Reindeer James

Chapter 15

James and Ruby went to the practice field so often that their footprints wore a trail through the snow, trampling the tender lichen hiding underneath. Despite all that training, the Present Delivery Relay arrived far too soon for their comfort.

The crowd had already been a sight to behold from inside the judges' booth, but nothing could have prepared James for the thousands of eyes watching him and Ruby enter the arena alongside the other contestants. Even with so many people cheering them on, the noise failed to drown out the thunder rumbling through the clouds overhead. Frigid wind whipped the participants as they waited for their names to be called.

Ruby shook a thin crust of frost off her fur. "It's going to be a tough flight," she said.

"For you, maybe," said a doe with short, slightly crooked antlers. She twitched her ears as if she was dismissing a fly. "Those of us who can do more than fall like half-melted icicles shouldn't have any trouble."

"Lay off, Crystal," said a pure white buck. James recognized him as Mambo, the first reindeer he'd scored during Launch and Landing. "She'll be fine."

"Oh please, what would you know about flying? What did you get for your takeoff, a ten?"

"A nine," he mumbled.

"Well I got an eighteen, and they don't just give those out to just anybody, especially not a pair of donkeys."

"Somebody's on the naughty list," James muttered as Crystal marched off with her nose high in the air.

"I'll say," Ruby said. She smiled at the young buck. "Thanks for sticking up for me."

"Don't mention it," he said. "Looks like they're about to get things started."

Nick rose from his seat near the rest of the Clauses. His perpetual frown deepened as Santa muttered something in his ear. After taking a moment to tighten his crimson tie, he spoke into his microphone. "As I am sure you are all aware, we are experiencing inclement weather that will likely last the rest of the holiday season."

"This had better not mean the Games are canceled," yelled a shrill voice from the front row. "I traded a year's supply of chocolate for these tickets!"

A rumble of discontent rippled through the stands. Ruby stamped her hooves. "And we practiced real hard, too," she muttered.

"They're not actually—" Nick began.

"Since when did the Clauses let a couple clouds ruin the Games?"

"If you would just—"

"More like the Reindeer Lames, am I right?"

"Quiet!"

A hush fell over the audience as Nick's face reddened to match his tie. Santa massaged his forehead, refusing to even look at his son.

Nick cleared his throat. "What I've been trying to say is the Games will continue as originally scheduled, at least for now. In light of the adverse weather conditions, this event will be weighted even more heavily than usual when we're determining who will help deliver presents on Christmas Eve."

A look of concern flashed across Santa's face. As soon as Nick returned to his seat beside him, the two began whispering heatedly as Mrs. Claus scanned the herd of contestants. When her eyes met James's, he tugged at the scarf wrapped tightly around his neck, and she gave him a thumbs up.

"Good luck," Mambo said as stable staff ushered all the reindeer and their riders into their assigned positions in the holding pen.

"You too," Ruby said. She settled down in front of the refreshments trough and helped herself to an apple as she watched elves set up relay points throughout the crowd. Specially selected audience members sat with buckets in their laps and massive signs showing what toy needed to be delivered to them. As the thunder's roar grew closer, the wind hurled snow into the buckets. By the time Crystal sauntered back into the arena with her sleigh loaded with presents, the buckets had already accumulated enough for more than a few snowball fights to break out.