A Snowball Christmas: Chapter 2
- Henry Livingston
- Nov 2, 2025
- 8 min read
Updated: Dec 3, 2025
IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED
Monday, July 7, 1800
The night air glides over newly fallen snow, covering the ground like a fluffy blanket. Tiny footprints stamped into it leads you to an abnormally large fir pine tree. Standing in front of it is a much younger Nixie Snowball, actively searching his thoughts for something he needs to remember, “Okay, face the tree and bow, then say the words. Si-si api nari..., no-no, that’s not it,” he thinks a little more and tries again, “si-si appi narra pamk-ka!”
Nothing is happening, but Nixie is expecting it to, “si-si appi narri pamk-kee,” he questions and suddenly a glowing spark of light starts a magical energy path up the left-hand side of the tree’s base. It travels upward about five feet, then turns sharply ninety degrees to the right for another three feet. As the glowing outline travels, Nixie’s eyes follow it in wonder. Smiling gleefully when the light turns sharply downward another ninety degrees and finally stops when it reaches equal distance of the other side of the fir pine’s trunk.
A moment passes and a doorway to a brightly lit village appears. Its light illuminates the darkly lit area around the tree. The aroma of fresh baked sugar cookies rushes toward Nixie through the newly formed archway, “ah... home sweet home,” he adds before stepping through the cozy looking entrance. After he enters the doorway disappears and the darkness around the tree returns.
Nixie begins walking from the outer rim toward the Townsquare of a large town. A sign topped with snow on the side of the road reads: North Pole town limits. A second sign beneath it reads: Santa’s Workshop Straight Ahead.
A short walk later Nixie sees the path to his first appointment with Peak Mother, “no need to be nervous Nixie, it’s just your career for the rest of your life. No pressure. She’ll be fair, I know she will.”
Inside the Offices of the Peak Mother, a Snow Elf with a parchment list of names approaches Nixie, “name?”
“Nixie Snowball.”
“Cycle?”
“Ninety days before one hundred.”
“So, this is your first visit with Peak Mother, is that correct?
“No ma’am, second. First appointment.”
The Snow Elf smiles then continues, “I am Lumi, Second Assistant to Peak Mother Tannenbaum. Please to meet you,” she bows politely.
Nixie returns the bow.
“Please have a seat over there and wait to be called to begin your assessment.”
“Thank you,” Nixie speaks softly as he sits down on one of the chairs he was offered.
Lumi hesitates before returning to her desk, “I need to instruct you of a few things Mr. Nixie for when you are called. One, please make sure not to speak until she asks you to. Two, please do not interrupt her while she is assessing you. And finally, this a very important third thing, please do not question her assessment results for your Placement Occupation Category.”
Nixie acknowledges her instructions with a smile and a nod.
With that, Lumi turns and returns to her reception desk.
The lobby area is warm and cozy. Its charm feels inviting and welcoming to all who enter. Nixie is heartfelt whilst admiring all the pretty décor. From candy cane oil lamps and woodland inspired sculptures, to the soft walls of color and beautiful scenes in the painted stained-glass windows, the room’s reputation preceded being seen in person.
Another door in the rear of the room opens and an Ice Elf exits, “Nixie Snowball,” she calls firmly.
Nixie stands and moves toward the Ice Elf, “I’m Nixie Snowball,” he says as he bows to the elf.
She returns the bow, “Glacia Wintera, First Assistant to the Peak Mother. Follow me please.”
Nixie follows her and they move without haste to a beautifully ornate wooden carved door of a winter scene in the north with the view of Aurora Borealis shimmering colorfully as it is approached. Glacia knocks and waits. She turns her head and whispers to Nixie, “Lumi told you the rules, yes?”
“Yes, she did.”
“Good. You would do well to remember them during your assessment,” she adds opening the door.
Standing in the doorway she announces, “Nixie Snowball, Peak Mother.”
“Thank you Glacia, you may go.”
“Yes, Peak Mother.”
Nixie is ushered into the room and Glacia quietly closes the door.
This room is very different from the lobby and nothing like the fancy door alluded to. This room seemed cold and judging even without words being exchanged, but it is well lit. One side of the room sits a large, gilded desk and the other sits a very old and simple wooden chair in a red circle. In front of the chair a snow globe sits atop a slender crystal post.
“Have a seat Nixie Snowball and place your right hand on the snow globe,” Peak Mother voices after an uncomfortable three minutes of silence.
Nixie sits in the chair and does as he is instructed.
The wall behind him illuminates and a slide show of his past ninety-nine plus years of life begins. Enamored, Nixie glances over at Peak Mother and sees her leafing through a group of files on her desk, raising her head to view the wall from time to time.
An hour later Nixie’s arm starts to tingle. He looks over to Peak Mother again, but she remains focused on the documents on her desk. However, unlike Peak Mother, Nixie is not so focused. As a matter of fact, his face looks as if it is formulating a question, “Peak Mother I have a question,” he says when her head lifts up from the paperwork.
Her face also changes, but to that of extreme agitation. The slide show behind Nixie stops, glows for a moment and begins again from the beginning.
“I know I should not ask questions, but…,” the slide show stops, glows and starts from the beginning, “…my arm is tingling. Is that normal?”
