Page 15

A noise behind us had me turning. A car drove up pulling a small trailer that had the words Holly Jolly Cocoa printed on its side.

“That’s new,” I said.

The trailer was bright red with Santa’s belt across its center and a big fuzzy Santa hat fashioned on top. The car parked, and a guy who seemed to be about my age got out.

“You think he’s allowed to park there?” I asked.

“Mr. Lenny’s house is one of the least decorated,” Mom said. “Maybe Mrs. O’Leary directed them there.”

“True,” I agreed. But the food carts normally stuck to the town square. Maybe this one got special permission.

“Hello!” the guy said to me and my family, aware that we were all watching him.

“Hi!” Mom called back.

“He’s cute,” Momma said, nudging me with her elbow.

“He’s wearing elf slippers,” I said.

“Even better,” Mom said with a laugh.

“You two are the worst.” I headed toward our house.

“I mean, I have five dollars in my pocket if you want it,” Mom said, following after me.

“Stop.”

She laughed.

I pulled out my phone and sent Fiona a text: A cute new elf just moved into our neighborhood.

What? she responded almost immediately. Explain.

He’s selling hot cocoa out of a trailer across the street from our house, so I’m assuming he’ll be set up here for the next month. The perfect chance for you to get to know him.

Why me? Why not you?

Because I’m a giver.

Because you have a thing for Neighbor Boy that you refuse to admit.

Even if I did, which I don’t! You heard. He’s off-limits.

Rules are meant to be broken.

I rolled my eyes and shoved my phone into my pocket. Then I stood on my porch, watching as all the cars began driving in to see the famous Cherry Ridge lights.

Chapter 6

The first cars rolled slowly by, everyone gazing out their windows. I smiled. I loved this moment. I imagined the Christmas music playing inside their warm cars and the excited oohs and aahs as people took in all the decorations.

But then they’d go past our house and see the Moreno house and those oohs and aahs would turn to gasps of disbelief and wonder.

We needed something more for our display. But what?

I glanced over at the new hot chocolate stand. It had a line down the sidewalk as the passengers in cars would hop out to buy a cup. Even if they waited in line for five minutes, they could easily catch up to the driver who had only crept forward half a street or so. That’s how slow traffic moved through the neighborhood once the sun went down.

My eyes stopped on the snow globe in our yard. What if I added snow inside? Swirling snow in the already lit-up globe. That would look really cool. What could I use for that? Scraps of paper and a leaf blower? Would that work?