A Different Team This Christmas

By Jim Gerwing

Drawing by Jim Gerwing

"Santa, dear, something's been bothering you all year. Is something wrong? Even the elves are complaining."

"I haven't noticed that."

"You must be blind and deaf then. You're getting old, maybe?"

"Au contraire, honey bunch. I have been thinking very deeply about a new team for my sleigh this Christmas. A multi-cultural thing, in an animal sense."

"Explain, please."

"I've been wondering about my old team. Donner has lost most of his thunder, Cupid her looks, and Comet her sparkle. Blitzen isn't as flashy anymore, Vixen's teeth are falling out, Prancer has weak ankles and Dasher has slowed down considerably. Dancer has no stamina whatsoever, and Rudolph...what can I say about him? And I'm getting tired of cleaning each tiny little hoof."

"True enough, but they are a faithful bunch."

"But wouldn't the children of the world be excited to see my sleigh pulled by a lot of different animals? I was, for example, thinking about a far-seeing giraffe to lead this year."

"Interesting, but silly. Different animals would never work together."

"And why not?"

"Because they are all too different. They eat different food; they have different languages, and backgrounds, and they look so different from each other."

"Mere trifles, if I can just convince them what a wonderful example of cooperation it would be for a world torn by divisions that are essentially skin-deep, so to speak."

And so it came about that Santa began training a new team of sleigh-pullers. He chose an elephant and a black rhino to anchor the rear end, a grizzly and a buffalo for the tough terrain, a whale and a shark to traverse the vast oceans, and a turkey buzzard and an eagle to scout the best route. He would enlist a pack of wolves to guard the flanks and keep a rooster on deck to announce their arrival at each little home.

So, children, if you happen to catch a glimpse of this extraordinary sight in the sky when you are outside this Christmas Eve you will be delighted to know that Santa's scheme has indeed worked out, and his trusty reindeer are enjoying their deserved retirement. It's toy time again, and all's well with the world!"