December 17 – The Fables<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sun had tipped the zenith, and the golden rays brought the memory of warmer days to the crowd as they moved along, each person or family going up in turn. And then one family stepped up and Molly smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kiaya, Zeke, and Gideon Fable had moved the Cove a few years ago, and the boy had fallen naturally into Lily and Kaylee and Zoey\u2019s circle. Molly remembered his first year when there was an Advent calendar full of magic from the Snow Queen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, he was carrying a rather large bag as his parents followed him up the steps. \u201cHi Jade!\u201d Gideon said cheerfully. \u201cAre you doing an Advent calendar too?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jade winked at him. \u201cWe\u2019ll see,\u201d she said. \u201cWhat do you have there? It looks like a very large ornament! Will we have enough room on the tree for it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, it\u2019s not quite an ornament. I mean, I guess you could use magic to make it smaller and hang it on the tree, but that\u2019s not what I was thinking. Because there will be lots of ornaments on the branches, but there won\u2019t be any presents, and so the trunk might be lonely and that\u2019s not really a good thing, and who knows who might come by, and maybe steal things, so\u2026\u201d He ran out of breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re right,\u201d Jade said thoughtfully. \u201cWe didn\u2019t consider that. What did you think to fix it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDad, can you help me?\u201d Gideon turned to his father, who helped by holding the bag open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is Steward,\u201d Gideon told Jade, as he pulled the large gnome from the bag. Steward wore a green cap trimmed with white fur that matched his long white beard, and his clothing was a green tunic, green leggings, and black boots. \u201cHe\u2019s a protector. A steward, you know, so I thought he\u2019d like to keep these ornaments safe. And this is his friend, Lantern-Keeper.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lantern-Keeper was also dressed in green, but while Steward\u2019s hands were cupped together in front of him, Lantern-Keeper held up a bright silver lantern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHello, Steward, hello, Lantern-Keeper,\u201d Jade said, bowing her head to the garden gnomes. Molly half-expected the statues to return the gesture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then the fog wrapped around her, and when it cleared, they were at the Fables house, in the living room, where Gideon had lined up an amazing number of garden gnomes in neat rows. He was walking up and down the rows like a general inspecting his troops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo I\u2019m looking for a few volunteers,\u201d he was saying. \u201cWe need to make sure the Christmas tree is protected, because there are going to be lots of precious ornaments on there. At the same time, the tree will need some company, especially at night, which is why I\u2019m thinking you all are the best folks for the job. Any objections?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There were none. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cExcellent. So, who wants to volunteer?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To Molly\u2019s utter surprise and Schrodinger\u2019s delight, two of the statues moved out of line. \u201cSteward, reporting for day duty, Gideon,\u201d said the first one, doffing his green cap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLantern-Keeper, reporting for night duty, Gideon,\u201d said his companion, who did not remove his cap but gestured with his lantern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re sure? You won\u2019t be able to see your families until after Christmas, you know.\u201d Gideon was very serious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt will be an honor to protect the Cove\u2019s ornaments,\u201d the two gnomes said in unison. \u201cAnd then we can have Christmas when we return.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey talk. And move.\u201d Molly blinked and when she did, she was back at the tree, where Gideon was placing Steward and Lantern-Keeper in front of the tree. December 17 – The Fables The sun had tipped the zenith, and the golden rays brought the memory of warmer days to the crowd as they moved along, each person or family going up in turn. And then one family stepped up and Molly smiled. Kiaya, Zeke, and Gideon Fable had moved the Cove a …<\/p>\n
This is Carter\u2019s Cove, Molly,<\/em> Schrodinger reminded her. Did you really think they\u2019d be just ordinary gnomes?<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"