[nagdu] a Dog Christmas story to put you in the spirit

[David Andrews]

>
> > Here's the story
> > A Christmas Story
> > One bright Christmas Eve, Santa Claus awoke looking forward to taking to
> > the
> > night sky on his sleigh. He got out of bed, pulled on his hat and big red
> > coat and opened the outside door to go and visit his trusty reindeer. It
> > was
> > snowing and very cold. As Santa approached the stables, he smiled at the
> > thought that he would soon see Rudolph's red nose shining through the
> > blizzard.
> > But, oh no, wait a minute; as he turned the corner, Santa saw not one but
> > nine shiny red noses! Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid,
> > Donner,
> > Blitzen and Rudolph were all looking miserable. "Oh dear," said Santa,
> > "what's up with you all?" Comet, the reindeer union rep, stepped forward.
> > "I'm very sorry, but none of my reindeer will be able to do a full night's
> > present delivery shift," said Comet, looking sad. "This is the first time
> > we've ever wimped out on you, but we're all feeling lousy this year Santa
> > and, well, we feel you'd be better off with some other helpers just this
> > once." "Comet, this is disastrous news!" Santa held his head in his hands.
> > "I'm not sure I can get all the presents out to all the little boys and
> > girls without help from my reindeer."
> > At this, Blitzen and Prancer stepped forward. "To be honest Santa, we had
> > always worried something like this might happen," said Blitzen, sounding
> > very bunged up. "With this in mind, some years ago Prancer decided to
> > approach another group of magical creatures with special powers who might
> > be
> > able to stand in during an emergency."
> > "Well, Prancer," Santa turned to the other reindeer whose eyes were
> > streaming, "Do tell me. What is your idea? Which other creatures of the
> > world have magical powers that can match those of my nine wonderful
> > reindeer, of whom so many songs are sung and tales are told?" "Why...
> > Guide
> > Dogs, of course!" smiled the reindeer. He turned towards the snowy white
> > plains of Greenland, tapped the ground three times with his hoof, bowed
> > his
> > head and antlers, then majestically reared up making a very loud calling
> > sound that echoed round the four corners of the planet.
> > Within the space of thirty seconds, a shadow appeared far on the horizon.
> > As
> > it got bigger, Santa could just make out nine glowing Labradors, picked
> > out
> > in the arctic moonlight as they flew towards him. "This year," continued
> > Prancer, "your helpers will be: Danson, Goldie, Honey, Sheba, Chimo,
> > Nanuk,
> > Yukon, Woody and Nelson." Santa and his deer stood and stared up at the
> > approaching dogs, who they could now hear barking. When the dogs landed
> > they
> > became silent; the only noise was the north wind howling. Santa, awed by
> > the
> > sight, was about to speak when the leading dog, Danson, led a single note
> > chorus of howls as a salute to the reindeer whom they would replace this
> > year. Happy, all the reindeers saluted back and in unison returned to
> > their
> > stables.
> > "Greetings to you, Father Christmas," said Danson. "Instead of being with
> > our blind owners this year, we want to bring smiles to the faces of all
> > the
> > world's children. We're ready when you are."
> > Santa smiled and beckoned the creatures. He led them to his workshop.
> > Parked
> > outside was a huge sleigh, loaded with presents of all shapes and sizes. A
> > small green-clad elf was just putting the last present on the top; when it
> > was balanced correctly, he slid down and pushed himself off the side and
> > scampered back into the warmth. Sheba, Chimo and Honey had already
> > positioned themselves at the front of the sleigh and barked at the other
> > dogs to join them. As they lifted the sleigh's harness Santa said: "Aren't
> > you going to take your own little white harnesses off first?" "Oh no,"
> > spoke
> > up Woody, the smallest of the dogs, "these are our identity. Guiding is
> > what
> > we do and tonight Santa, we will guide you!"
> > With the dogs all in place, Santa climbed onto the front of the sleigh,
> > took
> > the reins in his hands and boomed merrily at the top of his voice: "Go
> > Danson... go Goldie... go Honey!" The dogs pulled and the sleigh took off
> > into the now clear dark blue sky. "Moosh Sheba, gee up Chimo, away
> > Nanuk...
> > away!"
> > Woody turned and winked at Nelson. They were both wondering how their
> > Owners
> > were getting on. They hoped to be back and curled up at the foot of their
> > beds before they awoke, and chuckled at what their masters would think if
> > they knew they were flying around the world helping to deliver
> > presents.
> > "Woody, Nelson, noses forward!" Santa's voice startled them into action.
> > "Yukon, stop trying to eat the falling snow," he continued, before
> > breaking
> > into a very loud and satisfied: "Ho ho ho! Keep flying, my little guides.
> > This year," winked Father Christmas, "your dogs will find out what busy
> > really means."
> > As the sleigh, the jolly old man and the nine magical guiding dogs reached
> > the horizon and flew towards the first of several billion houses on the
> > list, Santa knew that the guide dogs had saved the day and everything
> > would
> > be all right. "Merry Christmas, one and all!"
> >