Dragons Save Christmas
By David Stevens
Part 1 (2013)
It was one of those
days where the wind was whistling across the arid snow-field. The call of the
winter was building, but none of that mattered as the old man swung his huge
feet out of his bed. He stood up and stretched, then with still slightly blurry
eyes (too much eggnog last night) he reached out and picked up his trousers. He
stepped lithely into them for a man of his great age. Next he pulled on his
jacket adding a thick belt, and then bending and squinting, he looked down to
find his black boots. His white beard as always stood out perfectly, framing
his smiling happy face.
He was awake,
alert and had things, far too many things to do this morning. First though he
had animals to pat and talk to as well as feed, or there would be complaints. The
reindeer had arrived as they always did and in plenty of time for the big day, it
was to them that he strolled whistling a jolly tune, a smile fixed firmly on
his face.
As he approached
the first of the reindeer stalls a loud barking cough filled the air, followed
swiftly by a heart rending sneeze. Santa, the old man, halted; concern blooming
in his thoughts as he listened hard. The sneeze was repeated and others joined
in. The reindeer were ill and by the sound of it they were suffering badly with
colds and barking coughs. Oh dear, it was going to be Christmas-eve in just a
few short hours! The busiest time of the year for him and without the reindeer
to pull the sled for him. Christmas was in danger of being cancelled for the
first time in many long centuries!
Santa opened the
first door and looked in. Rudolf with his nose so red, looked up at Santa with
his eyes filled with moisture and his nose flickering as he breathed. He was
looking pathetic, standing on wobbly legs, shivering as though he was cold.
Santa halted, he looked again and then he called for help.
“Help!” He
screamed, “The reindeer are ill! Help,” he called attracting the attention of
every elf in the building. Toys froze in mid-air, paintbrushes stopped in mid-stroke,
the business of Christmas halted with Santa’s call.
