A night to rememberWritten by M. Gerald

Illustrated by D. Balicevic

Find out more about the author and illustrator of this month’s story by going to our websitewww.bayard-magazines.co.uk

and clicking on Teachers

�

Once upon a time, in the smallest of small villages, far to the north, lived some little elves.Do you want to meet them? Come closer… Just a little closer… Sssshhhh…

Hazel Hoe, makes things grow

Old man Whistle, the station master and Little Peep, his wife

Duncan Dusted, always cleaning

Nils, night watchman

Sam Soots, chimney sweep

Rosie Baker, cake maker

Tiny Teeny, the smallest elf

Dreamy Dora, head in the clouds

Longman, the tallest elf

Zippy, the fastest elf

Ikan Fixit, king of DIY

Peter Postin, the smallest postman

Bill Blush, a timid elf

��

There was something going on in the smallest of small villages…

Everyone was very excited.The elves hadn’t stopped working since early that morning.They wanted to make sure that everything would be ready when their guest arrived. They were waiting for someone very special who was coming from far away.

� �

As evening fell,Nils, the night watchman,lit the last street light.He said, “Hurry up! Go and get ready.Our guest will be here soon…”Everyone ran home to put on their party hats.Nils smiled and said to himself, “I think this will be the best partywe have ever had!”

MERRY CHRISTMAS� �

At last, everything was readybut the special guest had not arrived yet…Then suddenly, a storm began thundering and rumbling and rattling all around.The wind blew and the snow swirled.All the street lights went out!The elves were very disappointed.How would their guest ever get there in the storm?Nils, the night watchman, was worried that the elves would be blown away too.So he said, “Go home! Stay indoors! I’ll pop up the hill to see if our guest is on his way.If I see him, I’ll wave to you!”

10 11

The wind blew and the snow swirled.Nils struggled up the hill. From the top, he could see a light at the little station.It looked like the 9.12 trainhad arrived in spite of the snow.Nils smiled. So that was it!Their special guestmust have come by train!Nils rushed to the station.

1�12

But the train hadn’t brought the person everyone was waiting for.Nils was disappointed but had no time to think about it.“This train terminates here. All change, please!” said the station master. The train couldn’t go any furtherbecause of the snow.“We must find places for all these travellers to stay,” thought Nils.He went ahead with his lantern and led the travellers to the smallest of small villages.

1� 1�

Knock! Knock! Knock! went Nils on the door of the first house.“Has our special guest arrived?” asked Longman. “Not yet,” replied Nils.But there was plenty of room in the house for a family of rabbits.

Knock! Knock! Knock! went Nils | on the door of the second house.“Has our special guest arrived?”asked Peter Postin, the smallest postman.“Not yet,” replied Nils.But Peter Postin was happy to have Centipaws’s extra pairs of hands to help him sort the post.

Knock! Knock! Knock! went Nils on the door of the third house.“Has our special guest arrived?”asked Ikan Fixit. “Not yet,” replied Nils.But there was plenty of spacefor the lady in the big hat.Nils could relax now that everyone was taken care of.

1�1�

As he set off home, Nils noticed a light down by the port. A boat was arriving in spite of the wind and the snow.Nils smiled. That was it!Their special guest had come by boat!He ran down the hill.But the boat hadn’t brought the person everyone was waiting for.On board was a woman called Lila with a collection of glow worms.“What an adventure!” said Lila.“We were caught in the storm.We nearly capsized twelve timesand the worst thing wasthat the glow worms were seasick!When I spotted your village,I thought maybe we could stay the night… …that is, if you don’t mind the bright light!”Nils smiled and told her she could stay at his house.

1� 1�

The elves were puzzled by the strange light.One by one they came out of their houses and gathered around to see.Then suddenly Ikan Fixit shouted,“Here he is! Here he is!”It was their special guest arriving at long last.He said in a deep voice,“Well, well, here you all are!Miss Smart, the Rabbit family and Centipaws. Even you, Lila!I looked for you everywhere!But your houses were all locked upso I didn’t dare leave your presents there.I was very worried…But I’m so glad you’re all here!”

20 21

Father Christmas went to the big house and put on his new slippers. Phew! He had finished his delivery and now he could have a restin the smallest of small villages!The elves were tiptoeing awaywhen Father Christmas stopped them.“Actually, I’m not that tired and I was wondering if… well…How about having a little party?”Nils smiled. “If you only knew…We prepared a wonderful party for you.But the storm blew everything away!”So Lila fetched her cello and began to play.Father Christmas began dancing.Soon in the smallest of small villages everyone was dancing and laughing!

THE END

22 2