Chapter 3
FALLON
My family would be proud. I had no doubts there. But it was Mom I was most scared of approaching with my good news.
The dollmaking room was huge. One of the biggest in the entire factory workshop. Dolls never went out of style, always trending, always big on wish lists.
Mom ran up and down the aisles, her energy boundless, praising and giving orders. She hadn’t seen me yet.
The autumn light fell through the upper windows, sharp rays brightening the already well-lit room. Dust particles swam on currents of air. When I looked at them, I predicted their turns and curves, my mind constantly making little equations to fit ever-changing patterns.
On top of that, the Santa’s Sleigh meeting played over and over in my mind.
I had no idea, walking into that building, that the head of Santa’s Sleigh would be the one to interview me, nor did I know he was an elf.
The gentle curving points of his ears was the first thing I saw.
Then the blond hair, the blue eyes, the utter tall slimness of him.
Keir, the leader of Santa’s Sleigh, second only to Santa himself, was going to be the one who questioned and judged me right then and there.
I hadn’t been sure I’d be able to speak. I was sure I’d blanked out for a few seconds, something that had never happened to me before.
When Keir said, “You already have the job,” I had to double check myself that I wasn’t dreaming.
Finally looking up to see me standing in the doorway, Mom came toward me.
“Fallon. Hey. You’re here?” When she got closer, she said, “I thought you asked for today off.”
“I did. I have something I need to tell you.” Be brave, I thought to myself.
“We’re so busy today. Can it wait until I get home?”
“Mom, please.” I reached out and lightly touched her upper arm. “I need to talk to you.”
“Honey, I really don’t have the time.”
“Right now. Please. It’s very important.”
She called out to her assistant. “I’ll be right back.”
He nodded and waved her away.
We went to the break room.
Mom reached out to embrace me. “I’m so glad you’re here. It’s busy today. I know it’s your day off, but can you put in a few hours after all?”
She was tall, with long hair like most elves. Hers was black and silken. Everyone in our family had that trait except me. My hair was brown, not black. And I had not had much luck growing it past my shoulders.
“No. I have something to tell you.” My throat went dry. I gestured to one of the soft couches by the fire. “Maybe you’ll want to sit down.”
She frowned. “Fallon. What? Tell me.” She remained standing.
I backed up, the edge of the couch touching the back of one knee. Maybe it was me who needed to sit. I took a deep breath.
“Fallon, what’s going on?”
“I—I got a new job.”
“What? I didn’t hear about anything like that. What do you mean?”
“It’s not here at the workshop.”
Her head tilted back. “I—I—don’t understand.”
“It’s because of my math skills. I got this job where I can use them.”
“That doesn’t make any sense. You don’t have your degree yet. That’s more of a hobby for you anyway.”
I took a deep, shaky breath. “I’m actually quite good. Even without a degree.”
Now she sat down hard as if all the strength had left her. “Fallon, you’re needed here. And you’re a good worker. Is that it? Do you think you aren’t valued enough here? Because you are. Maybe I don’t say it enough—”
“Mom. Stop for a second. I know I’m adequate here. But not great. And I don’t expect you to tell me that. I’ve always wanted to work with my talent.”
She blinked like she always did when I talked too much or too fast. “You can’t leave. Santa needs all his workers. This season is busier than ever.”
“Santa also needs workers in other places. I’ll still be working for him.”
“What?” She looked confused, a deliberate habit she had when she wasn’t getting her way.
“I’ll be working for Santa,” I repeated. “It’s a position I’ve dreamed of. At Santa’s Sleigh.”
She blinked as if coming out of a dream. “You got a job at Santa’s Sleigh?”
“Yeah.”
“In reindeer shifter territory.” Her eyes closed. “It was bound to happen. Wanting to be with your own kind. You never said anything.”
“It’s not about that. Mom, I’m going to be doing math. Lots of math. That’s why I wanted the job. Not because of who works there.”
“Do they know you can’t fly?”
That question hit like a rock had been thrown at my chest. “No. I mean, yes, my new boss knows. I told him. By the way, he’s an elf.”
Her eyes flashed open. She was angry. Or hurt. Maybe both.
“Most elves don’t get that opportunity over there.”
“Well, he has. He’s in charge. His name is Keir and he wants me to start on Monday.”
“Monday? That gives me very little notice to fill your position.” Lashing out. It was her go-to response when she knew she was losing control.
I loved Mom a lot. She raised us well, all alone, since her husband had died before she’d found me. She made an excellent manager. Her penchant to organize and control insured that. It also meant us kids sometimes had to rebel a little into our independence.
“I’m sorry for that,” I said. “I hope you can understand how important this is to me.”
She crossed her arms over her chest, glancing about the room in a way that let me know she couldn’t find her words.
“Are you the least bit happy for me?” I asked.
“Of course, I am, kiddo.” She swallowed hard. “It's a little far to go every day.” We lived on the far east side of the Village. “Does this mean you'll also be moving out?”
“Not at this time.”
Santa’s Sleigh was on the west side of the village.
I'd have to catch the underground tram pretty early every morning five days a week.
It was forty minutes one way. But that was not a deterrent for me.
I would have endured an even longer trip to work with this team every day in the subject I was most talented in.
“Well, what else can I say? I do hope you'll fit in well there with the other reindeer shifters.”
“And my elf boss,” I added.
“Which elf is that again? There aren't many on that team.”
“I didn't know there were any until today. His name is Keir.”
“And he's in charge over there?”
“Santa's number one.”
“Hmm. We'll certainly miss you here. I guess if this is your last day you should pack up your things. I'll see you at home tonight?”
“Yes.”
“All right, then.”
I didn't have much at my workstation to take home.
Most of the tools in my drawer belonged to the workshop.
I grabbed a small box and place the items I wanted inside.
My spare pair of reading glasses. An old bottle of Tylenol which I rarely used and kept only when I had double shifts and the muscle aches would set in.
The blue spiral notebook where I scribbled equations, and a couple of pens. That was it.
I had a few friends who worked next to me and said my goodbyes to them.
Unlike Mom, they were excited for me. Hugging me.
Sending me off with a lot of “good lucks” and “go get ‘ems.” Anyone who knew me understood my passion to work in the field of math.
Maybe they thought it was weird, but I also felt admiration from them.
When I got home, I opened my laptop and began to work. Just because I'd gotten a new job didn't mean my classes stopped. I intended to keep up even if it meant later nights.
Mom always worked late. Only two of my siblings still lived at home.
The rest had found mates and moved out to start their own families.
Still, hard workers on Friday night would be hungry when they arrived.
I took a break and started my preparations for a spaghetti dinner.
I didn't know if they would want to celebrate, but I did. Spaghetti was my favorite meal.
My choice was made.