Listen to “Christmas Story – Reindeer Games” on Spreaker.
It was a frosty December morning at the North Pole, and the reindeer were buzzing with excitement. Every year, just before Christmas, Santa hosted the Reindeer Games. It was a fun tradition where all the reindeer, young and old, competed in different challenges to show off their skills.
This year was extra special because Jingles, a young reindeer with a shiny red scarf, was joining the games for the first time. Jingles had been practicing for weeks and was eager to prove herself.
The games began with the Snow Sprint, where reindeer dashed through a snowy course full of twists and turns. Jingles lined up next to her friend Dasher, who was known for being the fastest reindeer.
“Ready, set, go!” called out Sparkle the Elf, who was officiating the games.
Jingles galloped as fast as her hooves could carry her. Snow sprayed in all directions as the reindeer raced to the finish line. Although she didn’t win, Jingles finished third, which was a great start for her first race.
Next was the Gift Toss, where reindeer had to toss sacks of presents into chimneys from different distances. Jingles watched in awe as Prancer hit every target perfectly. When her turn came, she took a deep breath, focused, and managed to land two out of three sacks into the chimneys. The crowd cheered.
“You’re doing great!” said Dasher, giving her a friendly nudge.
The final event was the Midnight Flight, where the reindeer had to navigate an obstacle course in the dark. This event was the hardest, designed to mimic flying through snowy skies on Christmas Eve. Jingles felt nervous.
“I’ve never flown in the dark before,” she admitted to Blitzen.
“Just remember to trust your instincts,” Blitzen said. “And keep your scarf tied tight!”
As the sky darkened, lanterns lit up the course, marking the starting line. One by one, the reindeer took off, weaving through candy-cane poles and dodging snowball launchers. When it was Jingles’ turn, she hesitated for a moment, but the encouraging cheers from the other reindeer gave her courage.
Jingles leapt into the air, her hooves kicking up snow. The first few obstacles were tricky, but she remembered Blitzen’s advice and trusted her instincts. She soared through the course, her red scarf trailing behind like a streak of holiday cheer.
At the final obstacle, a surprise snowstorm brewed. Jingles squinted through the flurries, her heart racing. Spotting a gap between two clouds, she made a daring dive and crossed the finish line with a triumphant leap.
The reindeer erupted into applause. Even Santa, who had been watching from the sidelines, gave her a hearty cheer.
“Ho ho ho! Well done, Jingles!” Santa said, patting her on the back.
At the end of the games, Sparkle announced the winners. While Jingles didn’t win first place in any event, she was given the Bright Spirit Award for her determination and courage.
Jingles beamed as Santa placed a shiny golden star medal around her neck. “The Reindeer Games aren’t just about winning,” Santa said. “They’re about celebrating teamwork, effort, and holiday cheer. And you, Jingles, brought all three!”
As the reindeer celebrated with cups of hot cocoa and gingerbread cookies, Jingles realized that the games had taught her more than just flying skills—they had shown her the true meaning of Christmas: believing in herself and spreading joy to others.
The end!
Follow-up Questions:
- Why was Jingles nervous about the Midnight Flight, and how did she overcome her fear?
- What qualities earned Jingles the Bright Spirit Award?
- If you could create a new event for the Reindeer Games, what would it be?