EXCERPT

"We'll be very sorry to lose you, Blitzen," said the rosy-cheeked elf as he opened the door into the waiting room. "You've been a valued member of the Christmas Team. We'll all miss you here at Christmas Towers and I know the Reindeer Team will miss you, too."

Blitzen hobbled through the open doorway and, bowing his heavy, antlered head, replied, "Thank you, Elly. I'm very sorry to go but, as you know, flat hooves is a very painful condition and it makes standing on roofs all night very difficult. It's for the best. Time for a younger and fitter reindeer to take over."

"Good luck," said the elf. "And Merry Christmas!"

Blitzen smiled and hobbled out of the waiting room. The elf turned toward the reindeer who were all waiting for their interviews to begin.

"Right!" he said briskly. "Who's first? Ah yes, Roger. Come this way, please. And do hurry, we have precious little time to find a replacement for Blitzen." The elf looked very sad. "He was one of the best, you know." Roger flicked his antlers nervously and
followed the elf into a large white chamber.

At the far end of the room behind a large cluttered desk sat the Chief Elf.

"Well now, Roger," said the Chief Elf. "Is this your first try out for the Team?"

"Yes, sir," said Roger whose knees were making an awful clatter as they knocked together. He was feeling very nervous.

"No need to be frightened," said the Chief Elf. "It's a very simple procedure. Just one or two questions and then we'll move on to the flying course."

Roger was feeling very unsure of himself. All the other reindeer waiting outside looked much stronger and smarter than he did. He was beginning to wish he'd never come. All those stories he'd heard of the Christmas Team, how they trained all year round just for that one night's work - Christmas Eve! They
must be so clever, so strong and so much more, well...elegant than he was.

I mean, Roger. What sort of name was that for a reindeer on the Christmas Team? They all had names like Blitzen, Comet, Dasher, and Dancer. Then, of course, there was Rudolph. Everyone had heard of Rudolph and how his glowing red nose led the team through the dark, winter sky. Ever since he was a boy, Roger had dreamed of flying with Rudolph and the Christmas Reindeer Team. He saw himself standing tall and still on snow-covered rooves. Igloo or castle, it didn't matter to Roger. He would be up there with Rudolph and the others, antlers high in the air and sleigh bells jingling on his collar.

This was Roger's dream and, one day, he had thought, one day - it'll be me leading the team.