[nfbwatlk] A Christmas Story

Sun Dec 25 22:58:34 UTC 2011

Hi,
Oh, that's cute.  I wonder who wrote it.
Thanks
Lauren
advice from my cats: "meow when you feel like it."
"There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats." ~
Albert Schweitzer
My new book, "there's more than one way to love a cat," is available at 
amazon.com
Visit us at catliness.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Becky Frankeberger" <b.butterfly at comcast.net>
To: "NFB of Washinton" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, December 25, 2011 1:39 PM
Subject: [nfbwatlk] A Christmas 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 black and
> yellow labradors,  picked out in the arctic moonlight as they flew towards
> him.
>
> "This year," continued Prancer, "your helpers will be: Buttons,
> Goldie, Honey, Sam, Ben, Max, Anton, Lucy and Lassie."
>
> 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 - Buttons - 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 Buttons. "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 scarpered back into the warmth. Sam, Ben 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 harnesses off first?"
>
> "Oh no," spoke up Lucy, 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 reigns in his hands and boomed merrily at the top of his
> voice:
>
> "Go Buttons ... go Goldie ... go Honey!"
>
> The dogs pulled and the sleigh took off into the now clear dark blue
> sky.
>
> "Moosh Sam, gee up Ben, away Max ... away!"
>
> Lucy turned and winked at Lassie. 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.
>
> "Lucy, Lassie, noses forward!" Santa's voice startled them into
> action.
> "Anton, 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, "you 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!"
>
>
> Becky Frankeberger
> Butterfly Knitting
>
> Custom-made knit throws, shawls, and more!
>
> Phone: 360-426-8389
> E-mail: becky at ButterflyKnitting.com
> Website: www.ButterflyKnitting.com
>
>
>
>
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