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Hello and welcome back to Koala Moon, a podcast of original children's bedtime stories and meditations designed to make bedtime a dream. I'm Abby and tonight's episode is extra special because Koko has asked me to create a collection of all his very favourite Christmas stories from the show. It's an extended two hour compilation, giving you plenty of time to snuggle down, get cosy and get in the mood for the holidays. Before we begin, a quick message for the grown ups. If you'd like to support our podcast, enjoy ad free listening, unlock four bonus stories per month and much, much more, you can join Koko Club, subscribe in just two taps via the link in the show notes, but now here's a quick word from our sponsors. The holidays are magical and they're also very busy. There's shopping trips, family visits and plenty of are we there yets? And in those moments, kids often want something fun and creative to dive into. And that's where Netflix Kids games come in. Not only are they great entertainment, we love that they're designed to spark imagination. And with your existing Netflix membership, kids get fully unlocked games, no extra fees, no ads and no in app purchases. From Paw Patrol Academy to Lego Duplo World, Barbie Color Creations and even the World of Peppa Pig, all of Netflix's games are created with the same spirit of imagination that we love here at Koala Moon. Every game also works without wifi. You just download them ahead of time, the same way you download their favorite Netflix shows and movies so they're ready wherever the holidays take you. It's simple, on the go, fun that keeps little minds engaged and takes a bit of pressure off those busy days. For more holiday travel ideas and to check out all of Netflix's kids entertainment, visit netflixfamily.com TravelTips we know our listeners have the most incredible imaginations, from sharing story ideas to showing us how creative they can be with characters. The new Paw Patrol Fire Rescue toys celebrate that same same spirit of creativity, helping little heroes feel proud of the stories they create. Your little storyteller can join Marshall and the team on their biggest adventures yet with the all new Fire Station HQ where they can gear up and slide down the pole and Marshall's rapid reload fire truck ready for action. Every pup has their own vehicle so kids can recreate their favourite rescues from the show or dream up their own. Its creative hands on play that inspires teamwork and confidence. The perfect way to keep their imaginations shining bright. So when the time comes for a new adventure. Check out the Red Hot Paw Patrol Fire Rescue Toys. Available now at all major retailers. Each story is full of kindness, friendship and festive fun. Perfect for drifting off to. So settle in. Take a deep breath in and let it out with a sigh. Ready? Okay, great. Let's begin with Coco's Cosy Christmas By Gillian Rogerson. It was Christmas Eve and snow had been falling softly all day on Sleepy Forest. The snowflakes settled on a cosy cabin that lay deep in the heart of the forest. Inside the cabin lived a family of koalas. The youngest koala was called Koko. On that snowy eve, the Koala family were busy making final preparations for Christmas Day. Grandpa and Grandma Koala were in the kitchen baking tantalizing treats. The delicious aroma of nutmeg, cinnamon and gingerbread drifted through the cozy cabin. Father Koala had been busy all day chopping wood for the fire. He wanted to make sure the family would keep snug and warm during the chilly winter months. Once he chopped enough logs, he had placed them in a neat pile next to the cabin. Father Koala took some logs into the home and put them into a basket at the side of the fireplace. Some pieces of wood were already alight in the grate and the soothing sounds of crackling logs added to the comforting atmosphere in the home. Amber and orange flames danced merrily over the spruce scented wood. Mother Koala was sitting in an armchair near the window and had a colourful collection of wool at her side. She was putting the final touches on the many gifts she'd made for her family and friends. Every time someone in the cabin approached her, they were told to close their eyes so as not to spoil their surprise the following morning. Little Koko was in charge of decorations and he had been busy for days making sure the family home looked as magical as it possibly could. Koko stood in the middle of the room and looked at the decorations to ensure there was enough festive cheer. Glittering garlands of gold and silver tinsel looped through the green branches of the Christmas tree. Sparkling baubles dangled from the end of branches and homemade crackers nestled between pine scented boughs. A large silver star made out of card stood proudly on top of the tree. Koko had made the star when he was very young, and even though it was lopsided and most of the glitter had fallen off, his family insisted the star take pride of place on the tree. Every year, with help from his father, Koko had hung red and green paper chains around the house. Homemade paper snowflakes decorated Every window making the inside of the cabin look as enchanting as the snow covered forest outside. The family continued with their activities and soon the light of day gave way to the pink glow of dusk. Outside, the snow continued to silently fall and covered Sleepy Forest in a glittering white blanket. Koko pressed his nose against the window and gazed at the snowy sky. Snowflakes fluttered gently downwards. Some got caught in a breeze and were taken up before pausing and drifting downwards once more. A large snowflake landed on the window. Koko gazed at the intricate pattern of the flake and marveled at how wonderful it was. His grandpa had told him that every snowflake was different and no two were the same. For Koko, that had only added to the magic of snow. Grandpa came to his side and put his arm around the little koala. Coco asked grandpa, do you think Santa will be OK in the snow? It's been falling all day. Will he still find his way here? And to everyone else in the forest? With a smile, Grandpa replied, santa always finds his way, no matter how deep the snow. He tilted his head to the side. Did you hear that? Koko hadn't heard anything, but he tilted his head just as Grandpa had done. Grandpa said, there it is again. The sound of distant bells jingling merrily. How peculiar. Coco, you've finished all the Christmas decorations. Why don't you go on a snowy adventure and find out where that noise is coming from? Wrap up warm. It's cold out there. Koko thought going on a snowy adventure was an excellent idea and he liked the thought of solving a mystery at the end of it. He put his coat on and wrapped a scarf snugly around his neck. Grandpa reminded him to put on his hat and mittens too. Koko was soon ready to set forth on his snowy quest. He stood at the open door of the cabin and said goodbye to his family with loving smiles on their faces. They told him to enjoy the adventure. His father said he'd been on a similar journey when he was Koko's age and he'd discovered where the jingling bells were coming from. But he didn't want to spoil the surprise for Koko. Grandpa and Grandma stood at the door and waved to Koko as he walked down the steps and towards the path which led into the forest. As Koko walked along, he looked back at his footprints in the snow. There were no other prints, only his. And it made the little koala feel special to be out on such a magical night. Koko continued walking through the deep, soft snow. Snowflakes fell softly upon his head and were as gentle as kisses. The snow beneath his feet sparkled and shimmered as though tiny twinkling stars had been sprinkled amongst the fallen flakes. Very soon Koko heard the faint sound of tinkling bells. They were coming from the left hand side of the forest. Leaving the path behind, the little koala followed the joyful noise. It took him near to the home of a rabbit family. As soon as he got closer to the rabbit's burrow, the bell stopped ringing. Koko wondered why they had stopped. Perhaps he should ask the rabbit family if they had heard the bells and if they knew where they were coming from. As Koko was thinking that, the mother rabbit popped her head out of the burrow and said hello to him. Koko asked if she'd heard the jingling bells. She said she hadn't, but warmly invited Koko into her home. She told him Santa had just delivered some special gifts for her family and she'd love to share them with Koko. Koko followed her into the burrow and entered the living room where a crackling fire lit up the faces of the younger rabbits who were cuddled together on the sofa. Over their knees was a blanket that was the colour of the midnight sky. Tiny silver sequins around the edge of the blanket glimmered and glittered in the reflected light of the fire. The mother rabbit insisted Koko stay for a while and told her children to shuffle along the sofa to make room for him. She went into the kitchen to make some hot drinks. Koko took off his outdoor clothes before joining the cosy group on the sofa. The smallest rabbit told Koko the blanket was a gift from Santa and no matter how many animals were on the sofa, the blanket was somehow big enough for them all. The rabbit whispered, I think it's a magic blanket. Koko snuggled further beneath the navy coloured covering. It felt as soft as a cloud and as warm as his grandma's hugs. Mother rabbit walked towards the group carrying a tray. She said to Coco, as well as that lovely blanket, Santa left us a huge tin of hot chocolate and I've used it to make drinks for us. Coco, I hope you like hot chocolate. She passed a mug to the koala. The chocolatey drink was topped with whipped cream and pink snowflake shaped marshmallows nestled on top of the cream. Koko thanked the mother rabbit and said he loved hot chocolate, especially when it was snowing. He wrapped his paws around the cup and took a small sip. The creamy hot chocolate was the perfect temperature, so he took a bigger drink. The velvety liquid flowed through his body, making him feel all warm and happy inside. From the contented smiles on the rabbits faces, he could tell they felt just as peaceful and happy as he did. Koko could have stayed snuggled under the soft blanket drinking delicious hot chocolate all night, but something caught his attention. Over the gentle crackle of the fire and the soft chatter of the rabbits, he heard the distant sound of the bells again. They sounded merry and joyful and it felt like they were calling him closer. Koko knew he had to find out where the sound was coming from. He finished the last of his hot chocolate and took his empty cup into the kitchen. He thanked the family for their kindness and wished them a Merry Christmas. He wrapped up warmly and left the burrow, giving the rabbits a final wave and another thank you. Outside the snow had stopped falling and the air was wonderfully chilly and crisp. Koko felt cozy and snug in his comfy coat. He pushed his mitten clad paws deeper into his pockets. A robin