The Winter of Candy Canes (A Sweet Seasons Novel) by Debbie Viguié Page A

Gold paper is a girl's gift, and silver paper is a boy's gift. Candy cane paper is generic. Gold girl, silver boy, candy generic. Got it?”
    Candace nodded along with the others.
    “Do not let the children or their parents bully, beg, or bribe you into giving out a present. If you have a problem, the red panic buttons are here on the underside of the candy-cane-striped rail behind you.”
    Candace craned her head to see the button. If her experiences at The Zone had taught her anything, it was that she was going to have to use that button at least once, and she wanted to be prepared for it.
    “The last part of your job is to make sure that once everyone has received a candy cane, they keep moving down the ramp toward the merchandise booths. Keep the flow going. Otherwise the whole process comes to a halt, and kids have to wait three times as long to see Santa.
    “So, today we have four people working from eight to four and four more working from four to midnight. Those of you who will be working tonight, get out of here and get some rest.”
    Candace, Lisa, and two other elves she didn't know were left.
    “Okay, you four, because today is going to be a rough day, you're going to take turns. One hour here, then one hour walking around the park reminding kids to come see Santa. Got it? Okay. Lisa and Candace will take the first shift. First, though, we're going to go through a practice run. Lisa and Candace up; Laura and Chrissy on deck.”
    Lisa seemed rooted to her spot, so Candace crossed over to the other side of the stage area and took her place on the green carpet. She picked up the basket of candy canes and checked out the gift section.
    Two loader elves moved onto the red carpet. Around the entire area she saw other elves taking up position. Then the man himself, Santa Claus, appeared. He majestically walked onto the stage and seated himself on his thronelike chair.
    “Ready? Go!” Martha shouted, once more using the bullhorn.
    Candace watched as excess elves, a few other referees, and some of the vendors were loaded into the queue area. They zigzagged through the maze of ropes until they came to a stop at the end of the line. An elf led one of the vendors by the handover to Santa, and the vendor gingerly sat down on Santa's lap, laughing.
    “What do you want for Christmas?” Santa asked.
    “A Barbie doll … for my daughter,” the vendor hastened to add.
    “Have you and she been good girls?”
    “Yes.”
    “I'll see what I can do.”
    The second elf loader helped her off Santa's lap and sent her toward Lisa, while the first elf loader escorted another person up to Santa.
    He asked the same questions, and then the vendor was headed Candace's way. She smiled, pulled a candy cane out of her basket, and handed it to the woman. “Have a Merry Christmas,” she said.
    “Thank you,” the woman answered. “I'm Jewish, though.”
    “Happy Hanukkah,” Candace said without missing a beat and remembering to smile.
    They cycled through three more people each before Candace stepped aside to let Chrissy handle the distribution.
    After about five more minutes, Martha shouted, “Nice work everyone. Remember, we're cycling in one-hour shifts today. Starters take your places.”
    “Good luck,” Chrissy said as she handed the candy cane basket off to Candace.
    “Thanks.”
    The extra elves and referees went about their business, and silence settled down on the area. Candace clutched her stomach, feeling nervous and a little sick as she battled the butterflies and waited for the opening of the park. She glanced over at Santa. He sat in his chair, appearing majestic and calm. For a moment she thought about asking him what she should get Kurt for Christmas. If anyone would know …
    She shook her head, laughing at herself. She was here to help Santa, not the other way around.
    “Gates are open!” someone shouted.
    Candace fidgeted with the handle of her basket. Any moment now it would begin.
    “Incoming!”
    A dozen