Author: Kevin Edgar. Kevin has been writing horror, crime and supernatural stories for the last ten years. He enjoys photography, playing guitar, and sax as well as learning the intricate nature of 3D modelling.

‘Cover your nose, Rudolph. We’re trying to get some sleep,’ said Prancer.

  The other reindeer snorted in approval.

‘You’re all jealous because I’m the chosen one,’ said Rudolph.

‘Santa said that in one of his senior moments’, said Vixen.

‘Not so. I’m loved by all, especially children.’

‘That’s not love, that’s greed. Children nowadays are fat, lazy, greedy and self-centred. We should go on strike,’ said Donner.

‘We tried that several years ago,’ said Cupid. ‘Remember?’

All the reindeer shuddered.

“He threatened to find replacements and sell us to the abattoir,” Blitzen said, ‘Where they would turn us into reindeer steaks.’

‘Yes,’ said Cupid, ‘We’d be feeding the little buggers instead of giving them presents.’

‘Not me,’ said Rudolph. ‘He would still need me to light the way.’

‘Don’t be so thick. If he gets rid of us, then he wouldn’t need you.’

Rudolph gulped and lowered his head.

At the moment Mrs Clause entered the Barn.

‘Okay, listen up, you lazy bunch. Santa is refusing to go out tonight because of the covid virus. He’s in the high-risk category, being clinically obese, high blood pressure and eight hundred years old. So I’ll be driving the sleigh tonight.’

‘God help us,’ murmured Vixen.

‘Anybody who’s unhappy with me driving can tell Jason about it.’

‘Who’s Jason?’, asked Cupid.

‘Head of the abattoir’, said Mrs Claus, as she left the Barn.

‘We won’t all survive the night,’ said Donner.

‘Tell me about it,’ said Cupid. ‘Remember poor Heebie and Jeebie?’

‘Who,’ said Rudolph, ‘are Heebie and Jeebie?’

‘Before your time, long before you came along with your freakish nose, they would guide Santa’s sleigh. Tell the story, Donner, you’ve been here the longest,’ said Blitzen.

All the reindeer turned to Donner.

‘It was the winter of nineteen eighteen. The Spanish Flu was raging throughout the world. Somehow, Santa caught it and was bedridden. So Mrs Claus took the reins. As usual, Heebie and Jeebie were the front two reindeer.’ He paused.

‘We called it the night of the chimneys,’ said Cupid.

‘Why’, said Rudolph.

‘Because,’ Vixen explained, ‘There were very few left standing, as Mrs. Clause either can’s handle the sleigh, or has a hatred of chimneys.’

Donner continued, ‘When we arrived back, we discovered Heebie and Jeebie were injured. Mrs Claus said Jason would take care of them. We never saw them again.’, said Donner.

‘Better get a good day’s sleep, guys, especially you, Rudolph. Tonight’s going to be hell.’

                     *                                                      *                                                *

‘That,’ said Blitzen, ‘Was a nightmare.’

Donner said, “Thankfully, we coded the presents to go to the correct child.”

‘I think my leg is broken’, moaned Rudolph.

‘Remember Heebie and Jeebie’, said Cupid.

Rudolph shuddered. ‘I’m fine, totally fine. It’s just a scratch.’

The stable door flew open, and Mrs Claus was there, smiling.

‘An okay job, slaves. Let’s hope you do better next year.’

‘Won’t Santa be driving the sleigh?’, they asked in unison, ‘Where is he?’

Mrs Claus smirked. “Ask Jason.’

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