The slide show stops and starts over for a third time, “SILENCE,” Peak Mother shouts sternly, ”you were told NOT to speak during the assessment.”
“That is correct.”
The slide show starts over.
“Nixie Snowball, stop talking, PLEASE and THANK YOU,” Peak Mother shouts again.
He nods.
The door opens suddenly and Glacia enters quickly, “Is everything alright Peak Mother?”
“No Glacia, IT IS NOT. Please reschedule my next assessment from today to tomorrow. This one will go PAST their allotted TIMESLOT.”
“Yes, Peak Mother. Right away,” Glacia answers looking toward Nixie and shaking her head in slow disappointment.
Nixie sees her and feels bad, “sorry,” he whispers, and the slide show starts over.
The door closes and the assessment continues.
It has now been eleven hours and forty-three minutes for the office staff of Peak Mother Wynter Tannenbaum, since Nixie Snowball entered his assessment. Glacia opens the door and escorts a solemn faced Nixie. He seems dissatisfied with his overall assessment Placement Category.
Glacia exhaustingly retreating to her desk is stopped by Nixie, “Glacia, would you ask Peak Mother one more question for me please?”
“Peak Mother has instructed that she is to receive no more questions today, Mr. Snowball.”
“From me, not you though. Please? I promise I’ll make it a short one,” Nixie pleads.
Glacia looks at Lumi sitting out Nixie’s view who is shaking her head from side to side vigorously and giving off a this is a bad idea vibe. Glacia then looks at the desperate Drift Elf trying his best not to cry, exhales, “what more could it hurt,” she thinks to herself, “what is your question Mr. Snowball?”
Slyly wiping a tear from the corner of his eye, Nixie calmly speaks his question, “Can I switch my Placement Occupation Category Today? If not, when can I re-apply for a Placement Category change?”
“That’s two questions, Nixie.”
“Technically a two-part single, but no more – Promise.”
“Okay, let me ask her. Please wait here.”
Twenty more minutes pass and Glacia returns walking over to Nixie, “Nixie,” she stops, then continues with her apologetic answer, “Mr. Snowball, sorry to report this, but you cannot switch your Placement Category so soon.”
“How long until I can do it then?”
Glacia is quiet by a genuine sadness deep within.
“Days? Months?”
“Years,” Glacia says quietly.
“Two or Three?”
She looks upon Nixie with compassion as her words cut the air, “twenty-five.”
The room is silent for what seems like ages, yet only moments. Nixie puts on his scarf and coat without saying a word and walks to the door to exit., “thanks for trying Miss Wintera. See you in twenty-five years.” He opens the door and leaves the office space.
After Nixie exits, Glacia speaks to everyone and lets out another sigh to break the still silent room, “Today has definitely been stressful for everyone and nothing like this has ever happened before. We have seen the first reschedule Assessment ever, and now, elves can file to change their Placement Occupation Category every twenty-five years. That is a lot to take in. So, go home to your family and have a less stressful evening with them. Thank you all for your hard work. See you tomorrow.”
The room lights up with the delight of an early evening and soon after that same room it empties save one. Glacia is crying softly in the chair Nixie sat in.
Peak Mother enters the lobby, “Oh, Glacia, I thought I was the last one here again this evening.”
Glacia uses a tissue to pretend to blow her nose.
“Are you catching a cold, Glacia?”
“No Peak Mother, too close to the cinnamon spice candles. They make me sneeze.”
“Okay, make sure you are here a little early tomorrow, we are squeezing two assessments in one day.”
“Yes, Peak Mother.”
“Good eve, Glacia.”
There is silence.
“Glacia?”
“Yes, Peak Mother,” Glacia says snapping out of a flashback.
“Where is your mind right now? Please don’t tell me if it is still on that Drift Elf from earlier. I thought that was no longer an issue for either of us for awhile.”
“But, Peak Mother. Conservation for someone of his skill level, just seems like a punishment.”
“Punishment Glacia,” Peak Mother spits slightly agitated, “My assessment is based on ALL facts, given, spoken or written,” she adds more perturbed then the first, “What is rule number three, Glacia?”
“Peak Mother?”
Peak Mother steps in front of her assistant like a drill instructor to a recruit and whispers with added emphasis, “WHAT is rule number THREE?”
“Do not question your assessment results for their Placement Occupation Category.”
Peak Mother moves even closer to Glacia and locking eyes with her she adds, “that rule is for everyone, but me.”
Afraid to say even a word in this moment Glacia holds back tears to the unbridled rule. Never has she questioned Peak Mother until now. Her gaze casts downward from that of her boss.
“That is what I thought,” Peak Mother says walking to gather her things. She goes to open the door and without looking back says without shame, “I expect better from my First Assistant, or should you go back to being Second Assistant? I’m sure Lumi would appreciate your position without a second thought. Just saying,” she opens the door, “remember to be here bright and early. If you are not here early, be prepared to accept your title as Second Assistant. Understood?”
“Yes, Peak Mother,” Glacia speaks softly.
Peak Mother leaves, however, her words and the cold from outside seem to layer each other, teaming up to hurt anyone listening to them, and this time Glacia knows what she must do to make this right. She sits back at her desk and gently weeps in the night.
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