HoHo, the Naughtiest Elf

HoHo, the Naughtiest Elf

When it’s Christmas time, one question is asked.

Am I Naughty?  Or up to the task?
 

For most elves it’s easy to stay very good,

But we all know, as girls and boys should…

Behaving all year is hard for us kids!

And also for HoHo, this story is his.

HoHo the elf makes all sorts of trouble.

He once reduced the stables to rubble.

Also, one time HoHo disappeared,

And Mrs. Claus’ cat turned up sheered.

All day and night, the sound can be heard,

“Oh, HoHo!” “No, HoHo,” “HoHo, a word?”

He switches the sugar for the salt,

(Though he’s never admitted that was his fault.)

He flirts with the girls by telling them jokes;

He bothers the reindeer by giving them pokes.

The head elf Bruno yells, “No, No, No!”
”Stop that, right now!  Oh, HoHo…”

And each time he’s caught, he winks and he grins

And says how he’s sorry for his many sins.

“I thought you’d enjoy this silly riff raff!

Cause Boy, you sure could use a laugh.”

“You DO know how to work a boy;

I thought the North Pole was all about joy.”

And Bruno said, “I’m just too busy.

All your joking makes me dizzy.”

“How can we expect the kids to behave,

If our own elves are naughty?” he ranted and raved.

So Bruno sent HoHo to shovel some snow,

But he underestimated our HoHo.

As soon as Bruno left him there

He was struck by a wild hair.

“I know! I’ve got a brilliant plan!
a way to make Bruno my biggest fan!”

“If I can help him smile, or even smirk…

He’ll be happier in his work.”

“I will put on the funniest show.

That’s got to be better than shoveling snow.”

“I will teach Rudolph how to juggle,

With hooves and antlers, it will be a struggle.”

“But just think, it’ll be so funny!”

He laughed until his eyes were runny.

So HoHo and Rudolph practiced all night

Until they had their act just right.

Next morning, they watched as Bruno reported

While the blocks were counted and sorted.

“Three Thousand, Four Hundred, and Twenty Two…”

A small elf said, and as if on cue…

Rudolph burst in and sent blocks a flyin’

Juggling, snorting, red nose a fryin’

Those blocks were spilled out everywhere,

Ruining the stacks counted with such care.

So Bruno yelled out, “No! No! No!”

“Stop that, right now! Oh, HoHo!”

And, caught red-handed, HoHo grins

And says he’s sorry for his sins.

“I thought you’d enjoy this silly riff raff!

Cause Boy, you sure could use a laugh.”

“You DO know how to work a boy…

I thought the North Pole was all about joy.”

“HoHo,” said Bruno, “It’s just as I feared.

We’d all be happier, if you disappeared.”

And turning around, no smile, no smirk

Bruno went back to his Christmas work.

Poor HoHo felt so sad and lonely

“So what if I joke? I know that if only…”

“I could find work that was also FUN,

I’d be a help, and we’d get more toys done!”

“I will not give up, it’ll be worth my while…

I vow this Christmas to make every elf smile.”

But HoHo stayed out of the toyroom next day.

He was so sorry for the mess that he made.

So with Bruno in charge, they worked and they toiled.

The dollies were dressed, and the tinsel was foiled.

So much work was done, but things seemed all wrong.

The day was too quiet, too boring, too long.

When Santa dropped in to check the Naughty Listing

He asked Head Elf Bruno, “Is something missing?”

“You’ve got so much done, but you all seem down-
Why, all of my elves are wearing a frown!”

But just as dear Bruno was about to confess,

That HoHo had been banished for making a mess…

That juggling Rudolph burst in one last time,

Knocked into the eggnog, covering Santa with slime.

What would Santa say? No one could know.

But then he burst out with a, “Ho Ho Ho!”

“Where has Rudolph learned this trick?”
”From HoHo,” Bruno told St. Nick.

“You have to be the bestest teacher…

To train and charm this crazy creature!”

“I sure have enjoyed this silly riff raff,

HoHo, we all could use a laugh!”

“What a funny, silly boy,”
to remind us that Christmas is all about joy.”

HoHo’s goal was met as he looked round the place,

And saw a smile on every face.

That Santa Claus, so good and so wise

Came up with the perfect compromise.

“It’s important to mind, and to obey

So I limit you to ONE joke a day.”

“We need to remember what Christmas is about

Laughter, giving…now Bruno, don’t pout!”

“What good is Christmas if you don’t enjoy it?

But HoHo, remember, you must not destroy it!”

“I make my list, and I check it twice.

So remember how important it is to be nice.”

“You cause me to giggle and chuckle, and so…

From now on, I’ll say, ‘Ho Ho Ho!’”

So when YOU mess up, don’t “No, No, No.”

Try laughing it off with a “Ho, Ho, Ho!”