An Unusal Elf, Part 2

Meryl and the supervisor walked through the door and into a large comfortable room. There was a fire place on one side, with a few armchairs nearby. The walls were covered with pictures, and there was a thick rug on the floor. It really didn’t look much like a office at all, more like a cozy den. At one end of the room, sitting at a desk, was Santa.
“Please, have a seat.” Santa gestured toward two of the chairs.
“Now then, tell me what this is all about.” Said Santa leaning forward in his chair.
“Sir,” began the supervisor. “This girl, Meryl, claims that she does not want to make toys.” There was a gasp from behind, and the two elves looked to see Bamey topple over in a dead faint.
“Please continue.” Urged Santa.
“There’s nothing more to say, after I found out, I took her straight to see you.”
“I see… Meryl, any reason why you don’t want to make toys?”
“Well, I just don’t enjoy it.”
“Oh, don’t worry about it. We have places for elves like you. You could, ah, take care of the reindeer, or perhaps help in the packaging and wrapping department or, cook! Your mother is one of my finest gingerbread makers.” Santa leaned back and smiled.
“Yes, but I already have plans.”
“Well then, what are they?”
“I want to become a math teacher.”
“A, err, what?” Santa looked startled. “A math teacher? We don’t have any positions for math teachers.”
“Yes I know. That is why I would have to move to Elf town, after I finish collage.”
“Meryl, you were born and raised a Christmas elf. Moving away, and, and getting an education it just… its just not what we do! Are you sure that you want to make this decision?”
“Yes sir, I have thought about it for a while, and I am ready.”
“Have you talked to your parents about this?”
“I am planning on doing it tonight.”
“Well then, I give you my best whishes. We could have used a smart young elf like yourself.” Santa got up, and shook her hand. Meryl thanked him, and walked out the door. Santa and the supervisor watched her leave. Bamey still lay on the floor, motionless.
“Sir,” asked the supervisor, a little stunned at what had just happened. “Are you really going to let her just, just leave? That’s one less elf you know. And if the others hear about this, which of course they will, soon THEY might get silly ideas of leaving Christmas town, and start following careers, and if that happens we-”
“Hush Alvey, don’t speak nonsense! Of course that would never happen. Besides, I have a feeling that we shall see young Meryl again one day…”
And so Meryl did fulfill her dream of going to collage. She not only learned math, but also computer programming, science, and home economics. After graduating, she started teaching classes in Elf Town, and was very successful. Even so, she still missed all her old friends back at Christmas Town. Eventually, she convinced Santa to let her teach the elf children. Soon, when the parents saw how smart their kids were getting, she was teaching evening classes, and helped them to learn how to manage reindeer better in tricky winds, new and better recipes, how to make all the latest electronic toys, and constructed a new, more efficient way to wrap a gift. Thanks to Meryl, Santa's workshop in Christmas town had never worked better.