Olive, The Orphan Reindeer

CONTENTS
1. Wolves
2. Santa And Mrs. Claus
3. Olive's Jobs
4. A Foolish Dream
5. A Meeting With Santa
6. Countdown
7. Too Late
8. The Numbers Aren't Good
9. Blackmail
10. Not A Very Nice Idea
11. Take-Off
12. What Boomer Did
13. No Time To Lose
14. Mrs. Claus's Surprise
15. The Big Trip



CHAPTER 1

Wolves

The storm in the Barrens raged around the
little reindeer with a nose like an olive.
"Mommy! Daddy!" She'd lost her mother and
father and brothers and sisters. The night
wind shrieked. The snowflakes stung her eyes.
"Mommy! Daddy! Where are you?" But no one
could hear. And now - danger! - wolves. She
could smell them. They were close. Maybe they
got my family, she thought, and want me too.
So the little reindeer ran as fast as she
could. In the fierce storm she didn't know
where she was going. She just knew she had to
get away. The wolves chased her, but she soon
left them far behind. Even when she no longer
picked up their scent, she ran and ran.
Finally she came to the North Pole.



CHAPTER 2

Santa And Mrs. Claus

Gasping for breath, she found herself in front
of Santa and Mrs. Claus's house. Night here
was calm and peaceful. She saw them arm in arm
on their doorstep. They were looking at the
stars. Santa Claus laughed when he saw the
tired little reindeer. "Ho! Ho! Ho! Look, my
dear. A reindeer with an olive for a nose!
Goodness! Welcome to the North Pole, little
one." Mrs. Claus smiled. "Well, aren't you
just the cutest thing though! We'll have to
call you Olive. Right, Santa?" Santa nodded.
"Do you like cookies, Olive?" "I don't know,
ma'am," she said. "Well, try this," said Mrs.
Claus. She gave Olive a cookie. "It's raisin
and oatmeal fresh from my bakery." Olive found
it tasty. While she nibbled on it, Mrs. Claus
tied a blue bow on her head. "There, Olive!"
Mrs. Claus said, giving her a big hug. "You
just needed amite sprucing up." "I hope you can
stay a while, Olive," said Santa. Olive felt
she'd never see her family again. She was an
orphan. So she decided to make the
North Pole her home.



CHAPTER 3

Olive's Jobs

As the years passed and she got bigger, Olive
became one of the best skaters among the spare
reindeer. She always won the friendly races
against them at Candy Cane Pond. Olive also
had important jobs to do during the Christmas
season. She looked through the magic telescope
to see which boys and girls were naughty or
nice, and reported their names to Number One,
the chief elf. She hauled boxes of presents
to Santa Claus's sleigh on the runway. She
delivered muffins from Mrs. Claus's bakery to
the hospital. In the toy factory she checked
for broken toys coming off a line in Quality
Control. She liked these jobs, but the job
Olive wanted more than anything was to be on
Santa's team. Will I be picked some day?
she wondered.



CHAPTER 4

A Foolish Dream

It was Christmas Eve again. As always Olive
wished she could go on the Big Trip. Many of
her spare reindeer pals had gone. Why not me?
she thought. But maybe that was a foolish dream.
Only this morning an elf had shouted, "You over
there - no, not you, Jingles. The other reindeer.
Yes, you, green nose. Give us some help." But at
dusk when Olive got off shift, she began to do
some serious thinking. Maybe it wasn't a foolish
dream at all. What did that smart alec elf know
anyway? So she decided right then to visit Santa
and ask him if she could join the team.



