Reindeer James

Chapter 10

James arrived at the stables the next morning with red eyes and a runny nose.

"You sure you're alright to start today?" Gabe asked. "You seem a bit under the weather."

"Just had a hard time sleeping. Too excited!" James forced himself to smile. After what had happened with Nick, he was extra determined to prove he was actually good for something. "Thanks for letting me work here."

"I was the same way on my first day. Just about collapsed into the first pile of hay I saw! Now, let's get you better acquainted with the stables, shall we?"

First, he showed James the greenhouse. The massive structure stood behind the stables, practically radiating warmth. "We grow a lot of vegetables," Gabe said, "but we do have poinsettias in there, too. Reindeer appreciate some nice flowers as much as anyone, even if they can't eat them."

Next came the snow melting facility where solar panels used the sun's rays to provide the reindeer with plenty of fresh water. "We mostly rely on the power we store in summer," Gabe said.

Inside the stables, he showed James where they stored the seemingly endless bales of hay, which made both of them sneeze, and countless rooms filled with all sorts of equipment. The smell of old leather filled that section of the stables along with the metallic tang of sleigh bells.

Lastly, tucked away in a hidden corner of the stables, they came to a massive door engraved with a reindeer soaring through a sea of snowflakes. The door had no handle, only a device shaped like a snowman's head. Pitch black eyes stared down at James from above a bright orange lever.

"Only our most experienced folks go in there," Gabe said gravely. "If I catch you putting so much as a toe inside without my permission, I'll kick you out of here faster than you can say frostbite. Understand?"

James nodded.

"I need to hear you say it."

"I understand." But he didn't, not really. What could possibly be hidden behind that door? Super secret reindeer jetpacks? His dad's bottomless toy bag?

"Good." Gabe's face brightened up as he led James away from the forbidden door. "Now that you've gotten the tour, it's time to pick your reindeer! I always let new folks pick one to focus on so they don't get too overwhelmed while they learn the ropes. I have a feeling I know which one you'll go for. Am I right?"

"I pick Ruby!"

"Right as snow is cold," Gabe said with a chuckle. "Alright, let's go tell Gloria."

The Grinchy lady from the day before was brushing knots out of Tango's fur. Her icicle-sharp gaze stung James like frostbite. "So, you actually made it back." She nodded at Gabe. "He staying?"

"Yup. Would you mind keeping him busy with Ruby?" He patted James on the back to make it clear he wasn't just trying to ditch him. "I've gotta make sure his uniform will be ready for the Games. Can't exactly have the crowd seeing him looking like a Christmas tree."

Why would it matter if the crowd saw him in his favorite sweater? He wore it every year when he and his family all got to watch the Games. Unless...

"You mean I get to be in the Reindeer Games? Like, in them? Not just watching?"

"Of course! The reindeer do a lot of the events on their own, but we can't exactly check how well they work with a driver if nobody ever goes out there with them."