It was the morning before Christmas, in the igloo in Finland,
“I do not want to send presents anymore,” St. Nicholas told his senior reindeer, Rudolf.
“Why?” Rudolf said with a sharp voice of astonishment.
“I just want to take a rest. Staying here is more comfortable than toiling away all night sending toys.”
“What about those children? They are looking forward to the presents for a whole year,” Rudolf almost shouted.
St. Nicholas put his hand on Rudolf’s shoulder and told him, “That is why I am talking with you right now. I want ”you” to send the presents this year. I think you are the most suitable one for this job. You are the best choice.”
So, the night before Christmas, Rudolf packed all the presents in a sack and put it on a sleigh. He had no doubt that his body was able to perform the task, funny as it was.
Rudolf had a red funny nose, a large pair of antlers with many tines, a tough body, strong fore legs, virile knees and powerful hind legs with big hocks. His hoofs were carefully polished by St. Nick for the task.
At this moment, Rudolf was stopping the sleigh on a roof. He took off the sack and flung it on his back. He then jumped into the chimney, eagerly anticipating the prettily made-up Christmas tree in the first house he would visit. Instead, midway through the chimney, he felt unable to move. What was the matter? He turned and twisted and realized that his antlers had gotten stuck in the chimney! He struggled for a while to get out and decided to enter from the window. Rudolf sneaked down to the ground and opened a window very quietly. He crept into the window but he was careless about his sack when it struck the window frame. The window fell down rapidly squeezing his tail.
“I hate St. Nick!” he whispered after he spent a lot of effort pulling out his tail.
Finally, he was standing in front of the Christmas tree with his face still flushed. He took out a bag with the name, ”Sam” on it from his sack. However, when Rudolf squatted down, the present slipped out from his hoofs falling down to the wooden floor and made a loud noise.
When the red-nose reindeer picked up the bag and raised his head stealthily, he saw a boy standing before him. Rudolf stared at the boy. The reindeer was standing stiff with his eyes opened widely, as his mouth formed a circle.
“Who are you? Where is my Santa Claus?” the boy asked.
“He-he-he is taking a rest at home. So I-I-I send toys instead,” Rudolf stammered.
“I am Sam. You are really clumsy. You are making a lot of noise, you know? Maybe I can help you sending the presents. I think hands are more useful than hoofs. How do you think?” Sam asked.
Rudolf leaned his head putting his hoof on his muzzle and said, “That is a good idea.”
Therefore, Rudolf and Sam went to the next house together, and the next, and the next, until they sent out all the toys.
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