“Very nice,” said Mrs. Santa, “but a little dark.” She went to work painting the rooms bright colors. She hung red curtains at the windows and pictures on the walls.

She painted the front door red.

Santa was pleased.

Next morning, Mrs. Santa sprinkled a heaping spoonful onto her oatmeal.

“Yeeeeeck!” she shouted.

“What’s wrong, dear?” asked Santa, who ate pickled herring for breakfast.

“I think those elves are playing tricks,” she said.

Mrs. Santa decided to trick them back. She invited the elves for supper.

“There is whale-blubber pizza and vanilla ice cream,” she told them.

Those are some favorite foods of the elves.

After supper, Mrs. Santa went to the kitchen and filled dessert bowls with scoops of snow. On top, she sprinkled white pepper!

Elves don’t have very good manners, but they love fun.

Then, Mrs. Santa served real vanilla ice cream.

Afterwards, they all went outside and made a snowman.

After that evening, the elves, Mrs. Santa and Tundra were always good friends.

She computerized the orders for toys at Santa’s toy factory.

After one busy day, the Clauses sat by the fireplace relaxing.

“Marybelle, dear, you have worked wonders,” Santa said. “What’s next?”

“Why, the first ever North Pole Winter Games!” she said.

There were ice-skating competitions and six-elf toboggan contests.