Chapter I
“I’m so excited, Rudy,” said Holly. “Everyone will arrive by tomorrow night, as long as the weather holds out. Papa said we’re supposed to get some really bad weather soon, though. I hope it doesn’t cause problems at the airport for incoming flights. At least if they get here, I know you and the other Magic Reindeer will certainly get them out on time.”
She stopped brushing Rudy’s coat for a moment and looked at the animal contentedly munching his hay. He turned his aged but bright brown eyes toward her, still munching, and Holly switched her focus to him. That was Holly’s nature, to be concerned about others, and that’s why she was so special to everyone, including this old red-nosed reindeer.
“You must be getting excited, too, Rudy,” she said. “Christmas is your time to shine, as everybody knows!” Rudy was Holly’s favorite among the reindeer, though she didn’t let on to the others. But Rudy knew and enjoyed his favored position in Holly’s generous heart.
Resuming where she left off in brushing his coat, Holly continued her one-sided conversation. After giving a short snort and a shrug of his head, Rudy turned his head back and continued to savor his meal and Holly’s company.
“This year is going to be a special Christmas for me,” Holly said. “Once everyone arrives and my cousins and I are initiated to take the Christmas reins, I will officially be installed as the next North Pole Santa – the twenty-first generation of North Pole Santas. I’ll follow in Papa’s footsteps just as he followed in his Papa’s and his Papa’s before him – clear back to the first North Pole Santa, who was called Chris Kringle, Father Christmas and St. Nicholas. It’s a fine heritage, Rudy, and you and I will be together forever.”
Herald Santa Claus, Holly’s Papa, was just coming into the stable to talk to Holly when he picked up the last part of her conversation. He sighed heavily. He loved his daughter as deeply as any father had ever loved a child, and he was about to break her heart -- and no father should ever have to break his child’s heart.
She stopped brushing Rudy’s coat for a moment and looked at the animal contentedly munching his hay. He turned his aged but bright brown eyes toward her, still munching, and Holly switched her focus to him. That was Holly’s nature, to be concerned about others, and that’s why she was so special to everyone, including this old red-nosed reindeer.
“You must be getting excited, too, Rudy,” she said. “Christmas is your time to shine, as everybody knows!” Rudy was Holly’s favorite among the reindeer, though she didn’t let on to the others. But Rudy knew and enjoyed his favored position in Holly’s generous heart.
Resuming where she left off in brushing his coat, Holly continued her one-sided conversation. After giving a short snort and a shrug of his head, Rudy turned his head back and continued to savor his meal and Holly’s company.
“This year is going to be a special Christmas for me,” Holly said. “Once everyone arrives and my cousins and I are initiated to take the Christmas reins, I will officially be installed as the next North Pole Santa – the twenty-first generation of North Pole Santas. I’ll follow in Papa’s footsteps just as he followed in his Papa’s and his Papa’s before him – clear back to the first North Pole Santa, who was called Chris Kringle, Father Christmas and St. Nicholas. It’s a fine heritage, Rudy, and you and I will be together forever.”
Herald Santa Claus, Holly’s Papa, was just coming into the stable to talk to Holly when he picked up the last part of her conversation. He sighed heavily. He loved his daughter as deeply as any father had ever loved a child, and he was about to break her heart -- and no father should ever have to break his child’s heart.