REINDEER COME HOME
by
A.G. May

Tobi shuffled into the cavernous barn just as Seabee the Deer Keeper stepped off the ladder from the loft, “when are the reindeer coming home Seabee.”

“Soon I suppose. They know when it’s time to come back, just like the geese know when it’s time to fly south for the winter. Actually Tobi, they are at home right now, we just sort of borrow them for a few weeks each Christmas.” Seabee replied patiently, as his thoughts drifted to their small group of special reindeer tucked away safe and sound far to the south. A summer spent growing fat in the Cairngorm Mountains of Scotland and in Rudolf’s case the tundra of Canada, had since slipped away, now the end of November he made ready for their return.

“I suppose, I miss them when they are away.” Tobi lowered her voice and nervously looked around, “Seabee, I must confess, I did sneak to the mountains to see them last summer.”

“You know what Santa will have to say about that, we’re not supposed to go anywhere near them for any reason what so ever Tobi. I don’t visit them, and I’m their keeper. I miss them too, but can you imagine what would happen if anyone figured out they were there? It’s for their safety and for ours. It’s for the safety of Christmas itself Tobi.”

“So many rules, I find it hard to keep it all straight.” Tobi sounded a bit exasperated.

Seabee sat down on a well used wooden crate. “You know Tobi; it’s the magic of kids from all over the world that inspires Christmas. It’s this same magic that allows our reindeer to fly, and why Santa can seemingly stop the hands of time while he travels round the world. If those millions of kids start to doubt Christmas is real, if people stop believing, then this magic will be lost. Once it’s lost Tobi, it’s lost forever. There’s too much at stake here for even the smallest of mistakes.

Tobi, barely four feet tall, clambered up onto a pile of empty feed bags, “Wouldn’t people laugh if they knew there are really ten reindeer.”

“I Doubt most would believe it, the tradition of Christmas is so deeply engrained, remember it’s as old as Santa himself. These age old stories tell of just nine, their names show up everywhere, in song, rhymes, and so many stories. The power of all those children is what makes them so light on their feet this time of year and on Christmas Eve ignites Rudolf’s otherwise ordinary little nose.”

Tobi chuckled, “Isn’t it funny to watch him when it finally lights up, each time he forgets what’s going to happen. I’d never have imagined a reindeer could cross his eyes. The others need a bit of time to adjust to this red shiny protrusion as well, they don’t act a whole lot different than Rudolf does.”

“It’s certainly a high point for me. Well, maybe Prancer’s reaction to the bells on his harness is better, he hops and kicks around then roles in the snow trying to shed those irritating little tinkling bells, it’s hilarious. You’d think he’d get used to it, been going on for centuries.”

“Not likely he ever will if he hasn’t by now.” Tobi added softly, the slightest of smirks showing on her lips.

“They all have their quirks, barely perceptible most of them, but they’re there just the same. Like our dreamer Cupid, off on a cloud of her own most of the time. Or how about the little tricks Vixen likes to play. These are the things I miss, watching them all as individuals, not just a bunch of reindeer hooked to a sleigh.”

Tobi lit up a bit as she started, “I saw the newest edition while I was in Scotland Seabee. It’s really why I went, she’s so sweet. I named her Aurora, after the aurora borealis.”

“A beautiful name Tobi, but you know Santa names all the reindeer. Always has, always will.”

“I know.” Tobi fell silent. She looked around the barn, the stalls so neat, everything in its place. Seabee did a marvelous job here. Two months feed ready to be picked, bedding piled high in the loft. If only people could see this place, not really so different than a barn anywhere else. Well, really there are only so many ways to build a barn. Only here the pens had no gates, the fences between the oversized stalls more for privacy than anything else. And a huge common area where they’d likely spend most of their time while at the North Pole. Now little Aurora will grace this place, and in a few decades she’ll get her turn pulling Santa along through the crystal clear midnight sky.

Seabee looked across at his inquisitive visitor. Just turned ninety three years, so young, and with so much to learn. Patience will come for this one, eventually. Seabee sighed almost inaudibly; he grew restless too, although he handled it differently than Tobi. Seabee spent his days tinkering in the barn. He fixed and cleaned, made improvements, like the common pen. His predecessor was a bit of a grouch who knew the reindeer as no other could, or ever would for that matter, but he was a bit callous, a trait which eventually forced Santa to find him more fitting work. Santa loved his Reindeer, he loved them as if they were his own children.

Tobi slid down, “well, see you when they get here.”

“See you Tobi; I’ll call you when they show up.”

“Who do you suppose will fly in first?”

“My bets on Rudolf, he’s usually here a day or two before the others.” Seabee turned to leave, then stopped, “I’ll put a bug in Santa’s ear about your choice of names Tobi, can’t promise you anything, but I’ll do what I can.”

“Thanks Seabee,” Her face lit up, an infectious smile which brought the slightest of smirks to Seabee’s otherwise stony, straight face. Seabee watched her skip off through the snow until she faded away into the faceless void of a perfect arctic night.
“Yeah Tobi I miss them too,” he whispered, the words drifting away with the fog of his breath

Merry Christmas 2007