Friends Christian Lipton, Marc Grayson, Regina Bak and Chloe Diamond have known each other since they were in college. They later married and continued their friendship. They were so fond of each other that they decided to live in the same town. There they would serve the community by practicing their professions.
Christian is a doctor specialized in cardiology, his wife Regina is a psychologist; Marc is an engineer and his wife, Chloe, is a children's story editor.
From time to time they would have their get-togethers recalling old childhood anecdotes. The years went by. The families have grown. Marc and Chloe already have 3 children: Brian, Arnold and Martha; while Regina and Christian have 2: Paul and Melissa and a third one on the way whose name will be Kevin in honor of Regina's great-grandfather.
The five children always play together in a common garden, in both houses. Their parents say that they have a fabulous imagination; so much so that Chloe spies, stealthily, their conversations that serve as inspiration to create their fantastic stories.
Christmas is approaching, the children are already on vacation, so they have more free time to spend together.
One afternoon they decide to play a game. Brian, the oldest of them, asks the others to each think about where they would like to spend Christmas. The little ones have no idea how to do it. Brian tells them:
-My dad has a globe at my house that spins, and there are maps with the countries on it. I'm going to get it. Be careful not to let them see us. That world map is an heirloom. He inherited it from his grandfather and he doesn't want it to be touched for anything in the world, and of course he never lends it.-
-All right, I'll take care of it. I'll take care of it,- Martha answers.
- And what do we do?" asked the little ones, Arnold and Melissa.
-Stay quiet and don't talk,- replies Paul, the most serious of the group.
Brian enters his father's library, locates the world map, picks it up but .....! oh! oh! he hears footsteps ...... Someone is coming towards the library. Brian hides. It's his mom, she's looking for his idea notebook. He can't remember where he left it.
-Ah, it's here, I couldn't see it because someone put a box of crayons on top of it," Chloe thinks out loud as she happily leaves the library.
Brian holds his breath.....for a moment he was worried, he was afraid she would find out. He grabs the balloon and runs out into the garden. But, before he gets there, he trips over an unexpected stone......and falls on top of the balloon.
He had never seen such a stone there before. Who would put it there, he thought. He hadn't noticed that the balloon was scratched and no longer looked the same.
-You're finally here. What took you so long,- asked Paul.
Before he had time to answer Martha noticed that the world map was scratched.
Oh dear, how do we fix it now?
-We'll think about that later, now let's play .... What do you propose?" says Brian.
Martha quickly answers: -Let's travel around the world.
How about if each of us goes to a different place? I start so you can see how to do it. And he starts to turn the world map. And with one finger he points to a place -
None of the children had noticed the elves watching. .......
-What area is that?- ask the little ones.
-It's the North Pole,- answers Paul.
-I don't want to go there, it's too cold there,- grumbles Martha.
Suddenly they hear some sounds.....
-They are Christmas bells," say Melissa and Arnol. At that moment some beings appear.... that they don't know.
-Good morning. My name is Priscob and this is my friends Maglor and Galadriel. We all have special gifts, which we are going to manifest to you since you are good. We have already given you a preview with the music. Now we are going to use the power and the knowledge ......
Everyone opened their eyes in amazement. They did not believe what they were seeing.
-Melissa, what do you want for Christmas?- asked Priscob.
-I want to meet Santa, I want to ride in his sleigh.
In an instant a bright blue light appeared and blinded them all. Melissa and Priscob disappeared.....
-Melissa, Melissa don't hide. We have to go on with the game...... -Oh, but I don't want to go to the North Pole- replies Martha.
-But I do. I want to see the igloos and how the Eskimos live,- answers Brian.
-Are you sure?- asks Maglor.
-Yes-
-Wish granted,- replies Maglor. A heavy fog envelops the place and Brian sees with astonishment what he asked the elf for. .....
At that point Martha intervenes: -I want my mother to earn money with the stories she publishes....and ....
She had not finished speaking when Maglor says: wish granted.-
..... And I also want a bicycle.
-That still can't be,- Maglor replies.
-Why not?
-Because your first wish has to be granted,- Maglor adds.
It was Paul's turn. Paul spins the globe and randomly points to a place. It's, it's ...... Iceland ......
-That's our home, we come from there. Come on, I'll take you to see it. Don't be afraid.....-
Maglor waves his hand and says a few words, and a beautiful black steed comes down from the sky. It seems as if he is receiving orders from Maglor....
-I'll ride with you.
Paul and Maglor get on the horse that flies into the sky to meet Iceland......
Arnold is left alone, he is afraid.......Galadriel reassures him by saying:
-It's your turn, turn the globe.-.
Arnold obeys and with his finger shows the place. It is Austria. Hearing the name of the country he says:
-That's where all our grandparents are from! He jumps for joy.... My wish is that we all be together on Christmas Eve and celebrate Christmas together.
Wish granted, replies Galadriel. But you will have to wait until tonight......
The elves granted a wish to each of the children. Afterwards they brought them back to their home.
They all appeared in the garden commenting, among themselves, what they had seen....... the bells of Christmas are heard again.......
The elves say goodbye, saying:
-There is another surprise in store for you tonight. It is our gift to you all- The bells ring louder....... At the same time the atmosphere is filled with a pleasant fragrance......
Brian picks up the balloon and notices that it is perfect..... hurries to put it in its place.
In the evening the two families meet with their children and, they tell them that the gift for everyone is ....... to go to Austria to spend Christmas together with the grandparents......
Elfos y regalos mágicos María del Carmen Sánchez Copyright © 2021
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)