CHAPTER 5

A Meeting With Santa

As she stood in front of Santa's house, Olive
wasn't so sure of herself. Just who do you
think you are? she thought. But she'd come
this far so what did she have to lose? All
Santa could do was say no. She hesitated then
tapped at Santa's door. She waited. No answer.
She tapped again. No one home. She sighed.
"Oh, well, I tried." Just as Olive was about
to leave, the door burst open. "Ho! Ho! Ho!
Well, well, look who it is!" Santa said. He
had only one boot on. "I'm just getting ready
to go over to Mission Control to check things
out before the Big Trip. What can I do for you,
Olive?" "Hi, Santa. I thought I'd ask if there,
uh, was - was -" "Was what, Olive?" "Well,
anything I could do." Santa thought. "No, I
can't think of anything." "Oh." "What did you
have in mind?" "Well - uh - well -" Olive was
tongue-tied. "Please, I'm really in a hurry,"
Santa said. "Well?" When he hears what I want
he'll laugh at me, Olive thought. That's worse
than a simple no. She just blinked. "I can't
think of a thing you could do," Santa said.
"Well, I just thought I'd, you know, ask
anyway." Santa shrugged. "Thank you for asking,
Olive." "You're welcome, Santa." She left and
Santa scratched his head. "What a strange
conversation," he muttered.



CHAPTER 6

Countdown

Take-off time was ninety-seven minutes away.
Best to forget about the Big Trip, Olive felt,
by keeping busy. Maybe Mrs. Claus wanted some
muffins taken to the hospital. She headed for
the bakery. Lovely smells drifted from it:
mincemeat tarts, chocolate cakes, jelly
doughnuts, date squares, brownies, buns, bread,
all kinds of muffins and cookies. "Hi, Olive.
That nose of yours sure works mighty fine,"
Mrs. Claus said. "Here's a nice warm raisin
and oatmeal cookie just for you." "No thank
you, Mrs. Claus," Olive said. "I'm not hungry.
I just came over to see if you wanted some
muffins taken over to the hospital." "I'm
sorry, we made the muffin delivery this
afternoon when you were at the toy factory."
"Oh." Mrs. Claus gave Olive a close look.
"What's the matter, Olive? Why the glum
looking face?" Olive pawed at the ground.
"Well - it's nothing. Nothing." Mrs. Claus
fixed Olive's blue bow. It was crooked.
"Something is bothering you. Tell me, Olive,
don't be shy with me. We girls have to stick
together. What is it?" "It's nothing, Mrs.
Claus. I'd better go now and see if they need
me one last time at the toy factory." Olive
trotted off. "You're my favorite reindeer
you know. I'm always around if you need me,"
Mrs. Claus called after her.



CHAPTER 7

Too Late

At the toy factory Olive's best friend, Boomer,
the chubby harness elf, sat on a crate by
the shipping dock. He munched on a peanut
butter sandwich. "Hi, Olive!" Boomer shouted.
He liked to shout rather than talk. "Hi, Boomer.
Do they need any more help inside?" "Not now.
They're just tying up some loose ends. We're
ready." "Oh." She wasn't needed here either.
"What's eating you, Olive? Huh? You look
really sad." "Well, it's just that I'd love to
go on the Big Trip," Olive said. "Hey, come
on! You'll make it one day." "Oh, I don't know
about that, Boomer." "You will. You're fast.
You always win the races on Candy Cane Pond.
And you're strong too." "I'm just a nobody.
After all these years I'm still called the
other reindeer." "Aw, come on! Mrs. Claus for
one doesn't call you that," Boomer said. "Tell
her what you want." "Mrs. Claus doesn't do the
hiring." "No, but I'm sure she's got some clout
with Santa." "I just talked to Mrs. Claus and
I couldn't tell her about - about my dream. I
just couldn't." "Huh? Why not?" "Well - I -"
Boomer waved his sandwich in the air. "Sweet
potaters, Olive! You can't just wait for
something to happen. And that's what you're
doing." "I know, Boomer, I know." She wouldn't
mention her visit with Santa Claus or Boomer
would get really steamed. "But I just don't
like to be - pushy." Boomer snorted. "Pushy?
You really tick me off sometimes. You know
that? The squeaky wheel gets the grease. Things
won't come to you. And -" "And what, Boomer?"
Boomer stared at his sandwich. "The Big Trip
is only eighty-nine minutes away. But I have
to say you can forget it just like the other
ones. It's too late." Olive gulped. Maybe I
should have said something to Mrs. Claus, she
thought. I'll be staying behind again.



