Magical Collision: A Pandemic Christmas Tale
This essay was first written December 22, 2020, for the St. Charles Writers Group. However, we had another “magical collision” when our youngest daughter lost a tooth the other day.
Happy Holidays, everyone. May the new year be filled with love, laughter, good health, and peace.
On the night of December 6th, also known as St. Nicholas Day, my oldest daughter lost a tooth. She and her sister had recently learned about St. Nicholas, and so, along with a tooth-shaped pocket stuffed under her pillow, the two girls placed their boots at the foot of their beds. Excitement prevented them from gliding off into gentle slumber until late evening. My husband and I patiently waited for silence to fall in the house.
Did I mention we also have an Elf on the Shelf? The tradition started three years ago when my daughter discovered that other children in her class had a mischievous Santa’s helper who spies on them during the day and comes alive only at night. We were soon moving to a new town and she was sad to leave her old home and friends behind. She wished for an elf to come stay with her during the Christmas season, and lo and behold, Elfla appeared that night.
But back to the Evening of St. Nicholas, 2020. A year marked by a pandemic that necessitated mask-wearing, schools closing down twice, and distance from friends and loved ones; protests against systemic racism which caused grave conversations in our house; and political rallies which thundered past with angry shouting that my children could hear. A year parents could never fathom their children experiencing. That night, on December 6th, a magical collision of good spirits occurred within our walls. I can only imagine how the conversation between Elfla, the Tooth Fairy, and St. Nicholas may have gone:
Elfla, who is helping herself to some cookies and shedding crumbs all over the kitchen, is startled to see a bearded man in white flowing robes standing in the room. “What the—? Who are you? Hands off my cookies, pal!”
“Ho ho ho!” Jolly Ol’ St. Nick replies. “I am St. Nicholas!”
“What are you, some sort of Santa wannabe? I happen to know Santa’s back at the North Pole, keeping an eye on the worker elves.” Elfla puffs up her chest for pride of being a Scout-level elf.
“No, vivo en España!” St. Nick tries to swipe the last cookie, but Elfla shoves it in her chocolate-stained mouth.
“Did you get a visa to come here? Santa’s having big problems since travel is forbidden during this pandemic.”
Before Nick can respond, a tiny, sparkling light illuminates the dark kitchen. The glow swells until the outline of a beautiful blue fairy with gossamer wings can be seen like a reflection on water. “Hello, dears. I am the Tooth Fairy.”
Elfla throws up her greasy, white-gloved hands. “What is this? A party? You guys are breaking the Stay at Home order! Keep your distance, will ya? And where are your masks?”
The Tooth Fairy furrows her lovely brow. “Oh, dear. I seemed to have forgotten mine. I’ll be quick. Just need to make a little exchange.”
“And I am a saint! I have been granted immunity on this day in order to fulfil my duties.”
The Tooth Fairy regards Nick curiously. “You only work this one night? Doesn’t seem very essential, unlike me. Children lose their teeth every day.”
“I leave presents inside of children’s shoes when they have been good,” Nick bellows, scratching his beard. “This year, everyone is getting a tablet so they can Zoom with their friends, but it’s hard to get them in those little shoes.”
“Are you going upstairs? Because that’s where I’m headed.” Elfla watches as the Tooth Fairy wings her way into the hall, St. Nick at her side.
A few minutes later, the Tooth Fairy and St. Nick reappear as Elfla is climbing on top of the refrigerator. She asks, “How’d it go? Nick, did you drop off your treats? Tooth Fairy, did you get the tooth?”
The Tooth Fairy smiles and presents a polished white canine, which she places into a small sack, and then rummages around, producing a tiny vial of hand sanitizer. “Want some?” she asks St. Nicholas. “You did have to stick your hand in a child’s stinky shoe.”
St. Nicholas takes some and rubs his hands together vigorously. “Many thanks. I must be off, as there are many children to visit on this winter’s night.” He disappears.
The Tooth Fairy beams at the elf. “What magic will you perform this evening, my dear?”
Elfla shrugs. “I’m going to make a little more mess and then sit up here until morning. Say, what do you do with all those teeth?”
“Right now, I trade them in for antibacterial wipes and toilet paper on the black market.” The Tooth Fairy winks, then vanishes.
Shaking her head, Elfla kicks some fridge magnets at her feet. “What a wacky night. Glad I don’t have to work that hard. It does give me an idea for some fun with toilet paper, though. Maybe tomorrow.”
Morning light awoke the two girls, who jumped from their beds to find electronic devices wedged into their boots. The older daughter delighted as she discovered a gold coin in her tooth pillow. Squealing, the two rushed downstairs to a messy scene of cookie crumbs and their friend the elf with a frozen grin. For them, it had been a night of magic.
In their home, All Is Good.