Southend U3A

December 2022

Rudolph - Pete Norman

Rudolph the reindeer had a shiny red nose – a very shiny nose, of that there was no doubt.

The elves said that his nose glowed so bright that he was the only one of the reindeer that you could recognise in the farthest corner of the paddock.

The elves loved Rudolph, he was so gentle and he was never any trouble.

The other reindeer, however, were always trouble. They would run off when called, they would kick back at every opportunity when the elves tried to fit their reins and they would always try for a sneaky nip on an unprotected hand.

They also hated Rudolph – because he had something that they did not – his nose was so magnificent and so adored that they were always in his shadow, always second best and they did their utmost to punish him for it.

They ignored Rudolph as much as they could, they would never let him join in any of their reindeer games and they ignored him whenever he tried to get anywhere close to them.

Rudolph had tired of their petty meanness and avoided them whenever he could. The only time that he was ever close to them was in the stables, although the other reindeer forced him to sleep in the very end stall so that his stupid red nose would not keep then awake in the night.

Every Christmas he was pushed to the back of the team and for many years the only view he ever had in their trips around the world was the backside of the reindeer in front of him.

One Christmas eve, however, a thick fog had settled over the North Pole and the elves were beside themselves, because they could see no way that the reindeer could fly in almost zero visibility. They sent a delegation to Santa to ask for advice.

When Santa came over to the stable block the elves and all of the reindeer gathered around him in anticipation – none of them wanted to miss out on this, the most important task of the year and the very reason for their existence. They knew that every single child in the world would be devastated if there were no presents.

Santa ran the Google weather app and grimaced as it showed that the fog was world-wide. He opened up his hands in submission, ‘I’m afraid it looks impossible, there is no way we can fly in this.’ He scanned the downcast faces around him until his gaze fell on the last reindeer in the line.

‘Hmmm . . . It might just . . . Rudolph, to me.’

Rudolph squeezed past the other reindeer to the front. Santa gently rubbed Rudolph’s nose, which glowed even brighter at the touch.

‘Do you think, Rudolph, that you and your incredible nose would be able to guide the sleigh tonight?’

Rudolph nodded his head, he was so proud, this was the best day of his whole life.

All of the other reindeer crowded around him, cuddled him – oh how they loved him – they shouted out in their glee, ‘Rudolph the red nose reindeer, you’ll go down in history!’

Santa clapped his hands together. ‘Then there is no time to waste, let’s get going!’

Rudolph turned to the reindeer and snarled, ‘You two faced sycophants! Just get it into your stupid heads that I’m in charge now!’