CHAPTER 8

The Numbers Aren't Good

Meanwhile Santa Claus, Number One, and Chip,
the computer ace, were going over a few things
in the Planning Room at Mission Control. They
studied a wall map. Mittens, Santa's orange
cat, was on Santa's shoulders. He seemed
interested in the map too. "Santa, the numbers
aren't good," Chip said. "We have a record
number of kids this year and we just don't
have enough reindeer power." Santa chuckled.
"Chip, you worry too much. I have a great
team, but we can always add one or two of the
spare reindeer." Mrs. Claus passed by. She
cupped her ear to listen. "One or two won't do
it, Santa, even if we had them," Number One
said. "Dr. Winters called me just before you
arrived. An odd thing. The spare reindeer are
in the hospital sick." Santa gasped. "Oh,
dear! All of them at once? That's terrible!"
"And the sleigh is loaded to overflowing,"
Chip said. "If we added any more toys we
couldn't lift off. Lots of toys have to be
left behind." He looked at his calculator.
"The numbers aren't good." "They certainly
aren't, Chip," Santa said. "Many places must
be missed." Chip pointed at the map with a
baseball bat. "Here, here, and here. And
there." Santa Claus sank into an armchair with
his head in his hands. Mittens almost fell off
his shoulders. "But we can't let down any
children," Santa moaned. "We can't! You're the
computer expert, Chip. Think of something.
Anything! We leave in fifty-six minutes. There
must be something we can do." Chip threw up
his hands. "There isn't, Santa, and that's a
fact." After she heard this, Mrs. Claus
hurried over to the hospital.



CHAPTER 9

Blackmail

In the hospital ward the spare reindeer lay
in beds. With thermometers in their mouths
were Speedy, Jingles, Flash, Igloo, Spinner,
Rascal, Bingo, and Pokey. Dr. Winters took
out the thermometers and read them. "Hmmm,"
he said. "I can't see anything the matter
with any of you." He looked at his watch.
"It's Christmas Eve with forty-three minutes
'til take-off. What if Santa needs some of
you? Then what?" "Then that'll be too bad,"
Pokey stated. "We're not going back to that
gloomy old stable." "Not until somebody
paints it," said Flash. "Hah! So that's it,"
Dr. Winters said. "Blackmail!" "That's a mean
thing to say," said Bingo. "But we're not
going back to that stable. So there!" "Get up!
Get up!" Dr. Winters yelled. "Where's your
pride? Where's your courage? Where's your
loyalty? Get up! Immediately! This is nonsense!
This is - uh, please. With jam on it. Well?"
But the reindeer just snuggled in their beds
and answered with snores. They weren't
going anywhere.



CHAPTER 10

Not A Very Nice Idea

Mrs. Claus rushed into the ward. She was
alarmed by what she saw. "What's going on,
Doctor?" Dr. Winters shook his head. "I never
thought I'd hear myself say this, Mrs. Claus.
Never in a million years. But what we've got
here is a bunch of fakers who want to sleep
all day long in nice comfy beds. In short,
they're on strike!" Mrs. Claus thought. "I
think I've got an idea. It's not a very nice
one, but - " She whispered into Dr. Winters'
ear. The reindeer squinted at them. What were
they up to? The doctor held up a needle. He
gave it a squirt. The reindeer stirred. "Now
this might smart a little, you reindeer, but
it's for your own good," Dr. Winters said. The
reindeer shot up in bed. "Don't be scared,"
Dr. Winters said. "It'll only take a second."
"I feel a lot better, Dr. Winters," Jingles
said. "M-m-me too," Pokey stuttered. "See you,
Dr. Winters," said Igloo, bolting for the door.
"Don't call us, we'll call you," said the rest
as they clomped after Igloo. Mrs. Claus and Dr.
Winters split their sides as the reindeer
stampeded down the corridor.