alighted on a branch at his side and started singing a soft serenade. The tinkling tones of the bells could be heard more clearly now and Koko followed the melody as he walked over the freshly fallen snow, leaving his prince behind. The chiming bells led him to a clearing in the forest where a group of dormice were gathered. They were looking into the trees ahead of them and seemed to be waiting for something to happen. Koko stood at the back of the group and asked what they were doing. We're waiting for the magic to begin, one of the dormites replied. Santa's just been to see us, he said. He's left us a gift to help our families find their way through the snow to our homes. He told us to watch the trees and wait for our magical gift to appear. Koko wondered what the gift could be, so he looked at the trees too. The background sound of bells fell silent and for a few minutes there was nothing but a peaceful hush and a calm silence. There was an air of happy anticipation as everyone waited for something wonderful to happen. Very soon the magic began. The dormice and Koko watched in wonder as one by one floating strings of fairy lights glided through the air and festooned themselves between branches and around tree trunks. Soft pinks, greens, blues and purples now lit up the snow topped trees, making them glow gently. Pastel hued snowflakes started to drift down from the dark sky and they alighted on the snowy ground where they glowed brightly like stars. The pathways to the homes of the waiting dormice were now clear to see and within seconds the first visitors began to appear. They walked through the brightly lit trees and were greeted with hugs and kisses by their waiting relatives. When the last of the guests had arrived, the dormice held hands and began to sing Christmas carols. Koko joined in. He didn't know all the words, but he did his best. The joy and love on the faces of the singing dormice made Koko's heart feel as light as a feather and he couldn't stop smiling. Once the singing had finished, the dormice invited Koko into their homes for warm mince pies and a generous slice of chocolate yule log. Koko was tempted. But then he heard the far off sound of the bells chiming again and so politely said no to the kind dormice. They told him he was welcome to stop by the following day and perhaps he could bring his family too. Koko thanked them for their kind offer. He wished them a merry Christmas and then set off on his snowy adventure again. The bells were louder now and he let the joyful tune guide his footsteps through sleepy forest. Koko walked on and met many animals along the way. He stopped to chat with them and discovered Santa had left thoughtful gifts for all of them. A nightingale told Koko that Santa had given her a songbook because he knew how much she loved singing. She opened the book and sang one of the new tunes just for Koko. Her beautiful voice made him feel all warm and fuzzy Inside. Koko met an elderly badger who adored the fragrance of summer roses. She showed Koko the rose scented candles Santa had given her and said now she could enjoy the relaxing smell of her favourite flowers all year long. A group of moles told Koko how delighted they were with the coal and carrots that Santa had given them. They explained how the gifts would be used to decorate the dozens of wonderful snow moles their youngsters had built during that very snowy day. They showed the line of snow moles to Koko and he agreed they were extremely impressive. The coal eyes and carrot noses glimmered and twinkled and made the snow moles look even more enchanting. Each animal Koko met asked him into their homes to share the food and drink they'd prepared. Koko thanked them, but with regret he had to say no to their kind offers. He explained how he was on a quest to solve the mystery of the jingling bells and he didn't want to stop until he found them. The little koala walked on through the snow. He Gazed upwards in wonder at the sparkling stars and thought they seemed to be twinkling more brightly than ever before. The chiming bells guided Koko ever onwards. The light of the full moon sent dancing moonbeams across the snow, lighting the way for the little koala. As he walked on, the tinkling bells grew louder and clearer. Their festive melody filled the winter air with joy. Koko knew he was heading in the right direction. Presently a new noise joined the chimes. It was the distinctive sound of a man's voice and he appeared to be chatting to someone. His voice was deep and full of joy and he kept breaking into a cheery chuckle. Koko walked around a snowy bend and discovered who was talking and chuckling. It was Santa. He was sitting on a snow blanketed log and speaking to his reindeer. He said they were doing a marvellous job that evening and he was very proud of them. Santa looked over at Koko and gave him a beaming smile. Ah, hello there, my koala friend. It's Koko, isn't it? What are you doing out on this fine Christmas Eve? I was following the sound of jingling bells, Coco explained. He smiled at Santa. It was hard not to because he had the jolliest face Koko had ever seen. Santa's tummy wobbled as he broke into another merry chuckle. That would be Rudolph. Mrs. Santa made him some new bells for his reins and I think she may have put too many jingles in them. He's been shaking those bells all night. He can't resist a jingle. The red nosed reindeer looked at Koko and nodded as if to say that was correct. He shook his head and the bells on his reins jangled happily. Santa said to Koko, you're a long way from home. Would you like a lift back in my sleigh? Koko's eyes widened in surprise and delight. Really, I would love to. Thank you so much. Santa helped the young koala into the sleigh and tucked a warm blanket around him. It was as soft and cozy as the one in the Rabbit's home. Santa called out to his reindeer. Dasher, Dancer, Vixen and Prancer, Comet, Cupid, Donna and Blitzen. Rudolph, are you ready? Away we go. The sleigh smoothly ascended into the night sky. Above the white fields, the sleigh soared. It flew over the tops of trees that were covered in sparkling snow. Across frozen ponds and lakes the sleigh went. Koko saw the reflection of the sleigh as it shimmered over the sparkling icy surfaces below them. Koko waved to Those animals who were still awake. He called out a Merry Christmas to each one. Rudolph's tinkling bells mingled pleasantly with the tones of hooting owls and far away carols still being sung somewhere. The blanket around Koko felt warmer with every passing second. His eyes grew heavy and a soothing drowsy feeling flowed through him. He leaned his head against Santa's shoulder as they continued on their airborne journey. It wasn't long before the familiar sight of Koko's cozy cabin came into view. His family were sitting on the swinging benches of the veranda and watching the night sky. Knitted covers lay over their knees. They didn't look at all surprised to see Koko flying home in Santa's sleigh. The sleigh came to a silent rest outside the cabin. Santa scooped the small koala up and handed him over to the waiting arms of his grandpa. Santa pressed a gift into Koko's hands and said, good night, Koko. Merry Christmas. Coco let out a small yawn. Oh, Merry Christmas, Santa. Thank you for bringing me home. Grandpa took Koko inside and into his bedroom. He put him into bed and asked what Santa had given him. Koko looked at the present. It was a snow globe. Inside the globe was a snow covered forest and animals were standing amongst the trees. Koko recognised all of the animals because he'd seen most of them that day. Looking closer at the globe, he saw a small sleigh soaring through the sky. A line of reindeers at the front. A miniature Santa was inside the sleigh. And next to Santa was a tiny koala snuggled beneath the blue blanket. Koko gave the snow globe a gentle shake. The festive sound of jingling bells filled his room with Christmas magic. And inside the globe, snow began to fall. Koko felt his eyes starting to close. He put the snow globe at the side of his bed and made himself more comfortable under the covers. One by one, his family came into the room, kissed him and wished him a good night. As Koko fell into a deep sleep, he thought he could still hear the sound of bells coming from far, far away. He mumbled sleepily, Merry Christmas, Santa. This is Little Foot's Christmas Extravaganza by Luke Prendergast. One cold and wintry morning, Little Foot, the Yeti sat at the mouth of the cave he and his family lived in. Higher in the mountains. It was particularly chilly this morning. Overnight, heavy snow had fallen and now it lay thick and pristine over the mountainside. Like a sparkling blanket of the deepest white laid over the whole landscape, cold and beautiful. But even Though it was chilly, Little Foot didn't mind. He was made for this of kind kind of weather. He had dense fur that kept him super warm no matter what and he had built himself a little fire with glowing embers and a little wisp of smoke which he stoked with a stick. Every now and then he'd hold his hands to the fire and feel its warmth on his palms. Little Foot was thinking about all of his favourite fire foods in the world. He was thinking about delicious pies filled with spinach and cheese and croissants and pastries. He was thinking of fizzing sherbets and flying saucers and candy floss. But most of all he was thinking about spaghetti. Spaghetti. How indescribably delicious. It had been so long since Little Foot had last had some spaghetti. He hoped that he'd get to have some soon. In fact, Little Foot was so absorbed thinking about all the foods he'd like to eat that he didn't even hear his best friend, a kind hearted snow bear called Snowbelt, arriving at the entrance of his cave until she cleared her throat and said, um. Hello Little Foot. Earth to Little Foot. Wow. She said with a giggle once she'd got his attention. Where were you off to? It looked like you were having a super time off in some faraway imaginary land. Oh I was. Said Little Foot with a grin. I was thinking about spaghetti. Snowbelle laughed and shook her head. Her friend Little Foot was always thinking about spaghetti. Little Foot, she said peering around his home, where are all your decorations? Little Foot simply stared at her with a little frown of confusion on his face. Oh Little Foot, Snowbear said. Don't tell me you don't have any decorations. Don't you know what time of year it is? Little Foot simply shook his head. Its Christmas time. Little Foot tapped his head with his hand. How silly of him. How could he have forgotten? How could his whole family have forgotten that it was Christmas time? But thankfully Snowbelle was here to help him out. She told him that just down the mountainside the elves were throwing a Christmas fate. There's all kinds of things to do there, she said. Christmas activities and other kinds of festive fun. And I'm sure we'll be able to find you some decorations at the market. And she said with a little wink, I'm sure there'll be spaghetti too. Little Foot's eyes lit up. So what do you say? Snowbelle