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Not many more days. Not many more nights. Herbie the Elf reached to turn on the lights. He surveyed the kitchen, checked all the supplies And was pleased as he looked with his twinkling eyes That cookie production by his team of five Could begin right away if they just would arrive. As chief of the crew his job was quite clear He had elves to command and the deadline was near He inspected the jars and when he reached the last one Cried, "We have less than before! We're less than half done!" As the sun warmed the air as best as it could The North Pole was waking and well that it should For Christmas was coming, it just wouldn't wait And like Santa these cookies just couldn't be late The chief smiled brightly to see that on time His crew was approaching in one happy line With Herbie in front followed closely by Mindy Then P.J. and Lester and Mindy's twin Cindy. They walked through the kitchen and went to their places Each ready to run in the cookie-bake races. As they started to mix all the sugar and flour Herbie announced some news that was sour "I am sad to report" he began with a pout "That some cookies we made have now somehow run out" P.J. was first to offer a guess As to how they had gotten in this little mess "Maybe mean bears" he said filled with fright "Broke into our home and ate cookies last night." "I doubt that," said Herbie in a logical way "For bears would leave paw prints we'd still see today." Cindy, the first to believe in the best Said "Maybe Santa has moved some away from the rest." "Not likely, " said Herbie inspecting the scene He'd have left me a note." and then Mindy, quite mean Said "I'll bet someone stole them. There must be a thief." But to Herbie this thought was beyond elf belief. He turned then toward Lester who nervously stuttered "What matters who took them? They're gone." he half-muttered. So with less than a smile, they started their baking With little regard for the noise they were making They each did their jobs and fell into a rhythm A cookie assemblyline tuned to precision Into the bowl went each item as needed Each line of the recipe strictly was heeded They measured, they added, they mixed and they scooped They baked and they cooled and they cleaned until pooped. At lunchtime they stopped for a well deserved rest Too tired to taste - the part they all liked the best. The afternoon shift began like the first Their energy back to almost full-burst Herbie measured each item into the bowl Mindy mixed them together the way she'd been told P.J. dipped in his spoon and picked up a small bit And turned quickly toward Lester whose job was to sit As still as a statue holding each of the trays And when full pass them on to sweet Cindy who lays Each carefully into the oven which will Turn dough into cookies so jars will be filled. But this time as P.J. turned spoon at the ready The tray was not being held waiting and steady The spoonful of dough landed "PLOP" on the floor But P.J. who was all consumed by his chore Turned back to the bowl and picked up some more dough And was all set to turn when he heard a cry "No!" Everyone stopped and looked over at Mindy Whose cry had scared P.J. and upset sweet Cindy With hands on her hips, her anger a-fester She glanced all around then asked, "Hey! Where's Lester? Herbie counted each head within his small bunch And acknowledged that Lester was not back from lunch "First cookies now elves with the big deadline nearing I wonder what else will start disappearing." They had no time to guess or even to worry They had to find Lester and in quite a hurry. They searched all the nooks and each cranny too But Lester was nowhere, oh now what to do? Mindy called their attention to crumbs on the floor That left quite a trail right to the back door Herbie deduced, "He's out getting some air. But we need him here now there's no time to spare!" So they put on their coats and followed the trail Through the snow and the wind but to no avail. The crumb path just stopped outside a big cave And cute little P.J. who wasn't that brave Cried "Oh no! It's the bears! Now what will we do? They've taken our cookies and poor Lester too!" They mustered their courage, all four a bit scared But knew that their friend was in trouble so dared To enter the den where the big white bears go After prowling around in the ice and the snow. Herbie was first to take in the sight Of the warm cozy den bathed in soft firelight. The Mom and Dad bear were a few feet away While their cubs and our Lester were having a play They laughed and they wrestled and when they were done Ate freshly baked cookies and had some more fun. "Lester," said P.J. fear starting to fade, "How did these bears get the cookies we made?" "From me," replied Lester and before they complained He decided 'twas time for all to be explained. "A few days ago," Lester's story began "I went out to the hen house for eggs and I ran Into these two small cubs who stood noses in air Catching whiffs of our cookies, it just wasn't fair! They could smell the warm sweetness but couldn't come in Since they're bears afterall so I snuck out one tin. And I watched as they muched, their eyes filled with glee And I knew that their joy was because it was me Who shared what we had and what they had not So I brought them some more although still not alot." Herbie, Sweet Cindy and little P.J. All smiled at what their friend Lester did say But the moment seemed broken when Mindy declared "They can't have our cookies!" and everyone stared As slowly she started to smile at the rest "Not without cocoa, that's how they taste best!" Everyone laughed and the elves did retreat To mix cups of cocoa so warm and so sweet They returned to the cave with more cookies to share Since Herbie decided they had time to spare For both visiting friends and baking some more He remembered that Christmas should not be a chore. And Mindy remembered that kindness returned From those you gave yours to, she was glad she had learned. Small P.J. was first in the small elf parade The bears now his friends he was not still afraid But Lester had learned the truth everyone needs And he taught all the others not with words but with deeds When you see those without, you know where to start Share what you have and follow your heart. |