The Elf and the Neanderthal

The wonderful Tarabeth has issued a challenge on the Tea Room website.  The challenge is to write a drabble, ficlet, or story using this sentence:

"All the elves were hard at work in Santa's workshop ... all but one, that is ..."

With many thanks to Tarabeth, this is my response to the challenge.  

The Elf and the Neanderthal

All the elves were hard at work in Santa's workshop, all but one, that is.  No, poor Eldon was at his own little house, standing in the corner sniffling and rubbing his poor, burning backside.

"Hands by your side," Neanderthal grunted behind him. (Neanderthal?  Yes, there are Neanderthals at the North Pole. Beware they are everywhere!)  "You should be thinking about what you could have done differently."

Eldon, the elf, quickly stopped rubbing but couldn't stop his mouth from going into overdrive. "I COULD have made iceballs instead of snowballs!"  He immediately regretted his outburst as a large hand landed with incredible force on his already sore butt.

Since when did Neanderthals walk so quickly and quietly, Eldon didn't know.  He hadn't seen his Neanderthal come up behind him. But he had understood the grunts and growls that had accompanied the hard swat.  They translated too, "You don't sound very regretful, maybe you need more time across my lap."

A few more tears slipped down Eldon's cheeks and he felt the tips of his pointy ears turn red with embarrassment.

Another grunt from the Neanderthal, "Well?"

Laying his head against the two walls that formed the corner, Eldon said in a sad little voice, "No, I don't need more time over your lap.  I know it was wrong."

Then he found himself being gently turned around and led to the big armchair by the fireplace.  The Neanderthal sat down and settled Eldon on his lap.  The warmth from the fire rivaled the warmth coming from his bottom, but as his Neanderthal wrapped his arms around him, Eldon knew he was safe and loved.

"They were being mean to him," Eldon confessed in that sad voice.  "They were laughing at him; calling him names. They wouldn't let him play in any reindeer games."

"And you thought throwing snowballs at them would make them stop?"  Oh Neanderthals were sneaky!  The softly asked question bordered on understanding and reprimand.

Sighing, Eldon admitted, "I didn't think.  I just reacted."

The Neanderthal kissed the top of the elf's bent head. "And if you had stopped to think?  What would you have done differently?"

Eldon did what he hadn't done earlier that day, he thought for a moment.  What could he have done differently?  "I could've invited Rudolph to come with me.  I've got the new playstation game.  We could have ignored the others and had a good time playing the game."

"Yes, that's what you could have done.  It's what you SHOULD have done," Neanderthal agreed.  "And then you wouldn't have had a sore bottom.  So, think before you act."

The elf and the Neanderthal sat in comfortable silence.  Well as comfortable as Eldon could be with a recently spanked butt.  Then with regret, the elf said, "Christmas is right around the corner.  All the other elves are busy at the shop; I need to get to work."

As he tried to get up off the Neanderthal's lap, Eldon found himself pulled back and trapped in the big arms.

"It's snowing out there.  I think you should have a snow day," the Neanderthal growled as he nuzzled Eldon's neck.

"It's the North Pole!  There's ALWAYS snow!" Eldon protested.  But then the protest died as Neanderthal lifted him and carried him to the bedroom.

Deciding to put into practice the lesson he'd learned that day, Eldon decided to think before he reacted.  As his Neanderthal started to undress him, the elf had come to a decision.

"Snow day it is!"  All the thoughts left his head.  But his Neanderthal didn't seem to mind.

The End