asked him. Wanna go with me? Little Foot jumped to his feet so quickly he disturbed a snowdrift that had been balancing on the roof, which promptly slipped off and landed on his head. Oh, yes, he said, brushing the flakes of snow off his head and shoulders. I most definitely would. Little Foot nipped inside to fetch a bright blue scarf, which he wrapped around his neck, and a handful of pocket money to spend on decorations at the market. He called goodbye to his family, and then he and Snowbelle made their way down the snowy track which led down to the market. As they went, they chatted merrily about all sorts of things, as best friends often do. Down the mountain they trod, with the whole of the valley spread out and sparkling before them, until at last, around a bend in the path, they spotted the Christmas fate. It was a higgledy piggledy bunch of wooden huts with fairy lights twinkling over the roofs and all sorts of delicious sweet smells wafting through the air. In the middle of the cluster of huts rose a perfect Christmas tree, its branches dusted with snow and a big, bright silver star perched on the top. As Little Foot and Snowbelle entered the market, they saw that at each stall stood a Christmas elf dressed in red and green. Other elves walked to and fro, giving directions or helping out visitors or carrying boxes of gifts from one hut to another. One elf came up to Little Foot and Snowbelle. He was wearing a pointy red hat with a bell on the end, which jingled whenever he moved his head. Hullo, said the elf. My name is Ralph, and I'm here to help you with whatever you need from our Christmas extravaganza this year. Little Foot and Snowbelle gave Ralph a wave and introduced themselves. We're here to look for some decorations, snowbelle explained, among lots of other things. With a big smile and a jingle of his pointy hat, Ralph assured them that there were plenty of decorations available at the ornament store. But first he told them it was almost time for the sledging event. Or would you like to take part? He asked. Little Foot and Snowbelle exchanged a curious look. Could you tell us a little bit more about the event? Little Foot asked. Ralph said he'd be delighted to. He pointed up the white hillside to a point where they could see two large yellow flags and lots of people gathering beneath them. It's kind of like a race, ralph explained, except there are no winners and no losers. It's really just for fun. Well, there was nothing that Little Foot and Snowbelle liked more than fun, so they told Ralph they'd love to take part. The bell on his hat ringing with every step and snow crunching beneath his feet, Ralph led them behind the market stalls and to a track that went up the hillside. As they approached where the sledge race would begin, they saw the other participants more clearly. A hare with pointy ears in a bright pink ski suit, a moose with tinsel wrapped all around her antlers, and a flamingo wearing black snow boots to keep his feet nice and toasty. Little Foot and Snowbelle said hello to them all and they sent back friendly waves. First, Ralph led them to a long row of sledges to select which ones they will use. To Little Foot he gave a large wooden sledge, and for Snowbelle, who was much smaller than her friend, he chose a purple one sprinkled with lots of glitter. Oh, perfect. Said Snowbelle, looking happily upon her chosen sledge. A whistle blew across the hillside and they turned to see another elf holding a black and white checkered flag and clenching a whistle between her teeth. She was obviously the organiser of the sledge race. The elf dropped the whistle from her teeth so it dangled from a string around her neck and told everyone that the race was about about to commence. Find your starting positions, please, she said. The participants lined up in a long line between the two starting flags. Both Little Foot and Snowbelle were beginning to feel little bubbles of excitement flutter through their chests. From up here, the slope looked steep, but not too steep. This was going to be a lot of fun. The hare zipped up his ski suit. The moose tossed her head in preparation. All of them took a deep breath and sat themselves on their sledges, making sure to keep their feet dug into the snow so they didn't shoot off too early. Have fun. Little Foot whispered to Snowbelle. The elf rose her checkered flag into the air. Are you ready? She called out. 3, 2, 1. With a blow of a whistle, the flag fell. The race had begun. Whee. Little Foot kicked off, but already the others had shot off in clouds of snow. Snowbelle was just in front of him, bumping along down the hill, and the hare was out in front. How exhilarating, thought Little Foot. How thrilling to feel the wind in his fur and the sledge beneath him, slipping and hopping over the drifts of snow. Faster and faster he went, picking up speed as he whooshed downhill. Snowbelle was in line with the ski suited hare now shooting over the snow. But Little Foot himself was gaining on them, and all together they flew over the finish line. Whoosh. That was so much fun. When they'd all finished dusting the snow off them and lining their sledges back up in line, There was the sound of a bell ringing and Ralph the elf strolled up to them. He asked Little Foot and Snowbelle if they'd enjoyed their sledging, and they told him that they did very much indeed. Now it's time for us to head to the market, said Snowbelle, to look for those decorations. Oh yes, of course, Ralph agreed. But first, and he put a finger in the air, I wondered if you'd like to come to our snow painting event. Snow painting? Snowbelle repeated. She'd never heard of such a thing before. Luckily, Ralph was there, ready to explain. Snow painting is just what it sounds like on the tin, he said. Big buckets of snow paint and oodles of snow, he added, gesturing all around them. Why don't you come and have a look? Little Foot, for one, was very intrigued about this snow painting. Lets go and have a look, he said to Snowbelle. And after that we can go and look for decorations. Snowbelle agreed, and the two friends followed Ralph down the hill. Crunch. Crunch, Crunch. Ralph led them around the market to a broad, flat meadow covered with a perfect layer of fresh snow, just like he told them. Along the side of the meadow were a series of big pots of paint. Red and yellow and green and blue and every other colour you could ever imagine. Another elf appeared, this one in white overalls, stained all over with splodges of paint. Hello, she said. My name is Patch and I oversee this snow painting field here. Have you come to have a go at snow painting? Little Foot and Snowbelle nodded enthusiastically. Yes, they told her that was exactly what they were there for. Patch, the elf explained to them that snow painting was simple. All they had to do was dip their paws or hands, their flippers or feet, depending on whatever they found at the end of their arms, into the pots of paint and then set to work on the snow. The snow is like a blank canvas, she said with a big grin. And you are the artists. OK then, off you go. The two friends approached the pots of paint, both of them contemplating deeply what it is they might paint. They stroked their chins and scratched their heads. And then Snowbelle said, aha. She dipped her paw into a paint pot, red first. Then she ran out onto the snow and drew her paint covered paw in a wide arc over it. Then she ran back to the pots and dipped her paw into another one, orange this time, and drew a broad arc of that on the snow. Back and forth she went, yellow, green, blue, and finally purple. At last, when her painting was complete, she stood back and admired her handiwork. Oh Cool, Snowbelle, said Little Foot, patting her on the back. A snow rainbow. That's awesome. Thank you, Little Foot, she said. She had to agree. It did look awesome. Now she said, what are you going to paint? While watching Snowbelle paint her snow rainbow, Little Foot had come up with an idea of what he was going to paint. So off he went to the pots of paints and dipped his big furry yeti hands in one by one, smearing the colours all over a fresh patch of snow. It didn't take him very long at all, and once he'd applied the finishing touches, Little Foot stood back with his hands on his hips. Nice work, Little Foot, Snowbelle said. That's a pretty delicious looking plate of snow paint. Spaghetti all covered in a tomato sauce and lots of cheese. Little Foot thanked her. He was pretty proud of it. Those are two excellent snow paintings, Patch, the elf said, nodding at them admiringly. You should do a few more. You're both naturals. So Little Foot and Snowbelle tucked their hands and paws back into the snowpaints and swiped them across the snow until the meadow was covered with all kinds of pictures. Christmas trees and angels, fairies and birthday cakes. Finally they did a portrait of each other holding hands across the snow. When they were done, they thanked Patch profusely. That was great fun, they said. Now, said Snowbelle when they had crunched their way back over to Ralph, I think it's time we get to that market. We've got decorations to buy. We sure do, little Foot agreed. Perfect, Ralph said with a smile. Now's just the right time for the market. Ralph led them away from the meadow of snow and back into the market. When they reached the centre of it, with the smell of cinnamon and spices and hot fruitcake drifting all around them, he pointed them in the direction of a certain stall which bore a sign saying Ornament Stall. That's the one, he said. Good luck. The two friends went up to the ornament store and said hello to the elf who stood behind the counter. We're here for some decorations, they told him. Well, you've come to the right place, he said. Just have a browse and let me know what you'd like. Little Foot and Snowbelle wandered around the little wooden store, which, much to their surprise, was packed full of every conceivable kind of decorations. They sifted their way through everything there was and finally came back to the counter bearing armfuls of decorations. Oh yeah, said the store elf. You've done well. Well, they certainly had to agree with him. They were very Pleased with their haul, they'd found reams of tinsel, some baubles to hang on a tree, and daisy chains of little elves holding hands to string up over the entrance. They'd also found a perfect wreath woven with holly and ivy and a blow up reindeer with a bright red nose to put up outside. The store Elf rang it all up on the till. Then Little Foot handed over a few coins. He thanked the elf, picked up the bags full of everything they'd purchased, and together he and Snowbelle left the ornament store. Well, little Foot said, that's us. I guess it's time for us to head back home and put these up. Hold up, Little Foot, Snowbelle said with a smile. Aren't you forgetting something? Little Foot frowned. Am I? He said. What on earth could I be forgetting? Snowbelle put her paw to her mouth and chuckled. My, my, she said. You are a forgetful yeti. Look. And she pointed with her paw across the way to a store that Little Foot