“Let’s see you change the channel now, and get away with it.”  I murmured out loud, a smile formed on my face.  I pretended to become lost in the music channel, waiting for the floss to tug on my arm so I would know to take a picture quickly.

            I sat there readied as I had ever been.  I felt like a hunter, planting a trap, and waiting for my prey to enter it and fall for my tricks.  A slight tug could be felt through the floss.  Bright flashed erupted from the camera gripped in my hand, followed by squealing screams that rang out.  Quick sets of footprints could be heard as the creature scattered away. 

            I laughed out loud and jumped up.  “I got you!”  I yelled out loud.  I looked then into the picture on the LCD screen of my camera.  The little creature wore the same cone-shaped hat that I noticed in the shadow reflection earlier.  He had squinty dark eyes, that stood out from his pale skin, and brushy grey beard.  His clothes were simple and plain.

            “It’s an elf…”  It really was an elf.  And there’s an elf in my house, at that.  I dropped the camera to the floor from shock.  He matched the description of a lawn gnome you’d see in front yards and gardens.  He didn’t seem to mean any harm, after all, he hadn’t attacked me, only tried to change my t.v. channels.

            He stepped out from behind the couch, as shocked as me.  His squinty eyes peered up with me in disbelief that I had caught him in the act.  He was just as scared of approaching me as I was.  We seemed to look at each other for hours, but only a few minutes had passed.

            He blurted out, “Well, do you mind… I was watching that show!”  The words tumbled out of his mouth so neatly, as if he was an expert in English.  I picked up the remote and changed the programming back to “Who’s Company?”  He jumped up onto the empty couch seat, put his hands into his lap, and watched happily upon the show.  His laughter filled the air.  I didn’t know how to react to this.  I had never believed in elves, but with all the crazy thoughts I had earlier, elves were a relief.  I sat down beside him, offered to microwave some popcorn.  He agreed, and everything went back to normal.  Everything except for the fact that my company now was a small elf, who I have learned likes to be called Seymour Muffins, his name.

            Thanks to Seymour Muffins, I believe in elves now.  Not the kind on packages of food treats at the grocery stores, but real elves.  I learned that elves enjoy reaching for the remote when you’re not looking, changing the channel, and running off mischievously.  They find tricking you, and watching you squirm in fear a fun pastime.  So as I said before, there are three things elves are known for in this world!  Their height is fact number one, they are incredibly short.  They’re known for the famous Keebler Elf cookies that we all love and adore.  And finally, not all elves for sure, but a good majority (including Seymour Muffins) are fans of the old sitcom show, “Who’s Company?”

            So next time you’re sitting there wondering why the remote control keeps moving on you, just ask out loud if there is an elf near by.  Because, chances are, there is.  And don’t worry, they’re only mischievous if you don’t like their television choices!