Free The Naughty List by L.A. Kelley Page B

nothing. Her name is Grace, she’s human, and has an MBA… Mom and Dad met in college. By the way, the last name is K-l-o-s-s. Great-great-grandpa tweaked the spelling when the family immigrated back in the 1880’s.”
    “The rest of the legend is nothing but bunk,” the E.L.F. continued. “Live at the North Pole? My folks own a condo in New York City, and Dad hates the cold. Toys built by elves? If nothing else, Integrals are excellent business people. None of us will give away stuff for free or work without good medical, dental, and retirement plans.”
    “No flying reindeer?” jumped in Rosalie. David shook his head. She offered up a weak smile. “I’m a little disappointed.”
    He grinned back. “Don’t be. You ever get up close to one? Reindeer are dumber than a sack of three-day old garbage and smell about the same.”
    “So, the story is—”
    “—a story, but The Book is real. Each person who’s alive—who’s ever lived is in there, assigned to one list or the other.” The intensity in his green eyes burned with an inner flame. “Understand, Rosalie, The Book is never wrong. It sees right into your soul and knows not only which list you should be on, but also why. You can’t hide from The Book. You can’t lie to The Book. It always knows the truth and judges accordingly.”
    Shaken by the depth of his feeling, Rosalie dared a question. “What happens if you’ Kens acre assigned to the Naughty List?”
    “You mean moral consequences? There are none. The Book lists the sins. Penalties are either human or Integral decisions.”
    Rosalie shook her head in confusion. This dream made less and less sense. “Then what’s the point?”
    “The Book has a karmic aspect. People on the Nice List, attract more nice people and vice versa. Ever do something wrong and get a bad feeling?”
    “Like a guilty conscience?”
    “The Book sent a warning you’d slipped onto the wrong list. Being placed in one category or another not only affects you, but people around you. Did your mother ever say to choose friends wisely?” Rosalie nodded. “She was right. Hang around people on the Naughty List long enough and good fortune heads south.” Abruptly, he leaned forward. “Think about the nicest person you know.”
    A picture popped into Rosalie’s head. “My friend, Marissa Garrett.”
    “I’m willing to bet she’s on the Nice List, attracting more nice people to her. Good things happen when nice people stick together.”
    “Wait a minute,” Rosalie protested. “Her son is sick. She has money troubles. How is that nice?”
    “It isn’t,” David agreed, “but that’s not how the List works. The Book doesn’t prevent bad things from happening, but bad times don’t stick to people on the Nice List. Once The Book is back under lock and key,” he stated with confidence, “your friend’s life will take a turn for the better.”
    Elves, Naughty and Nice Lists, Santa Claus…excuse me, the Santa Brian Kloss, Mrs. Grace, and their bundle of joy, David. Rosalie’s head spun.
    David’s voice filled with sympathy. “I know it’s a lot to take in. We usually don’t dump so much on an individual at a time. Corporate has a twelve step program for breaking the news to humans gently.”
    Rosalie looked the E.L.F. square in the eye. He didn’t flinch. He didn’t back down. Damn, I think I believe him. “Say all this is true—what happened to The Book?”
    The E.L.F. scowled. “It was stolen. I have to get it back. The Book acts as the world’s conscience, sending subliminal warnings to those who stray to the naughty side. Outside the confines of our family’s possession, The Book is vulnerable to malevolent influences. Its ability to make unbiased, objective judgments is compromised. Naughty becomes the norm. More and more people fall off the Nice List. The Book can’t warn them to get the hell back before it’s too late. The Naughty List grows longer, the Nice List ever shorter, and the world