hadn't spotted yet. Little Foot's eyes opened wide. Little oh, of course, he said. How could I forget? There, directly opposite them, was a wooden stall with steam rising out of the front of it. But it was the sign that had made Little Foot so excited. Festive Spaghetti, it said in big red letters. Want to go? Snowbelle asked him with a twinkle in her eye. Of course, she already knew the answer. So the two pals, after their long day of sledging and snow painting and buying Christmas decorations, took their seats in the Festive Spaghetti store and were delighted when an elf in a tall white chef's hat brought them two huge portions of Festive spaghetti. Wow. They both sighed. The festive spaghetti certainly was a sight to behold. The wriggly strands of pasta were in every colour of the rainbow, just like the snow painting that Snowbelle had produced earlier. And all the way through the pasta were delicious little sweets in all sorts of Christmassy shapes. Chocolate reindeers and iced holly berries, candy canes and miniature toffee Santa hats. Well, said the head chef, Alf, don't just look at it. Go on, go on, have a taste. So they tucked their forks in and had a big mouthful of festive spaghetti. Ah. They both sighed, nodding at the elf. It's absolutely delicious. And so the two friends, Little Foot the Yeti and Snowbelle the Snow Bear, enjoyed a well deserved meal of festive spaghetti. And while they ate, they reminisced about the fabulous day they'd shared at the Christmas extravaganza. Let's go every year, little Foot said and Snowbelle agreed. Eat up though, Little Foot, she added. We need to get back to your cave. We've got lots of decorations to get up before your family comes home. What a lovely idea, thought Little Foot as he finished up his spaghetti. What a surprise that would be for his family when they got home. This is Kira's Cosy Christmas Market by Jane Thomas. Kira yawns and stretches her way into the day. It was one of those days that she just knew would be wonderful. There was something in the air and her big black and white panda belly was telling her that good things were coming her way. Of course it helps that she knows it's the day that she will visit the Sleepy Forest Christmas Fair. There can be few things more wonderful after all, than walking past all those stalls piled high with cinnamon scented food and possibilities of presents and decorations for trees. It has to be today, she goes, because Koko's heading out with his friend Prickles the Hedgehog. They're off to the park to see if either of them is any good at basketball. Kira can take her time in the market choosing the perfect Christmas present for Koko. Kira picks her favorite purple bow from the table and places it just behind her ear, checking in the mirror that it is neither too straight nor too crooked, but just exactly as she liked to wear it. She takes her red bag, the one with a huge yellow circle on the side and the writing that said hello Sunshine, and pops her purse inside. Kira has been saving her pocket money for weeks now, pleased with herself every time she managed to pass Papa Praline's Sweet Shop and not go inside because that meant extra coins towards Koko's Christmas present. It is incredibly hard for pandas in general to pass by Sweet Shops and almost impossible for Kira in particular. Oh, she stopped and looked. She sniffed the air and smelled the toffees and chocolates, the mints and the candies and eyed up the jars of brightly coloured wrappers and watched as others go in and select their favourite to be weighed up on the scales. But she's not set foot inside Papa Praline's Sweet Shop or Betty Badger's Bakery or even the Sleepy Forest Phenomenally fantastic first rate Finest Fudge Emporium. Kira swings the little red bag from her paw and hums to herself as she walks along the lane that leads to the Christmas Market. The scent of roasting chestnuts pours along the lane and her nose twitches. This way and that, briefly distracted here and there by a particularly beautiful smelling rose but always coming back to that unmistakable scent of roasting chestnuts that can only mean Christmas is near. She says a cheerful hello to each and every kookaburra she passes. And there are an awful lot of kookaburras around this morning and every single kookaburra tells Kira their favourite joke, the ones that keep them laughing the whole day long. So by the time she reaches the market, quite half the morning is gone. Kira's belly rumbles to remind her that she didn't have breakfast before she came out and with it being nearly lunchtime, she steers away from the stalls filled with brightly coloured promises of presents and instead heads towards the huge white marquee that is filled with food. She eyes up pizzas and pastas and wraps and rolls, huge bowls of soup and perfect swirls of sushi. And then, when she's beginning to think she will never be able to make up her mind, she comes to the perfect table. Spaghetti of a yeti, says the sign, and Kira spies a teeny tiny yeti standing next to a pile of bowls and a huge pot that is simmering and shimmering with spaghetti and sauce. The yeti introduces himself as Little Foot as he doles out an extra large portion for Kira, explaining that he has travelled from the highest mountains in the north of Italy to the bluest seas of the south, finding the best spaghetti in all the land and bringing it back here to Sleepy Forest. Kira twirls her fork around and around in the bowl, watching the long strands of spaghetti wrap themselves up, trying to be neat, but still covering her chin in bright red tomato sauce. The tiny yeti giggles and hands her a napkin and by the time Kira has finished her spaghetti she has worked her way through five napkins and her chin is stained positively pink by all the sauce. But it was surely the most delicious spaghetti she had ever eaten and now she's ready to head off and find the perfect present for Coco. She's ready. She really is. But just as she's about to leave the marquee, she spots Betty Badger along with lavender, ginger and Chip. They're lined up behind a table that is dressed with a bright green tablecloth and covered in baskets of buns and brownies, cookies and cakes. Sprigs of holly sit nestled between all the baskets. Snowmen made from meringues piled one atop the other seem to be watching Kira. They look so delicious with their blue icing scarves and tiny carrot shaped and carrot colored icing noses and coal black icing eyes. She almost reaches for one. She's so close her paw nearly brushes up against a meringue snowman. But she shakes her head and remembers the coins in her purse and how hard she's been saving them for Coco's present. Kira walks away from the table, taking a moment to look back longingly. And just as she's about to leave the big white tent, she feels a tug on her paw. She looks down to see little Lavender holding up a bamboo biscuit, one of Kira's absolute favourite treats. Mum says to say Merry Christmas, says Lavender and Kira looks up to see Betty Badger waving at her and smiling before turning back to her long line of customers eager to get their hands and paws and claws on the delicious treat she sells. She leans down to thank Lavender, but the baby badger has gone scurrying back to the table and straightening her special Christmas market Santa hat, ready to help her mum once more. The bamboo biscuit doesn't last long. No self respecting panda will take more than a moment to eat such a treat and Kira can now add a few crumbs to her sauce Pink Chin. She decides to look at every single stall before choosing the perfect present for cocoa. And so she begins pushing her way through the crowds and waiting impatiently for her turn to see everything that's on offer. It feels as if all of Sleepy Forest is here, bustling around with bulging bags and ready with a Merry Christmas. Every time they bump into someone, they know there's something exciting about being part of this. Everyone is here with the sole purpose to find things to make others happy. And that is really a rather wonderful idea. Kira looks at each and every item for sale, all the while breathing in that scent of roasting chestnuts and she makes a note in her mind every time she sees something that she thinks Koko would love. By the time she has reached the end of the market, the list is 20 items long and as much as she wishes she could get every single thing for Coco, it just isn't possible. So she goes round again and manages to bring it down to just 10 things. Still too many, but better. And Kira takes a deep breath and goes around one more time, thinking carefully about all that she sees. She finally manages to make the list just five items long. She takes the coins from her purse and counts them out, doing the sums on her fingers and working out that she has exactly what she needs and a little bit extra. She smiles to herself, grips the red hello Sunshine bag in her hand and heads into the crowd for one final turn. The first place she stops at is a stall called Snaffles Super Surprises. Snaffles golden fur gleams in the late afternoon sunshine and he is quite rushed off his feet, handing over origami frogs that were once sweet wrappers and toy cars that were once cans of soda and little baskets made from weaving together dozens and dozens of abandoned or broken shoelaces. Kira is after something else, though. She stands mesmerized, watching twirling, whirling coloured spinners that hang from the edges of the stall, caught in the wind and bright in the sun. The reds and greens of Christmas dancing and dazzling once plastic bottles, they're now beautiful additions to windows and Kira is sure that Koko will absolutely love one. At last it's her turn and she suddenly finds it impossible to choose and in the end she closes her eyes and just points and snaffles carefully takes the spinner down and wraps it for safety in a few pieces of old newspaper. Oh so gently. Kira places it at the bottom of her red bag. And there it is, her first present for Koko, safely stowed. She holds the bag in front of her now as she presses on, protecting her precious cargo from the crowds. For a moment she forgets the next item on her list and then the carol singers start up once more and she remembers following their voices as the words of Silent Night drift softly through the busy market. Kira edges herself into the front of the group who are listening to the singers, the finest songbirds of the forest, with nightingales alongside canaries and warblers and meadow larks. As the song ends, she's ready to clap, but the group launch into Jingle Bells with the owl conductor turning to the gathered crowd and encouraging them to sing along with the chorus. Some goats stand to the side with bells around their necks, leaping around at exactly the right time to make the bells ring and sing along with the songbirds. And once the final trill of the final note is finished, the crowd roars with pleasure and everyone stamps their feet and claps their hands, the birds and goats blushing and smiling shyly. Kira counts out the coins needed for the sheet music that teaches how to play Jingle Bells