Page 88 of A Winter in Wonderland
‘Come on, I told you, so it’s time to get in the pool,’ Esteri demanded. I shook my head and she stood up, her hands on her hips and growled, ‘Get. In.’
‘OK, OK.’
I dipped a toe into the water and then to Esteri’s screeches of, ‘Just do it! Jump! Jump!’ I hurled myself into the ice pool.
And died.Goodbye, cruel world.
Actually, it was all right … Cold – awfully, awfully cold – but kind of a rush. I exhaled into the darkness and shrieked, ‘Oh mygod!’ through a wide, laughing, alive, smile.
Also, it did feel nice after the head-faintingly hot heat of the sauna. Still, though.
‘You do this every year?’ I asked Esteri through chattering teeth.
‘I do it whenever I can. Back at the chalet I sometimes come out of the sauna and have a little lie-down in the snow. You should try it.’
‘I think this has boosted my endorphins enough for this year, thanks. Can we get out now?’
‘Only when you admit it’s done you good.’
‘How will I know if it’s done me good?’
‘Have you created a nice memory?’ she asked.
I thought for a minute, looking back at the luxurious sauna and then into this hilarious icy water surrounded by snow. ‘Yes,’ I laughed.
‘Then it’s done you good.’
When we arrived back at the staff chalet, the kitchen and boot room was in full swing with staff members gettingready for their shifts. The smells of cooking breakfast filled the rooms and there were the usual cries of, ‘Where did I put my ski socks down, Ijusthad them?’, ‘Anyone want more toast?’ and ‘Myla, how do you feel about being an elf?’
Wait, what?
I turned, my hair straggly and unbrushed, my swimming costume damp in my hands, to see Daan holding a clipboard and smiling down at me.
‘What? Pardon?’ I said.
‘I don’t know if you know, but one of our elves, Josh, had to go home yesterday for a family emergency.’
Behind Daan, Esteri made a kissing face at me and high-tailed up to our room. Ignoring her, I said quietly, ‘Yeah, I heard. He told me.’
‘Oh right, you two were pretty close.’
‘I mean—’
‘Actually, that’s probably even better because maybe you picked up some tips along the way.’
‘Tips for what?’
‘Being one of Santa’s elves. With Josh gone, we’re one elf short, and have a big school group visiting for a few days so need the full house. Since you’re a little out of action because of your arm, how would you feel about being an elf?’
No, no, no, don’t make me be an elf.
I wondered how to tell him I was the last person suited for this role, without telling him anything like that. ‘My arm feels a lot better,’ I said.
‘That’s good, but you still need to partially rest it until atleast the end of the week, doctor’s orders. As an elf, I can make sure you don’t have to put any pressure on it at all.’
‘But, um … ’ I scanned the room, what for I don’t know. ‘Don’t elves have to do lots of dancing around and throwing snowballs and stuff? That sounds like it could be pretty hazardous.’
‘It’s fine.’ Daan waved my concerns away. ‘I can have you meeting and greeting, there may be some singing but we can avoid you having to be physical.’
