Santa has a lunch break. Shocking, I know, but rules of employment state it must be so. And so the grotto must be shut for 30 minutes, and so the elves must try to empty the grotto before those 30 minutes start.
This requires a concerted effort. We are not allowed to officially close the grotto before our break. Instead we post a patrol elf at the entrance, continuously looking at the clock and deciding if another child can be let in. We never finish on time, but as soon as the last child has been 'what do you want for Christmas/smile smile smile'ed, it is our elf duty to get Santa out of there asap. That is, everyone except the lunch guard.
Every day, one elf must stay behind to the protect the grotto from evil forces. Whilst the other elves and Santa are off eating sandwiches and making chitchat to the various nationalities in the staff room, Guard Elf sits on the giant present in the middle of the grotto at the point where you can see both tills and finds ways to look busy. This usually involves folding photo frames. But, as busy as you try to look, you will still be bombarded with confused and annoyed parents wondering where Santa is. They will then stand there for the full 30 minutes watching you with their accusing eyes.
Occasionally a cleaner comes to sweep up broken fragments of snow.
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