on the ukulele, the perfect addition to her little red bag of Christmas presents for Koko. The next stall on her list is manned by a particularly frantic warthog and a very elegant peacock. The warthog has a tiny snowman hat atop her head and the peacock somehow manages to look serious, even if he is sporting a hat shaped exactly like a red and green wrapped present. The Heavenly Hats Christmas Doll is extremely popular and Kira once more must wait her turn, crossing her fingers and hoping the soft blue woolly hat she's eyeing up for cocoa will still be there when she is at last able to choose. But of course it's there, waiting for her and waiting for Coco, because as we said at the beginning, this was just one of those days that was always going to be wonderful. He's a koala, so he's always climbing things, always outdoors, explains Kira as the excitable warthog pops the hat into a special golden bag and seals it with a silver star, and the warthog nods her head and agrees this is the perfect present for keeping a koala's ears warm. Then Kira needs to get herself all the way to the other side of the market, where she joins a queue that wraps itself around Christmas trees and all the way back to the stall selling the roasted chestnuts. Kira focuses hard on the queue in front of her, doing her absolute best to avoid even looking at the chestnuts and trying to pretend she can't smell their magical smell at all, reminding herself that she has only just enough coins for the things she's chosen, and if she could go without sweets and cakes and treats for all those months, she can survive a few moments longer. It isn't long until she arrives at the first of the Christmas trees, though, and she's able to distract herself by staring into glass baubles and watching as her face becomes funny and round as she peers into them to see her reflection. She looks at all the ornaments tucked away in the green branches, finding angels and nutcrackers and leaping ballerinas and running reindeer. By the time her place in the queue is alongside the next Christmas tree, the sun has started to set and the lights are being turned on. She watches as the twinkling lights cascade and tumble down and around the tree and admires how rows and rows of gold and silver lights reach across the stalls and dance as if they were stars above the crowds. Then at last she is at the front and she reaches into her purse for her photo of Coco and hands it over, and then she sits on the stall and looks back to where she's told the smile at a crocodile stall is exactly that you sit on the stool and smile your biggest, boldest, brightest smile, and the crocodile will draw a picture of you, and in this case he will add a koala called Koko next to you too, as if he was really there. The crocodile works fast, glancing up at Kira and then back to his page, his paintbrush dashing around the page, an exaggerated nose here, a stretched smile there, and within minutes she has the perfect cartoon picture of a panda and a koala, unmistakably Kira and Koko smiling side by side with a sprig of holly in place of her bow and a cracker being pulled between them. Kira giggles and grins and bounces off with a spring in her step, wondering how she will keep this a secret until Christmas Day. The final present she needs is on a stand that is being run by a number of shiny faced garden gnomes. They have come into Sleepy Forest in the Christmas market all the way from Mr. Featherman's garden in lower starry skies, bringing with them some extra special good luck charms. The good luck gnomes are the creatures who add all the luck to anything in the world, whether that is a four leafed clover or an upturned horseshoe, or in parts of the world an acorn or in other parts of the world anything with the number eight upon it. But they can add good luck to anything they choose and this glorious selection on the table is a once in a lifetime chance to get some unique lucky charms. Kira breathes a sigh of relief as she sees the lucky silver eucalyptus leaf is still there waiting for her to buy it for Coco and the gnome kindly threads it onto a piece of bright red cord so he can hang it around his neck if he wishes. And then he pops it into a bag made of leaves stitched together with the thread of silkworms. The sun has quite gone from the sky and now the stars are starting to show themselves and the moon is rising huge and golden, edging its way over the tops of the tree silhouettes. There aren't as many creatures here now. They've started to head home, carrying bags and boxes and pushing and pulling trolleys, all filled with presents for people they love and moments of magic to be unwrapped on Christmas Day. Kira is just about to leave the market herself when she has this very thought too, eyeing up the bundles and thinking of all the wrapping that people will be doing. Smiles in place as they imagine eyes lighting up when it is finally unwrapped and secrets revealed. She looks down into her red bag and sees the red and green coloured spinner from Snaffle's stand and the music for Jingle Bells from the Carol Singers and the soft blue woollen hat from Heavenly Hats and the picture of her and Coco by smile at a crocodile and the silver eucalyptus lucky charm and she wonders how on earth she's going to wrap all these odd shapes and make them beautiful. She's quietly frowning to herself when a family of bears move away from a stall and she sees the answer to her problem. Foxes Boxes, it reads, with another line that says for those who prefer napping to rapping. Kira yawns widely at the word napping. She is suddenly so very, very tired. She was up so early this morning and walked along the lane and talked with all those kookaburras and went around and around the market again and again, finding the perfect present and waited in long lines so very, very patiently. The sky was pink when she left home in the morning and now it is black and laced with stars and the owls are hooting in the trees and the bats are fluttering in the soft nighttime breeze and she thinks of her bed and sinking into it. She will have a bath, she tells herself, with extra bubbly bubbles and an extra snuggly towel, and climb into extra clean pyjamas and dive into her extra soft bed. And there was the answer waiting for her. Foxes Boxes. She walked slowly to the stand and eyed up all the boxes he was selling, some midnight blue with ribbons of silver and others red and decorated with holly and ivy. There were big boxes and small boxes and medium boxes, tall boxes and short boxes, and really tiny boxes for really tiny presents like necklaces for field mice, and really big boxes for really big presents like boots for elephants. She showed the fox her presents for cocoa. He was a handsome creature with a beautiful bushy tail and a smart grey waistcoat and a golden cravat, and he eyed up the gifts with an expert glance and immediately reached for the perfect box, one with a picture of a Christmas tree on the top that she knew Koko would love and handed it over to her. Kira counted the final pennies in her purse, and because it was that day with everything wonderful in it, they were the perfect amount to buy. The perfect box. Less wrapping, more napping, said the fox with a wink as he handed it over, and Kira summoned the biggest smile she could from her very tired face and turned to walk slowly home. The kookaburras of the morning had all gone, all tucked away in their nests and fast asleep, and instead she said hello and Merry Christmas to the big eyes of raccoons that shone out at her from the branches of trees. The night was warm and beautiful with the stars doing their best to shine as brightly as they could, and Kira counted aloud as she placed one foot in front of the other. One step. I'm a little closer to my bath, she told herself. Two steps Im a little closer to that soft towel, she said to nobody in particular. Three steps Im climbing into my pyjamas, she said out loud, and a rabbit, already tucked duck safely in its burrow, heard her and smiled to himself as he rolled over in his bed and snuggled deeper beneath the blankets. Four steps and I'm climbing into bed, said Kira. Five steps and my head is on the pillow. Six steps and I'm falling asleep. Seven steps and I'm slipping away into dreams. She counted these aloud again and again from 1 to 7 and then starting over the little red bag feeling heavier and heavier with every step she took. Kira yawned as she opened the door and headed up the stairs. She yawned on the bottom step and the next and the next, and yawned as she finally stowed on the top step. She filled the bath with extra bubbly bubbles and felt herself floating in the warm water, and then she was wrapped in the softest towel and climbing into the cleanest pajamas and burrowing into the snuggliest bed. Her head turned one way on the pillow and then the other, and Kira breathed in and carer breathe out, And as she did she fell fast asleep. She fell asleep dreaming of Koko's face as he opened the box with the Christmas tree on top, and she fell asleep dreaming of him laughing at the picture that had been drawn of her and him with the holly on her head and the cracker being pulled, and she fell asleep dreaming of him climbing a tree wearing his new blue woolly hat made from the softest wool she had ever felt, and she fell asleep imagining him hanging his silver eucalyptus good luck charm around his neck and carrying it with him always. And finally she fell asleep imagining him sitting by the water one evening with the stars in the sky above and their light shining in the water below as he played his ukulele and they sang and danced by the light of the moon, and because it was a dream she saw snowmen coming from far and wide to join them and holding hands and circling around the lake and laughing and dancing with them, scarves blowing in the wind and carrot noses pointed into the air and a sprinkling of stardust following their footsteps and floating gently away on the breeze to join the moon and the stars. This is Hector and Sunny. Help Santa Claus By Gillian Rogerson. On a frosty morning in December, a golden retriever by the name of heaven, Hector, was on his way to the park with his owner. They were going to stop at a house along the way and collect Hector's best friend, a cocker spaniel called Sunny. The dogs were the very best of friends and had been on many Magical adventures together. Whenever Hector thought about Sunny, his heart danced with joy. Hector and his owner soon arrived at Sunny's house. She was standing with her owner outside their front door. When Sunny saw Hector, she jigged happily from side to side and barked out a loud hello. Hector barked back and grinned at her. Sunny and her owner walked along the garden path and out of the gate. The owners said hello to each other and then strolled along the path. The dog's owners fell into conversation and talked about the weather and how there might be snow later. Sunny walked at Hector's side. She smiled at him and said, merry Christmas, Hector. Merry Christmas to you, too, Sunny. Hector grinned at her. His grin faded and was