CHAPTER 11

Take-Off

Take-off was seconds away. From the runway
red, gold, green, and blue fireworks lit the
North Pole sky with fantastic patterns. Two
elves at the front of the sleigh blew a
trumpet fanfare. Tah-tah tah tah-tah tah tah.
Tah-tah. Boomer sprinkled Santa's reindeer
from his bag of magic sparkles. The sparkles
gave them the power to fly. Chip and Number
One looked on with frowns. Everyone was
nervous except for the reindeer. "I'm all
set, chief," said Dasher, and pawed at the
ground. "Me too," said Dancer, and shook his
bells. "Let's go, Santa," said Comet. From
the front of Santa's team came a red glow and
a giggle. The reindeer loved Christmas Eve.
Santa didn't have the heart to tell them
thousands of children would be given a miss
on this one. He slumped in his sleigh. Even
his beard seemed to droop. Olive watched from
a rise. Although she wanted to forget about
the Big Trip, she just couldn't help coming
to see the show. She especially loved the
fireworks. She heard the reindeer's excited
voices. Oh, how she wished she could be one of
them. But I'll always be the other reindeer
who stays behind, she thought. Olive turned
away. She'd seen enough. A tear trickled down
her cheek. Suddenly there were cries of alarm.
And........... BANG!



CHAPTER 12

What Boomer Did

The sleigh had crashed. Santa Claus was tossed
into a snowbank. The reindeer sprawled on the
runway. Boxes of presents were scattered
everywhere. Olive galloped to the overturned
sleigh. Boomer stood near it. "Oh, no! This
is awful!" Olive cried. "What happened, Boomer?"
Boomer grinned. "I overloaded the sleigh when
nobody was looking. I put a set of barbells
across the back of the runners. "What! But why?"
"You want to go with them, don't you?""Shh! Of
course I want to go, but -" "Well, if the
team can't get airborne then you're in. You're
in!" "But - but -" "Oh-oh!" Boomer clasped his
mouth. "Look who's coming."



CHAPTER 13

No Time To Lose

Number One marched towards them. His face was
red with anger. "I heard all that, Boomer. Oh,
Santa! Santa!" he called. "I think there is
something you should know." Santa struggled to
his feet and brushed snow off himself. "What's
going on here?" Santa said. "Tell Santa Claus
the disgraceful thing you did, Boomer," Number
One ordered. "Go on." Boomer hung his head. "I
overloaded the sleigh with some barbells. I'm
sorry, Santa, I really am. But please forget
what I did and give Olive a chance to go with
you. That's why I did it. Olive is as fast as
greased lightning." Santa shook his head. The
accident had confused him. "Olive?" he said.
"Olive?" Then it dawned. "Yes, Olive! I was
just talking to you. So you want to help
deliver the presents, do you, Olive?" "Oh,
yes, Santa. That's really why I came to see
you." Boomer gave Olive a surprised look.
"Huh? You did?" Santa stroked his beard. "So
that was it! But why didn't you say so? Oh,
never mind. We've got no time to lose. Come
along, Olive." But Olive didn't move. "I'd
love to, Santa, but I don't think it would
be fair to go after this. If not for Boomer,
you'd all be in the sky by now." Boomer
clenched his teeth. "Olive, you're going to
blow it." "Hmm, I see," Santa said. "I see."
For a while no one knew what to say. Finally
Number One spoke up. He'd cooled off. "Santa,
may I say something?" he said. "Although I do
not approve of such a deed, I think Boomer is
a good fellow. He has served us well for many
years. Perhaps we can overlook what he did."
Santa nodded. "I agree, Number One. We'll
give Boomer a second chance. So, Olive? Do
you want to come? Yes or no?" Olive could
hardly believe it. Was her dream about to come
true? "Whoopee!" she shouted. "You'll see I'm
really fast and strong, Santa." Santa's eyes
twinkled. He patted Olive on the head. "Don't
worry, Olive," Santa said. "I've had my eyes
on you and I know how fast and strong you are.
You were going to be on the team sooner or
later. So as of now, you're officially hired."
Chip joined them. He was studying his calculator
and he didn't look happy. "I hate to be a party
pooper, Santa, but this won't change much," he
said. "With the help of this other reindeer -
pardon, Olive - we can make Los Angeles just
before sun up. But many other places will still
get left out." Santa sighed. "I know, I know,
I hadn't forgotten, Chip. How could I? All
those children will be heart-broken. They'll
never forgive me. But - but there's
nothing we can do."



