Roger the Reindeer - Contest Entry

I'm posting this Christmas story, ROGER THE REINDEER, as my entry into Susanna Hill's latest Holiday Mishap contest (click the link to read more contest entries). The challenge was to write a story of 350 words or less that had something to do with a holiday mishap, mix-up, miscommunication, mistake or potential story. I think this fits the bill.

Here's my story:

ROGER THE REINDEER – word count 306

 

“Are you ready, Rudolph?” Santa asked.

“Ready, Santa,” Roger said.

Roger pranced proudly beside Santa. The fake, glowing nose Roger had rigged up must be working if Santa didn’t suspect anything

Roger was tired of Rudolph getting all the attention. First, everyone made fun of his nose. Then, everyone thought it was wonderful he could make his nose glow. Roger had been working his way up the ranks to be on Santa’s team, and then Santa chose that upstart Rudolph.

Roger had put Rudolph out of commission by lacing his oats with sleeping potion. Rudolph wouldn’t sleep all night, but by the time he woke up, it would be too late. Roger would be flying high through the skies, pulling Santa’s sleigh.

“I need you to line up with the rest of the reindeer.” Santa led Roger in front of Dasher and Dancer. As he was about to snap the lead in place, he said, “Rudolph, what’s wrong with your nose?”

“I don’t know, Santa. What’s it doing?”

“Your nose is blinking. Shouldn’t it just be glowing ?”

“Um…” Roger stammered. He scrunched up his face “Is that better?”

“No,” Santa said, as with a spit and a sputter, the light in Roger’s nose went out.

“What’s wrong Santa?”

“Your nose. It’s not glowing anymore.” Santa leaned over Roger. “It looks like there’s something on the end of it.” Santa touched it. “What’s going on?” When the fake nose slipped off, Santa asked, “Who are you?”

“I’m...I'm...um... Roger.”

“Where’s Rudolph?”

“He’s asleep in the barn.”

Pointing at some elves, Santa said, “Go get Rudolph.” To Roger he said, “I’ll deal with you later.”

When Santa took off with Rudolph in the lead, Roger hung his head, ashamed at what he’d done. “It sounded like a good idea at the time,” he said to himself.