Teema's Train

Teema and Timbo Elf stood waiting for the train that would take her back home to Minnesota. Timbo had helped her pack, and had helped her carry her stuff to the platform. Timbo and Teema were cousins, and friends, but Timbo wasn't the person Teema wanted to be with.

"Did you have a nice time?" asked Timbo.

"Oh, yes, thank you," said Teema.

"Good," said Timbo. And that was about all that Timbo could think to ask, so he asked it again.

"You liked it here? While you were visiting?" he asked.

"It was very nice," said Teema. "I liked the reindeer."

"Yes," said Timbo. "They are very nice."

Teema nodded. There was a silence, as they waited for the train. Timbo was about to ask the question again, when Teema said "Have you seen Waldo today?"

"No..." said Timbo. "But then again, I wasn't looking for him."

"I was hoping he'd be here to say goodbye to me," said Teema.

There was a whistle in the distance. The train was coming. "I guess he's not going to make it," said Timbo.

The train arrived, and a few sacks of last-minute letters to Santa were unloaded, and the train was ready to go again. "Well, I guess it's time to go," said Teema.

"Wait!" said a little voice. "Wait!"

Teema turned, and for the first time this day, smiled. "Waldo!" she called. "Hurry up!"

Waldo Elf ran up to the train. He had a basket with him. "I'm sorry it took so long to get here," he said. "I was making you something to eat on the train!" He gave Teema the basket. Teema looked inside and smiled. "Strawberry and mustard muffins! Thank you!" she said.

Waldo dug into the pocket of his tunic, and pulled out a small box. "I got this for you, too," he said, a bit shyly.

"Earrings! How pretty!" said Teema, delighted. "Thank you!"

"I got them for you cuz you're a girl, and girls like earrings," explained Waldo. Then he cleared his throat, and said "I really had a nice time with you, and I hope we can be friends, even though you're going back to your home."

"Of course we can," said Teema. "I'm so glad you came to say goodbye." She pulled something out of a pocket. "This is for you," she said, handing it to him. Waldo looked at it, unsure of what it was. "It's an mp3 player," she said, and put the headphones on his head. "I've put some of the songs I like to sing on it," she pushed a button, and a familiar tune came out of the player:

"Santa Claus is my buddy! He is not a fuddy-duddy!"

"Hey! That's my song you're singing!" said Waldo, laughing.

"I hope you don't mind that I sang it," said Teema.

"Heck no! You sing it a whole lot better than I do!" said Waldo.

"All aboard!" cried the conductor.

"I've got to go," said Teema. And she hugged Waldo, who hugged her back, smiling and crying at the same time.

"I hope I get to see you again sometime," said Waldo.

"Well, why don't you come to the farm this summer?" asked Teema. "I can show you how to curry horses!"

"I don't like curry," said Waldo. "It give me gas."

Teema laughed. "No! Not that kind of curry!" The train started to move, so she got on and shouted to him. "I'll write you a letter when I get home! Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas to you too!" shouted Waldo. He smiled and waved as the train rolled away. Soon it was just Waldo and Timbo. There was an awkward silence. "So...did you have a nice time?" asked Timbo.

It's very nearly Christmas! Find out how the Elves get everything ready by reading The North Pole Times!