The narrator, a single parent, and her son Constantin conjure the elf of a just deceased neighbour. First the creature is like a little, though cheeky child. But soon it grows older (and more impudent), and Madeleine and her son make a big mistake: they give the elf a name, Timothée. From then on life isn't the same any more for the small family. Great fun to read, even occasionally for adults.