly stop and start crying or
laughing or just stand, eyes closed, shaking.

    That's when they heard the announcement, and they all knew exactly
who it must have been.
    "Would the passenger who lost his cookies on Flight 502 please
return to the gate?"
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