This is the conclusion to Time for Tea

The tea was really sweet. Poor MAlabaster was trying his best to be polite and drink it. He looked like he was in pain as he swallowed the last gulp.

“This tea is delicious.” CandyCane thanked Miss Dorinda as she poured more into her teacup.

Flash liked the tea but would have preferred it to be iced tea. Snowball was happy to drink his ice-cold water.

“So, tell me where you all are from and what you do?”

The friends looked at each other. They couldn’t tell the truth. Their work was top secret, plus she wouldn’t believe them anyway.

“What is a Whangdoodle?” Snowball spoke up, trying to distract her.

Miss Dorinda’s eyes sparkled. “Whangdoodles are special.  They are always right within your reach.”

The elves looked around the room, but they didn’t see any. What did she mean?

“I typically have tea with a group of Whangdoodles, but you came today, so I excused them to go out and play.”

Nodding their heads, the elves weren’t quite sure what to say. Were they all in the backyard?

“I probably should go check on Peanut. She is in the backyard with the Whangdoodles. Do you want to come with me to see them?”

They were really getting hungry, but how could they tell her no.

The song “Santa Claus is coming to town” started playing on CandyCane’s phone.

Miss Dorinda gave CandyCane a strange look as she tried to silence her phone.

Flash started singing as CandyCane walked outside to talk to Santa.

The sounds of off-key singing filled the house when Candy Cane walked back in. Flash had everyone singing “Jingle Bells.”

They stopped when CandyCane entered the room. Well, everyone except Miss Dorinda stopped. She was still singing at the top of her lungs. 

“Don’t stop now!” Miss Dorinda said.

CandyCane walked over to her.  “Thanks so much for being the perfect host and for the delicious tea, but something has come up, and we must go now. I am sorry.”

The other elves stood up quickly. They were eager to hear what Santa had wanted. Why had he called CandyCane?

They each thanked Miss Dorinda again and then headed outside. When they all were away from the house and walking back to the hotel, CandyCane spoke.  “We have to go back to the NorthPole tonight.”

“Why? We were supposed to have two weeks of vacation. It’s only been a few days.” said Snowball. The others nodded their heads in agreement.

“I know, and Santa is sorry, but he needs us. Jinx and Jangle lost the reindeer!”

“How could they lose the reindeer??”

All of the elves were totally ferhoodled over this news, and no one said anything for a little while as they kept walking.

Then Alabaster spoke up. “Lost reindeer or not, I am STILL hungry.”

Everyone laughed, and they made sure to stop at the next restaurant that they saw.

The tacos hit the spot. Alabaster felt much better after eating his salmon taco.

“Why would you put fish in a taco?” questioned CandyCane, giving Alabaster a weird look.

They may have differed on the types of tacos, but they all agreed that Torchy’s Tacos were the best they ever had. They also agreed not to say anything to Chef Salvo back at the Noeth Pole. He was proud of his tacos.

The restaurant was busy, and while they were waiting for the check, CandyCane stacked up the dishes. Then she did the same thing wth the glasses. The others were used to her doing this every time they went to a restaurant.

“I think you missed your calling as a waitress.” Alabaster said.

Snowball scoffed at the idea. “Not sure about that. Waitresses are supposed be friendly and polite, not calling names or throwing things.”

“What are you saying doolally?” CandyCane asked as two icecubes flew across the table.

“Ouch!” Flash yelled.

She was holding her thumb.

“Its OK, only a paper cut this time.” Flash said.

“A paper cut? How did you get a paper cut?” Snowball asked.

“On the napkin.”

Alabaster put his face in his hands. Couldn’t take these friends out anywhere without something happening! But life would be boring without them.

After getting a little more sightseeing in, they headed back to the hotel to pack.

“Hey, there’s another armadillo.” Flash said.

“Where?” CandyCane asked. She had been looking at a lizard. Didn’t have lizards in the North Pole.

“Over here! Come quick.”

CandyCane headed toward her friends.

“Opps! It ran back to its hole. It must be afraid of you.”

“Pfffft! Crazy armadoolally! I think you all are seeing things.”

“Don’t worry, I got a picture of it this time. I can prove it’s real.” Alabaster said.

They swam in the pool at the hotel for a bit, and then Snowball needed a nap while CandyCane and Flash went shopping. Flash needed new shoes, and they had seen a sign advertising a sale. They told the guys they would meet them at the airport.

“Last call for boarding…”

“There they are!” Alabaster and Snowball were relieved to see the girls running to the gate.

CandyCane was panting when they took their seats in the plane. “I will never run again!”

Flash laughed, “It was only four miles.”

“Water, please,” CandyCane said to the stewardess when she passed by.

“It was worth the run for the deal on ten pairs of shoes!”

The guys groaned! They would never understand women and shopping.

Then Snowball put his hands in the air, saying, “Dagnabbit! We never found out what a Whangdoodle was.”

It looked like that mystery would have to wait. For now, they needed to get back to the North Pole and figure out what happened to Santa’s missing reindeer.