The Christmas Elf
by Sissy Freeborn

The train rolled to a silent stop at the town station at precisely 2:03 a.m. and only one man got off. A curious little man, with a suitcase almost as big as he was, he looked around as if he were surveying the prospects of the town. Mrs. Oliver, the only other person in the station, watched the train slowly pull out of the station as silently as it had pulled in. She turned from the train to see where the little man was going, but he was nowhere in sight. She turned and continued to walk home from her job at the nursing home. The job wasn't finished at the end of her shift and she worked late again. She was very tired and cold. Her rheumatism was acting up again. She got two more blocks before she remembered there was no train at 2:03 a.m. In fact, there was no train running at all between 12 a.m. and 7 a.m. Odd! thought Mrs. Oliver. How very odd and then she promptly forgot all about it. She was, after all, so very tired and her memory was not as good as it used to be Sarah Summers stared out over the fields. It was past two in the morning. She had been awakened by the sound of a train running over the north tracks. But when she got to the window there was nothing on the tracks. It must have been a dream, she thought, and tried to return to sleep, but it eluded her. She had a premonition something was about to happen and she was troubled. The next morning at Dora's restaurant, Dora noticed a little man sitting at one of the corner tables quietly sipping a cup of coffee and just listening. She had never seen him before and thought he was just another salesman passing through and sizing up his marks at her diner. But it was not a bad way to learn the town's business, for it is said, mostly by Dora's customers, that all the business of the town is discussed at Dora's every morning. Dora's restaurant was decorated for Christmas with the usual decorations she got from the mercantile, our local five and ten. Somehow, thought Dora, they still didn't get her into the mood of Christmas. Something was missing...something she could not define. The decorations seemed dull and lifeless. The talk also alarmed her. It was of violence, and hatred. And she knew it was all wrong. Where was the Christmas spirit? None of the people here were smiling these days. It was all so depressing. The big talk was of the new people who moved into the old Talbot place. The big thing that was said about them was that they were Jews. Bart Clation piped up, as often as he could, that they also refused to buy any of his decorations of crosses or Santas to set out in the front lawn. He could not even unload a Christmas tree on them. You see, Bart had been the victim of a fast talking salesman who said the plastic ornaments would be a great seller and they were not. He had been stuck trying to sell them for two Christmases now, and nobody wanted any this year, or any other. Most of our people knew little about Jews, except what they heard in rumors. Most people didn't believe the rumors, but still were they not the people who killed Christ? Now old Cora Epplemier was a very rich widower and came from one of the first families in America. She had no family alive. But she, with her money, was very active in the town. Her new campaign was to oust the new arrivals...The Jews! You see, the way old Cora Epplemier saw the matter she was just doing her job of preserving the town. Was it not her idea to line the walkway with flowers and organizing the founders high teas? Since she paid for it, all went along with her crusades. Cora prided herself that she was entrusted with the training of the town girls (myself one of her trainees). Actually, she had the only book on young ladies training and so most people left it to her. About time these farmers had some culture anyhow, thought Cora. They would learn how to act in high society, if it killed them, she reasoned. So, when it came to new people moving here without references well that was another matter. It would be disruptive, if she let just anybody settle here. Cora considered herself the keeper of the town heritage. But, she was one for "righteous causes" and what better than a bunch of non-Christians moving in! Well, this would never do and she was determined to prevent it. It was bad enough the Catholics had moved in with their silly rites dealing with plaster statues and rosaries all controlled by one Italian. "Just like the Mafia", she would say. "But, at least they were Christians. Not like these Jews!" Next thing, she thought, they would start a church or whatever they called it. Why, one of the women even had a tattoo put on her arm, though she tried to hide it, of a bunch of numbers and letters mostly. How upsetting, as surely this was the mark of the devil and Cora made a big point of it. Sarah Summers stood staring out the back door. The funny little salesman, with the big case, was disappearing over the hill. She looked down at the shiny crystal he had just sold her. She normally never bought such items. They were so impractical and were good for nothing but dust gathering. She looked again at the crystal. It was different and it seemed alive. Light seemed to flow within it. What did that salesman say it was...a part of a star? Such a lie, and so near Christmas, but it did catch her eye. How could it be a star? She knew what they were made of and it was not crystal and the star of what? It started with a "B". Oh, well, she never believed half of what those salesmen said about their products. She