A Short Story by Terri Rehmeier

Narrated by Elizabeth Phelps

IT was clear and cold the night of December 24. The excited four-year-old peered intently out her bedroom window looking for Santa with his heavily laden sleigh. For fifty-two long weeks, she'd been waiting for the return of Mr. Claus.

Her mother gave her a goodnight kiss and told her to go to sleep so Santa could come. In her cozy little bed high up in the loft, Ava dreamily remembered the day’s events: Christmas Eve at Grandma’s with her cousins, the large Christmas tree decorated with brightly colored balls, shining angels and twinkling lights; baking gingerbread houses and decorating them with lots of candy; and sipping hot chocolate while Grandma read stories to them. Her eyelids felt heavy.

Suddenly Ava heard the phone ring. Grandma wanted her to bring her dog Hitch to investigate a strange noise she'd heard in the woods. Quickly, Ava donned her red hat, mittens and scarf. Hitch, the big Saint Bernard, was pawing at the gate ready to follow wherever Ava led.

As Ava and Hitch trundled down the path to Grandma’s house, the crystalline snow reflected the moonlight off the high snow banks, twinkling and reminding her of Christmas tree lights. Grandma and Ava’s seven-year-old cousin, Megan, greeted them as she and Hitch stepped onto the big front porch. Suddenly, they all heard a racket in the woods and the snorting of deer.

Grandma grabbed a big light, a rope, and an ax and followed Hitch towards the commotion in the woods. Frightened, Ava and Megan trailed close behind holding hands. After much walking, they were greeted with an unbelievable sight. There, in the middle of the forest with broken trees scattered all around, was a big sleigh and eight reindeer all tangled up in their harnesses.

“Santa!” yelled Ava, “What are you doing here?” The big man in the red suit looked over the reindeer whose harness he was untangling.

“Well, I was on my way to deliver all these Christmas packages,” said Santa pointing to the sleigh with a large bundle on it, “when the two lead reindeer, Rudolph and Blixen started fighting. That caused Donner and Comet to run into them, which plunged us into this forest.”

“We'll help you,” shouted Megan and Ava, as they ran toward the sleigh. They worked quickly, untangling the reindeer from their harnesses. The girls loved petting the deer and told each one not to fight anymore. Soon Santa was back in the sleigh and ready to go. He gave the girls a short ride in the sleigh, flying low over Ava’s house.

Landing back at Grandma’s house, Santa looked at Hitch and said, “Thank you for finding me, without your help the children wouldn’t have their gifts on Christmas morning.” To Megan and Ava he said, “You girls are on the Nice List, thank you for helping me. Be sure to look under your tree in the morning!”

With a nod of his head and a loud whistle, the sleigh and reindeer flew up into the dark night sky and disappeared. From the bells on the reindeer’s harnesses Ava could hear the song Jingle Bells.

“AVA! Ava, its time to get up,” said her sister gently shaking the little girl awake. “It's Christmas morning!”

“Oh,” yawned Ava, “I've just had the very best dream.”