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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 get left behind, she thought.
Olive turned away.
She’d seen enough. A tear trickled down her cheek.
Suddenly there were cries of alarm. And...
BANG!
Continues---->