replaced by a thoughtful but Sunny knew well Hector often had very deep thoughts, and she waited patiently to hear what his latest one was. Hector said, I've been thinking about this Christmas thing, Sunny and I know Father Christmas delivers gifts to children around the world, but do you think he delivers presents to dogs, too? Also? Do you think he has a dog of his own? Sunny said she didn't know, but thought those were interesting questions. Maybe we'll find out the answer someday, she said with a wise look in his beautiful dark eyes. Hector said, sunny, I've got a feeding that we might find out the answers very soon. Can you sense something special in the air? Sunny sniffed the chilly air and said, I can sense that snow is on the way. Is that what you mean? Hector shook his head. No, not the snow. But I can smell that too. It's a magical feeling, one I've had before. And I think it means we're going on another adventure soon. Sunny chuckled in delight. Another adventure on Christmas Eve? How exciting. She did a little dance from side to side. Hector danced too. Their owners looked down at the dancing dogs, shared a look of confusion, and then carried on talking about the weather. A few minutes later, they reached the park and began to walk along the meandering path. The bare trees were covered in a light layer of sparkling frost. A delicate lacework of frozen mist lay on the grass and twinkled brightly in the sun. Sunny whispered to Hector, I can definitely feel the magic in the air now. Hector smiled at her. The group walked along the path and towards a cafe that was next to a lake. Some tables and chairs were set up outside the cafe and outdoor heaters had been placed near them. When they reached the cafe, Sunny's owner went inside and returned shortly with two mugs of hot chocolate for herself and Hector's owner. The friendly woman who ran the cafe came out with two Bowls of water for the dogs. The bowls had pictures of dancing gingerbread people on them. She put the bowls on the ground and gave Hector and Sunny a big smile. The dogs smiled back at her and barked out, thank you. Hector and Sunny's owners sat down with their mugs of hot chocolate cupped in their gloved hands. Steam rose from the mugs and swirled in the cold air. The dogs had a quick drink of water and then looked round at the other visitors to the park. There were plenty of dogs who they knew and Hector said he should go and say hello to them all. He asked Sunny if she wanted to go with him, but Sunny wasn't listening to Hector. She was staring at something. There was a puzzled look on her face. Hector soon saw what Sunny was looking at. He frowned and said, is that a silver ball rolling across the grass over there? Sunny replied, I don't think it's a ball. It looks like one of the Christmas baubles that hang on my tree at home. Can you hear that noise, Hector? It sounds like jingle bells and it's coming from behind that tree near the bauble. Shall we go over and investigate? Hector said, yes, and the dogs jogged towards the silver bauble. It stopped rolling and came to a stop on the sparkling grass. A silver furred squirrel popped out from behind the tree. He was called Sydney and the dogs had met him many times before. Sydney scampered over to them and wished them a Merry Christmas. The dogs returned his greeting with a familiar twinkle in his eye. Sydney said, would you like to go on another magical adventure? I have a friend who needs your help. The dogs nodded eagerly and followed the squirrel as he scampered back to the tree and went around it. When the dogs jogged around the tree, they were astonished to see Santa Claus standing there. He was dressed in a bright red coat which was edged in white. His trousers were bright red too, and his black boots gleamed. Santa's beard was thick and fluffy and merriment danced in his eyes. Sydney stood at Santa's side and grinned at the dogs. Santa let out a cheerful ho ho ho. And waved to Hector and Sunny. Hector and Sunny waved back somewhat shyly. Santa Claus walked over to the dogs and knelt at their side. His voice was deep and calming as he said, hello there, you two. Sydney has told me all about you and the adventures you've been on. It's an absolute pleasure to meet you, Hector and Sunny. Hector and Sunny gave him bashful smiles. Santa smiled warmly and continued talking. You might know that I deliver gifts to the children of the world. But did you know that I also deliver gifts to dogs around the world? Sunny stared wide eyed at Santa and said, Hector had been wondering about that very thing earlier on. Santa said, oh really, What a lovely coincidence. I have a pet dog called Bernie and he helps me deliver the presents to the dogs. But we've got a lot of places to visit tonight and Bernie said he could do with some extra help and that's why I've stopped here. Sydney is a good friend of mine and he's helped me with many things over the years and as soon as he mentioned you two, I knew you'd be the perfect dogs to assist me. Hector, Sunny, can you help me? Sunny spoke for them both and said, we would love to help you. Santa stroked Sonny's head. Thank you. He stroked Hector's head too. And thank you as well. The presents are still in the workshops having some final checks, so we need to go there first to collect them. Hector asked how they would get to his workshops and had Santa driven to the park. Santa straightened up and chuckled. His tummy wobbled like a bowl full of jelly. He said, I flew here in my sleigh. Let me reveal it to you. He waved his gloved hand in the air. The noise of Jingle Bells sounded out again and a beautiful red sleigh appeared behind Santa. Six magnificent reindeer were fastened to the sleigh with silver reins. On the reins were dozens of tiny bells that jingled merrily. A huge St Bernard dog was sitting inside the sleigh and there was a small wooden barrel tied loosely around his neck. Hector and Sunny's mouths fell open as they gazed at the amazing sleigh, the reindeer, and the friendly dog who was now waving to them. They didn't know quite where to focus their attention. Santa saw their astonished expressions and suggested they say hello to the reindeer first and then say hello to Bernie. Sydney the squirrel raised his paw and said, there's one thing we need to do before that, Santa. We need to freeze time. Otherwise the good people of this park will be wandering over soon to admire your sleigh. Sydney clicked his little fingers and a little ring of sleigh bells appeared in his paw. He shook them three times. The world around them froze in time. Hector and Sunny looked over at their owners sitting outside the cafe. They had frozen in time too, and even the steam rising from their mugs had become still. Sydney made the bells vanish. He told the dogs that when they wanted to return home, they didn't need to bark three times as they usually did, but to say Merry Christmas three times. Instead, Sydney waved goodbye and scampered away. Santa took the dogs over to the reindeer and introduced them. This is Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and Vixen. And on the other side are Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen. Hector and Sunny nodded hello to each reindeer. They had never seen reindeer before except on the television or in pictures, and the animals were more magnificent than they ever could have imagined. Next, Santa introduced them to Bernie. Bernie gazed at the dogs with eyes full of kindness and warmth. Hector and Sunny instantly felt a connection to him, as though he was a friend they had been waiting to meet. Bernie said, its wonderful to meet you, Hector and Sunny, and I'm so glad you're helping us on this beautiful Christmas Eve. Won't you sit beside me? Tell me, do you two like gravy? I've got some in this barrel around my neck and there's plenty to share. I never leave home without my barrel of gravy. At the mention of gravy, Sunny and Hector leapt into the sleigh. In a flash, they settled down on either side of the friendly St. Bernard dog. A lovely aroma surrounded Bernie, and it reminded the dogs of fun times filled with laughter and love. It made them feel all warm and happy inside. Santa got into the sleigh and picked up the silver reins. He called out the names of the reindeer and told them to head back home to the North Pole. The sleigh rose smoothly from the frosty grass and soared upwards over the park they flew. Hector and Sunny took another glance at their owners sitting outside the cafe. And even though they were frozen in time, the dogs waved goodbye to them anyway. Santa flew the sleigh high above the town and over the countryside. Soon they were soaring above the sea. As they continued on their journey, Bernie gave Hector and Sunny a serving of the hot gravy. The dogs said it was the most delicious gravy they had ever, ever had. Sunny added, it tastes like magic and laughter and fun and cuddles. She let out a cute giggle, if you know what I mean. Hector said, he did know what she meant and he completely agreed. Very soon, the sleigh headed towards a land covered in snow. Bernie said to the dogs, this is the North Pole. This is where Santa and I live with Mrs. Claus and the elves. You'll get to meet them soon enough. Mrs. Claus loves to make a fuss over visitors. Hector said he didn't mind at all because he liked being fussed over. Santa brought the sleigh to a smooth stop outside a house that looked like it had been made out of gingerbread. It smelled like gingerbread too. Twinkling fairy lights were strewn across the roof of the house and around the windows, giving it an enchanted feel. Clusters of snow covered trees stood at either side of the house and behind them were some bright red buildings that were festooned in fairy lights. Bernie told the dogs that those buildings were the workshops and that's where they would be going first. At that moment, the door to the gingerbread house opened and a woman with rosy red cheeks hastened out. Her long red dress matched the outfit that Santa was wearing as though it had been cut from the same cloth. She beamed at Hector and Sunny and moved closer to them. Hello. Hello. Welcome to our home. I received a message from Sydney telling me you were on your way. I'm Mrs. Claus. You must be Hector. What a glorious golden colour your fur is. And you must be Sunny. My goodness, what beautiful eyes you have, Sunny. Are you two warm enough? Do you need something to eat or drink? Hector and Sunny said they were fine, thank you. They couldn't stop smiling at Mrs. Claus. She was so very friendly and welcoming. Santa Claus jumped off the sleigh and gave his wife a hug. He said, I'd better get over to the workshop and see how the elves are getting on. He kissed her on the cheek, making her blush. Hector and Sunny giggled. Santa asked Bernie to take their visitors to the dog's workshop. Bernie nodded in reply and asked Sunny and Hector to follow him. Bernie jumped out of the sleigh and padded between the snow covered trees and towards one of the red buildings. Hector and Sunny followed in his paw prints. Bernie took them into the nearest building which was made up