The Reindeer Games (No Rudolph Allowed)

Everyone knows Rudolph.

But this story isn’t about him.

This story is about Gary.

Gary was a young reindeer at the North Pole.

He didn’t have a shiny red nose.

He had a regular brown nose.

And Gary was clumsy.

When the reindeer practised take-offs, Gary tripped over his own hooves and landed in a snowbank.

POOF!

When they practised landing on rooftops, Gary slid right off and fell straight into a chimney.

CLANG!

"Oh, Gary," Coach Comet would say, shaking his antlers. "You need more practice before you can pull the sleigh."

Every year, the day before Christmas Eve, the reindeer held the Reindeer Games.

There was a speed race.

A high jump.

And a tricky obstacle course.

"I’m going to win a medal this year," Gary told his friend Clarice.

"Just do your best, Gary," Clarice said kindly.

First came the speed race.

"On your marks… get set… GO!"

Gary ran fast.

Really fast.

He was doing great!

Then he saw a squirrel.

Gary turned his head.

His hooves went sideways.

He bumped straight into Blitzen.

Their antlers tangled.

They both rolled into the snow.

They came in last.

Next was the high jump over a giant candy cane bar.

Gary ran.

He leaped.

And…

CLATTER!

His back hoof caught the bar, and it fell to the ground.

Gary’s ears drooped.

He sat on a log at the edge of the field.

"I’m just no good at reindeer stuff," he mumbled.

Just then, a little elf named Squeaky came running.

"Help!" Squeaky cried. "The wind blew the ribbon basket onto the roof of the toy shop!"

"We can’t reach it, and we need those ribbons for the presents!"

The roof was steep.

And icy.

The other reindeer shuffled nervously.

Gary looked up.

It was a tough landing.

But Gary was used to tough landings.

"I’ll try," Gary said.

He galloped forward.

He leaped into the air.

He hit the ice.

Instead of trying to stop, Gary leaned into the slide.

He skimmed across the roof like a surfer riding a wave.

Just before the edge, he hooked the ribbon basket with his antlers.

He wobbled.

Balanced.

And hopped safely back to the ground.

The elves cheered.

Coach Comet cheered.

"That was amazing sliding, Gary!" Coach Comet said.

"You may be clumsy, but you are brave, and you never give up."

Gary didn’t win a medal that day.

But the head elf gave him the Golden Ribbon Award for saving the day.

Gary wore it proudly.

He finally understood something important.

Even if he wasn’t the best flyer…

He was the very best slider at the North Pole.