Page 14 of Run, Run Rudolph
The reindeer became very busy studying my barn’s inner architecture instead of considering my suggestion. They looked more like my class of students when they were up to no good and trying to go unnoticed.
There were a couple of pranksters in my class, and over the first few months of the school year, they’d mastered that same look of innocence. Well, if you considered looking way too obviously innocent ‘mastered.’ They thought I was psychic because of the way I always seemed to know when they were up to something. The teacher and I had shared a few private giggles over that and their cuteness.
In other words, these reindeer didn’t seem to be much different from the five-year-olds I worked with. My guess was that getting drunk and injured would possibly get them into trouble, and they were hoping an innocent act would keep me oblivious to the severity of their misdeeds.
“What did you boys do?” I scolded, automatically falling into my teaching role, hands on my hips.
“Nothing,” Dasher replied quickly.
“Party on!” Blitzen called out. Had Christmas tree ornaments always been hanging from his antlers? How had I missed those earlier?
“We were bonding,” Comet said carefully.
“Male bonding,” Donner added.
I turned to him. “Is that why you smell like beer?”
Prancer snickered beside him.
“And you smell like peach schnapps.”
Prancer’s spine straightened.
“Chiquita knows her drinks,” Cupid said, coming closer.
“Party on!” Blitzen repeated, the shiny glass ornaments swinging from his antlers.
Dancer, stockier than the others, and his coat, mostly a pale brown other than a flash of white on his chest, spoke up. “We were celebrating.” He had a heavy Swedish accent, and the way he weighted his words, it gave them a certain gravitas.
“Christmas?” I asked.
“Christmas Eve is tomorrow night. I need to be able to fly,” Rudolph said. “Do you know someone who could help me feel well enough to do that?”
“I’m so sorry.” Guilt instantly overtook me for my distraction, and I crouched beside him. “How are you feeling?” I tentatively stroked the spot between his ears. “Is it okay if I pet you? Who should I call? Santa? How do I do that?”
I looked up to find the other deer watching Rudolph, eyes wide. Then they broke into a chorus of comments ranging from “You’re okay. Walk it off, man” to “Are you sure?” to “Mrs. C. cannot find out.”
“Um. So?” I asked tentatively.
“Let the elf out of your trunk,” Rudolph said.
The others gasped.
“Not on your life!” Donner grumbled.
“Might be,” Rudolph said ominously.
I felt a fizz of panic taking an unpleasant meander through my nervous system. “Sorry, what am I doing? Am I letting him out?”
Releasing the elf was going to make this difficult evening a lot worse, but I supposed I couldn’t lock him up forever. The magical world was particular about their rules, and I was sure that holding an elf hostage would make the lengthy list of no-nos.
Donner told Rudolph, “We don’t need him.”
“He’s locked in her trunk,” Rudolph said pointedly. “Mrs. C. will be very angry.”
“It’s unkind,” Prancer added primly. “You know the rule about kindness.”
“Wet blanket,” one of them muttered.