of one enormous room. Lines of tables stretched out to the far side of the room and standing in front of the tables were groups of smiling elves who were busy making a variety of items. The elves looked at Hector and Sunny and sent a cheerful chorus of happy hellos their way. The dogs waved casually to the elves, trying to look as though they waved to elves all the time. Bernie said, we've got most of the presents ready for delivery, but some need a final test. Would you help us with that? The ones that need testing. Oh, at the back over there. Hector and Sunny said they would be happy to help. They walked behind Bernie as he led them through the room. The elves smiled at the dogs as they went by. There was a jolly atmosphere and the dogs just couldn't stop smiling. Bernie stopped at a table at the end of the room. He picked up a clipboard from the table and Peered at it. He said, ah. The first item that needs testing is a gold coloured football that's due to be delivered to a beagle in England. She doesn't live too far away from U2 actually. She loves playing football with her owner's children and has been dreaming about a gold coloured football for the last few weeks. Hector had a question for Bernie. How do you know what dogs want for Christmas? They can't write you a letter like children do. Bernie lowered the clipboard and explained. Dogs often dream about things that fill their heart with joy. Dog's dreams are full of magic and they drift towards us on evening breezes. We sort through them and see what the perfect Christmas present would be for each dog. Hector and Sunny gazed at Bernie in wonder and said they never knew that. Bernie searched the table and found a gold coloured football. He picked it up and said, would you test this for me, please? You can go out of that door over there and give it a kick around in the snow. Don't worry about damaging it. The ball is made from magical material and will never become damaged. Hector and Sunny took the football outside and began to play with it. They knew how to play football because they often joined in with games in the park, even though sometimes they weren't actually invited to play. The golden football was great fun to play with and the dog soon returned to Bernie and told him it was perfect. Bernie thanked them, took the ball and threw it over to a waiting elf who expertly wrapped the item in less than two seconds. Hector and Sonny proceeded to test more items. First of all, they tried on a variety of slippers for a poodle in France. The poodle's owner wore slippers on an evening and the poodle wanted some of his own too. But in his dreams he couldn't decide which colour he liked best. After trying on many pairs in different colours, Hector and Sunny agreed that some red velvet slippers with pom poms on the end were the perfect ones. Bernie agreed and nodded at a nearby elf who swiftly whipped the chosen slippers away to wrap them up. The dogs tested some dance mats next for a Dalmatian in Australia who loved to boogie with her family. Hector and Sunny loved to boogie too and had a wonderful time dancing on the mats. Some of the elves joined them and had a fabulous time. After a lot of jiving and jigging about, Hector and Sunny reached a decision and the chosen dance mat was sent on its way to be wrapped up. More items were tested, including a set of drums and a guitar. Bernie politely asked the dogs to test them in a soundproof booth nearby. Once inside the booth, Sunny beat a catching rhythm on the drums and Hector played a bewitching tune on the guitar. Afterwards, Hector and Sunny talked about setting up a band one day and taking their show on the road. Once all the presents had been tested and then wrapped up, Bernie said it was time to deliver them. The elves placed the presents into red velvet sacks and took them outside and placed them in the sleigh. Bernie and the dogs climbed onto the sleigh and waited for Santa. He arrived a few moments later with Mrs. Claus at his side. Mrs. Claus had some blankets which she tucked around the dogs. She asked Bernie if he had enough gravy in his barrel. He nodded and said he had filled it with magical Christmas Eve gravy that would never run out. Mrs. Claus gave everyone a hug goodbye, including Hector and Sunny, and wished them a very merry Christmas. Santa called out to his reindeer and they were soon airborne again. Hector and Sunny waved goodbye to Mrs. Claus on the snowy ground below and to the elves who had gathered next to her. The sky had turned darker and was full of twinkling stars. The full moon was big and bright. Santa flew the sleigh through the night sky and it wasn't long before they arrived at their first destination. It was the house where the football loving beagle lived. Santa asked Hector and Sunny to help him deliver the gold coloured football. The dog stood on the roof with Santa. He waved his gloved hand over the small chimney and made it into a helter skelter ride that wound its way down into the house. Santa jumped onto the slide and whooshed downwards. Hector and Sunny followed him, their ears flapping as they zoomed round and round. There was a big cushion at the bottom of the slide and their landing was a soft one. The beagle was snoozing peacefully in her basket, a dreamy smile on her face. Santa silently placed the present next to her and whispered merry Christmas. He went back to the slide, sat on the bottom of it and whooshed backwards and upwards. Hector and Sunny did the same. More presents were delivered in the same way and time flew wonderfully by. Hector and Sunny were having an amazingly magical time and kept their energy levels up by taking regular drinks of the delicious gravy. At one point during the starlit flight, Sunny looked out at their surroundings, sighed happily and slowly blinked. Hector asked Sunny what she was doing. Sunny said she was taking a mental picture of the magical moment so that she could remember it forever. Hector thought that was a lovely thing to do so he did the same in what seemed like very little time. The last of the presents had been delivered and Santa said it was time for the dogs to return to the park unless they wanted to help him deliver presents to children around the world. Hector and Sunny had grown more tired throughout their journey and told Santa they should return to the park. After saying goodbye to Bernie and Santa, the tired dogs let out three sleepy Merry Christmases. In a flash of silver, Hector and Sunny were back at the park and standing on the frosty grass again. It was daytime and their owners were now unfrozen and sipping their hot chocolates. Hector looked left and right. Where did Santa go? Sunny smiled and told Hector to look upwards. The two dogs gazed at the sky and saw Santa's sleigh flying above them. Santa and Bernie waved and called out a Merry Christmas which floated on the winter wind towards Hector and Sunny and wrapped around them like a warm hug. The dogs sighed happily and agreed that their Christmas Eve adventure had been a most magical one. They padded slowly over to their owners and flopped at their feet. Their owners finished their drink and then headed home. Later on, the snow began to fall and inside their respective homes, Hector and Sunny snuggled up to their owners and thought about their day and all the dogs who would be waking up to presents they had only dreamed about. A feeling of warmth and happiness flowed through the dogs and stayed with them as they fell asleep on that snowy Christmas Eve. As they slept, Santa paid them a visit and left a silver bauble on each of their Christmas trees. On the baubles was an image of Hector, Sunny and Bernie sitting inside Santa's sleigh as it flew through the starlit sky on the most magical of nights. This is Santa's Runaway Reindeer by Alicia Ainslie. It was the night before Christmas and all over the world children were tucked up in their beds, fast asleep, awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus and his sleigh. Santa had millions of presents to deliver in just one night, so he and his trusty band of reindeer had a strict schedule to stick to. While Santa ticked houses off his list, the reindeer guided his sleigh through the night sky from town to town. Santa parked the reindeer and his sleigh on top of the roof of each new house where they waited patiently. Then he slid down the chimney and dropped off the presents under the Christmas tree. It was a fail proof system that he had used for hundreds of years and it always went without a hitch. By the time the sun would rise on Christmas morning, all of the presents would have been delivered to the children of the world and everyone could celebrate Christmas Day. Santa was already looking forward to putting his feet up when he returned home to the North Pole. Like every year, Mrs. Claus would greet him with a cup of warm tea and have already run a hot bath for him. He would enjoy his cup of tea and relax in the bath before slipping into bed for a very long sleep. Then he and Mrs. Clorz would jet off for a peaceful vacation to celebrate a successful year and a perfectly executed Christmas. This year, Santa and Mrs. Claus were going to the Caribbean for a sunny beach holiday. After spending all year in the cold, snowy North Pole, they were looking forward to getting a suntan and relaxing in the warm Caribbean. Santa checked his magic. It was midnight as he flew above the houses of Surrey in England. Santa's watch was programmed to adapt to the time that it was wherever he found himself in the world. His goal was to always visit each location around midnight so that all of the children in the area would be asleep and he could deliver their gifts as they slept peacefully. Have you ever wondered how Santa makes it all the way round the world in one night? Well, I'll let you in on a secret. It's because of Christmas magic. If you know how to tap into Christmas magic, then you can achieve the most miraculous things. After hundreds of years of celebrating Christmas, Santa knows exactly how to use Christmas magic to his advantage and he taps into it to make his way around the world on Christmas Eve. As Santa flies above an area of the world, he uses Christmas magic to slow down time. Time stops as Santa flies by providing him with as much time as he needs to deliver the presents to the houses in the area and then move on swiftly to the next place. Santa instructed his band of reindeer to land on the roof of a nearby house. It was a narrow house placed on the very end of a street full of connected terraced houses. Santa would start at number one and then make his way along the roofs and down the chimneys to deliver presents to each house on the street. He set the timer on his watch and gave himself 10 minutes to visit each house on the street before he and his reindeer needed to move on. Santa pulled his magical sack out of the back of the sleigh and threw it over his shoulder. Santa's sack may only look small at first glance, but inside it is a bottomless pit where all the presents can be magically conjured from. When Santa needs the presents for a specific household, he just