CHAPTER 14

Mrs. Claus's Surprise

At that moment they heard a whistle in the
distance. It came from Mrs. Claus. She wore
a red-and-white Santa outfit. And she was
driving a team made up of the eight spare
reindeer. "Hee-hah! Giddy-up, my honeys!"
Mrs. Claus urged. The spare reindeer looked
as fit as ever. They came at full steam.
Snow swirled around their pounding hooves.
Santa's mouth fell open as Mrs. Claus pulled
up beside him. "Mrs. Claus! Goodness! What
a surprise!" Santa said. "What are you doing
here?" "Well, dear, I heard you had a problem,"
Mrs. Claus said. "We do, we do. A whopper. But
I thought all the spare reindeer were in the
hospital." Mrs. Claus smiled. "They were. Flat
on their backs until Dr. Winters came up with
a - cure, you might say. And then I did a
little wheeling and dealing about giving their
stable a new paint job. You really should see
it, Santa." "We can talk about that later,
my dear. But right now I'd like to know why
you're here." "Well, I thought we could load
up my sleigh and I'll - go with you. If you
don't mind." Santa clapped his hands. "Mind?
Why should I mind? That's a terrific idea!
You really want to go, don't you, my dear?"
"It would be a hoot. A real hoot." "All these
years and you've never once said anything."
"Well, wouldn't a passenger have made the
sleigh too heavy?" Mrs. Claus said. "So, dear?
What do you say?"



CHAPTER 15

The Big Trip

Santa turned to Boomer. "Quick, Boomer! Hitch
up Olive to Mrs. Claus's team. That will give
us nine reindeer each." Boomer saluted. "Right
away, Santa!" Boomer hitched Olive in the lead.
A dozen elves gathered up the scattered toys.
Another dozen brought the ones left over in
the toy factory. The sleighs were quickly
loaded. Boomer sprinkled Mrs. Claus's reindeer
with the magic sparkles. For a moment the
reindeer rose and floated on air. Mrs. Claus's
team was now ready to fly. "Up and at 'em,
Olive!" whooped Mrs. Claus. "Ho-ho! Ho-ho!"
Santa winked. "You've got the words, my dear,
but, well, the tune needs some work." Then
with a merry "Ho! Ho! Ho!" and a "Ho-ho!
Ho-ho!" Santa and Mrs. Claus whooshed off
into the twinkling stars and over the moon.
The elves jumped up and down and cheered the
two sleighs in the sky. "Yippee! Yippee!" A
few toasted each other with mugs of hot
chocolate. As she led Mrs. Claus's team,
Olive held her head up high. All the boys
and girls got their presents on time and
they were delighted. So was Olive. And she
did such a super job that from then on she
made the Big Trip with Mrs. Claus every
Christmas Eve. Now everyone knows
Olive, the other reindeer.

THE END






Copyright 1997..........Michael Christie

Story used on this page with written
permission of Michael Christie

Why not drop him an e-mail and let
him know how you liked his story!!!

Michael Christie

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