Gizmo Has a New Gizmo

The Thanksgiving feast at the North Pole had just ended. After returning from the holiday parades, Santa and Mrs. Claus hosted a grand dinner for every elf in the Great Hall. There were roasted chestnuts, cranberry pudding, towering pies, and a turkey so large it took three elves to carry it.

When dinner was over, most elves stayed to sing and celebrate.
But Waldo Elf had something else on his mind.

He slipped out quietly, holding a mustard jar in his mittened hands. Only a tiny bit remained at the bottom — and that simply would not do. Strawberry-and-mustard pudding, Waldo’s favorite dessert in the entire world, required every last bit.

So Waldo headed over to Gizmo Elf’s workshop, holding the jar like treasure.

Inside, Gizmo’s workshop stretched high and wide — full of glowing tools, clicking gears, and inventions stacked to the rafters. And in the center stood something enormous under a tarp. Even covered, it looked important. Maybe even world-changing.

Waldo glanced at it for about half a second.

Then he held out the jar.

“Hey Gizmo! Can you help me? It’s really important.”

Gizmo poked his head out from under the tarp, a welding goggle pushed up on his forehead.

“Yes,” Gizmo said thoughtfully. “I think I probably could.”
He disappeared back under the tarp.

“No, no — I mean, will you help me?” Waldo clarified.

“Oh! Of course!” Gizmo climbed down with a smile. “What seems to be the problem?”

Waldo offered the jar. “There’s only a smidge left. And pudding depends on this.”

Gizmo examined it, measured it twice, then returned with a tool.

“Try this.”

Waldo scraped inside. His eyes sparkled. “Perfect! What do you call it?”

“A spoon,” Gizmo replied, already returning to the tarp.

Waldo glanced up. “So… whatcha building?”

“It’s a secret,” Gizmo said proudly. “You’ll never guess.”

“Is it a spaceship so Santa can deliver presents to astronauts on the International Space Station?”

Gizmo froze.

“…Yes. How in the world did you guess?"

"I didn't," said Waldo, picking up a piece of paper from Gizmo's workbench. "It's what you wrote on the top of these plans here."

Gizmo sighed. “Waldo… promise you won’t tell anyone.”

Waldo nodded grandly.
“Not only do I promise — I’ll make everyone I tell promise too!”

Gizmo stared at the door after Waldo left.

He did not feel reassured.

Will Waldo spoil Gizmo's surprise? 

Stop back tomorrow to find out!