once bought a combination apple peeler and about a dozen other tools and found out that it didn't peel apples very well and did none of the other jobs at all. Sarah roused herself. She'd had a sleepless night. She knew there was a town meeting tonight and she wanted to go, no matter how tired she felt. It was unusual so close to Christmas, but old Cora was starting up another "to do" about something. She had been all over town spreading just awful things about the new people. Sarah knew how that felt. She knew well the pain of having stories spread about yourself. So, she hoped the meeting was not about them. The meeting was well under way, when Sarah got to the town hall. As she walked in, she could hear the angry voices resounding in the meeting room. They wanted the Jews out and they would block their request for a business in the town. Sarah didn't know why she went because noone would listen to her, when old Cora held sway. She felt very alone standing in the gloomy half-lighted room. She saw Charlotte, her nemesis, whispering to her friends and giggling. No doubt telling lies about me again, she thought. That thought caused her to stammer and to blush. She wanted to run away and almost did. Then, she reached into her pocket and felt something warm in her hand. What is this? she thought, as she pulled it out and found she was holding that strange crystal. How did that get in there? she wondered. It was brilliant and in the dim, gloomy light, it seemed to give her confidence. As she looked up, a man was standing and saying "These people have nothing in common with us!" "I guess not", said Sarah, sounding more confident than she felt. "They believe in people like Isaiah and Moses. Perhaps you have heard of them? There was also a Jewish prophet of theirs called Jesus. I know that you have heard of him. I think that the newcomers have more in common with us than they have differences." The words seemed to form in her mind, as power and strength flowed into her. The gleam of the crystal reflected off the walls and it's light danced off the shiny metal fittings and onto the people. Soon, more people got up to speak for the new people. Then, it was over. She was exhausted. They had voted to accept the business request and most, of the townspeople, sheepishly realized what they had almost done. But not all, for Cora had stormed out trailing Charlotte. As Sarah sat down in a chair, she absently looked at her hand. She was still holding the crystal, but now it was just a transparent glass globe. Everything inside had escaped. Just a cheap ornament, after all, she thought. Just a cheap piece of glass. How could she be talked into buying this? But then, it might make a nice tree ornament. She knew it would go right next to the angel on the top, and that is where it remained every Christmas after. The next day, at Dora's, Sarah was listening to her talk about the Freebergs. They would be opening an inn on Town Line Road. Dora said that they had been innkeepers for generations, even back to the time of Christ in the Holy Land. "Where in the Holy Land?" asked Sarah absentmindedly, as she sipped her coffee. Dora told her that it was in Bethlehem, or something like that. Sarah was sure someone was talking to her about that town just recently, but who? Dora looked out at the Christmas decorations. They seemed to glint and sparkle, with a light like she had never seen before. Strange, she thought, since there was no light falling on them. It was as if the light came from the customers themselves. Her customers were happy, wishing each other "Season's Greetings" and really meaning it. You could not help but be affected by their warmth and cheer. Mrs. Oliver limped down the road thinking about the change in the town's people, also. They really had the Christmas spirit now, doing little things for each other. That, in itself, was a real miracle, thought Mrs. Oliver. The pain in her legs forced her to stop near the station. If I got only one gift this year, thought Mrs. Oliver, it would be to be rid of this rheumatism. It was getting worse and soon she would have to quit her job. Then, where will I be, she thought. Her projected loss of independence and income scared her terribly. As she started to leave, she looked up and saw the little man with the big suitcase coming toward her. "Merry Christmas", she called out to him. "It is a shame you have to work on Christmas!" He tipped his hat and said, "Not to worry, Mrs. Oliver. I will be home for Christmas. It is my boss' birthday, you know. And a very, merry Christmas to you." She watched the smiling, little man board the train, that she could have sworn was not there a moment ago. "May the Lord's blessings be upon you this Christmas eve, Nancy", he said, as he mounted the train. Remarkable, she thought. How did he know my name? I wonder what he sells? Well, whatever he sells, she thought, no good will ever come of it. Him coming and going in the middle of the night. Still, she thought, I do hope he gets home for Christmas. As she walked home, she thought about the new tradition in the town. Next to the manger stood a shiny menorah. For some in the town, it was an ancient symbol. But, for all of the town, it was a reminder that, while our fears continue to try to drive a wedge between men, our dreams hold us together, in a common bond. Mrs. Oliver walked two whole blocks, before she realized that her rheumatism was gone. "Well, I'll be," she said aloud, even as the knowledge of her illness faded from her memory.