thinks of that family reaches inside and the presents are magically there for him to pick out. Santa skipped along the roof of Number One Picket Road, sucked in and hopped down the chimney. He landed in the living room of the narrow terraced house. Looking around, he noticed a long grey sofa and a bright orange armchair positioned around a tv. There was a big bookshelf in the corner of the room, full of books, DVDs and a few framed photos of a young family. There was a mum, a dad and two children of around 9 and 11 years old. They were called the Sanderson family. On the other side of the room stood the tall Christmas tree, decorated in baubles and tinsel, in colours of red, gold and green. A little sparkly angel sat on top of the tree, gazing down on the room. There was one member of the family that wasn't featured in the photo frames laid by the side of the tree was the family dog. Santa already knew this dog. He'd met her many times before. She was called Peggy and she was a fluffy black cockapoo. Santa tiptoed past Peggy as quietly as he could. He didn't want to disturb her sleep, even though he wouldn't mind a good cuddle for from the sweet dog. Santa approached the Christmas tree and saw that there was a little envelope underneath it. He reached down and picked it up to see that the envelope had his name on it. Santa opened it and pulled out a little folded Christmas card with a dancing penguin on the front. As Santa opened up the card, a plume of golden glitter exploded out of its pages and the glitter tickled Santa's nose. He tried to fight it, but he could feel a sneeze coming on. He huffed and he puffed and his nose exploded with a big hat. Santa paused expectantly, waiting to see if his outburst had awoken anyone in the Sanderson family home. But luckily nobody stirred. Not even Peggy the cockapoo. Santa read the handwritten message inside the Christmas card. The card wished Santa and Mrs. Claus a very Merry Christmas from the children, Elliot and Heidi Sanderson, and it specified that they had left out some milk and cookies on the kitchen table for him, along with a carrot for the reindeer to enjoy. Santa was grateful for the kind, festive card and he couldn't wait to dig into the milk and cookies. He was sure that his reindeer gang would be very appreciative of the carrot too. Santa reached into his magical sack and pulled out the presents for the Sanderson family. He positioned them perfectly underneath the Christmas tree and stood back to admire his handiwork. He knew that they would love their gifts. Santa made his way towards the kitchen to collect his snacks before he headed off back up the chimney to attend to the next house on the street. He tried to find his way through the dark house towards the kitchen door, but he couldn't see very much in the darkness. Santa took a step and accidentally trod on a toy that had been left on the floor. The toy was an electronic one that came to life and played loud music as he stepped on it. Santa staggered away, surprised by the sudden music and stumbled into the bookshelf, knocking over the photo frames with a clatter. Peggy the dog instantly shot up from her bed wondering what the commotion was. When she spotted that it was Santa. She was so happy to see her old friend that she let out an excited little bark and bounded towards him. Santa put out his arms to stop her, but it was too late. Peggy jumped up to greet Santa, knocking him over and into the Christmas tree. The tree fell to the ground with a loud jingle and a crash. Peggy the dog licked Santa's face, blissfully unaware of the mess, but Santa felt hopeless as he looked at the trashed living room. A light flicked on upstairs and Santa heard the Sanderson family emerge from their bedrooms, wondering what the sound had been. Downstairs, Mr. And Mrs. Sanderson, followed by their children Elliot and Heidi, rushed down the staircase and saw Santa lying on the ground by the side of the fallen Christmas tree with Peggy the dog cheerfully licking his face. Santa, are you OK? Mrs. Sanderson asked as she bent down to help him up off the ground. Elliot picked up Peggy and pulled her off Santa so that he could get to his feet. Santa was so sorry that he had made such a mess of their living room. He apologised and apologised, but the Sanderson family wouldn't hear it. They were just glad that he was ok. Nine year old Heidi, wearing her festive polar bear pyjamas and fluffy white socks, asked Santa if he had found the card that they had left out for him. Yes, I did. Thank you. He replied, patting her on the head before adding, but I didn't quite make it to the kitchen for the milk and cookies. I tripped on a toy and woke up poor Peggy. It was all downhill from there. Mr. And Mrs. Sanderson tidied up the Christmas tree and put it back upright while Elliot and Heidi brought the milk and cookies through to the living room for Santa. Santa took a seat on the sofa to calm down after such excitement and he gratefully chomped down on the chocolate chip cookies and drank up the glass of milk. Santa heard the gentle beeping of his watch timer. He had spent too much time at the Sanderson house and was now running behind schedule to deliver the rest of the presents to the other houses on the street. He declared that he had best be going. He thanked the Sanderson family for their kindness and understanding and made his way over to the fireplace. Just before he could pop back up the chimney, Elliot cried out, santa, you've forgotten the carrot for the reindeer. Santa turned back to see the eager young boy holding the orange carrot in the air. He couldn't forget about the reindeer's treat. Santa had an idea. Elliot, he began, would you like to give the carrot to one of the reindeer yourself? Elliot's eyes grew wide with enthusiasm and he gasped. His little sister Heidi began jumping up and down excitedly and said, can I give one a carrot too, please? Santa chuckled with his hearty laugh and said that he would bring the reindeer down to the ground for Heidi and Eliot to feed one themselves. The Sanderson family quickly slipped on their shoes and put on their coats over the top of their pyjamas and followed Santa out of the front door into the street. Santa whistled up to the roof and called for his reindeer. He waited a few seconds, but there was no sight of them. He tried again. This time he whistled even louder, but again the reindeer didn't appear. Santa stood further back to get a full view of the rooftop. To his surprise, the reindeer and his sleigh were nowhere to be seen. Heidi looked confused and asked, where have the reindeer gone? Santa didn't know. It would appear that the reindeer had heard the timer of his watch go off and had assumed the Santa was back and ready to move on to the next group of houses. The reindeer must have flown off to keep on schedule. Elliot looked disappointed. That's a shame, he said. I was really looking forward to meeting your reindeer and giving them a carrot. Santa was in quite a pickle. Where had his reindeer run away to and how could he find them quickly so that Christmas Eve deliveries could get back on course? Elliot and Heidi were both very disappointed that they had missed seeing the reindeer. Mr. And Mrs. Sanderson could see that Santa needed some help. Mr. Sanderson placed his hand on Elliot's deflated shoulder and made a suggestion. Why don't we help Santa find his reindeer? He said. Then when we find them, you can give them the carrot as you had hoped. Elliot and Heidi loved this idea, and Santa was very grateful for their offer of assistance. Mrs. Sanderson sprung into action and raised the question. So, Santa, where might your reindeer have gone? Santa replied that his reindeer may have moved on to the next batch of houses that they were due to visit. After Picket Road, the next stop on their journey of deliveries was Lord's Avenue. Then we'll go there, Mrs. Sanderson announced, pulling her car keys out of her coat pocket. They all piled into the Sanderson family car to drive to Lourdes Avenue. Mrs. Sanderson drove while Santa sat in the front passenger seat with Peggy, the cockapoo curled up on his lap. Meanwhile, Mr. Sanderson, Elliot and Heidi squished themselves into the back seats. They all drove across town to Lourdes Avenue. But when they arrived, the reindeer and Santa's sleigh were nowhere to be seen. Santa twizzled the end of his white beard as he thought. If the reindeer gang had moved on to the next set of houses, then they should be here by now. Elliot suggested that they might have missed them already. So they drove to the next place on Santa's Christmas Eve route. They arrived at the end of Bernard Close, but alas, there was no sight of Santa's reindeer. It doesn't make sense. Santa sighed. The reindeer have never flown off without me before. If they had continued with the route we do every year, then they would definitely be here by now. So where have they gone? The Sanderson family thought long and hard. Why would the reindeer have flown off? Heidi suggested that maybe they were hungry and had flown off to find some food. She asked Santa what the reindeer liked to eat. Santa said that the magical gang loved to eat reindeer food, grass, and the occasional candy cane and cookie. Heidi had an idea. Why don't we see if they're at the local park? She proposed. There's lots of grass there and I've seen big candy canes sticking out of the ground where they've built the Christmas play park. They didn't have any other ideas. So the Sanderson family and Santa drove to the local park. Heidi was right. There was lots of grass everywhere, which would be perfect for the reindeer to graze on. Plus, there was an enchanting Christmas display lit up in the dark in the centre of the park. They all walked around the park calling out for the reindeer. But they didn't come across them. The reindeer weren't here. Elliot suggested that maybe the reindeer had gone to visit some friends. They had some stables in their town where lots of people went horse riding. Perhaps the reindeer had gone to visit their horse friends. Santa decided it was worth a try and they all drove across town to the local horse riding ranch. They peered inside every stable and checked under every pile of hay. But the reindeer weren't there. All they found were the peacefully snoozing local horses. Santa sighed and let out a yawn. He sat down on one of the nearby bales of hay to rest. Mrs. Sanderson noticed that Santa appeared very tired. Are you all right, Santa? She asked. Do you need to have a little nap and rest for a while? Santa shook his head defiantly and said, I can't take a nap. It's Christmas Eve. It's always a long night and very tiring. But the job has to be done. Otherwise Christmas Day will be very disappointing for a lot of children if they don't get their presents. Mrs. Sanderson could see that Santa was worn out from a long night of hard work. She was beginning to wonder if the reindeer felt the same. Perhaps the reindeer were tired too and had disappeared for a while to rest and recharge. She asked Santa where the reindeer would go if they wanted to lie down for a little while. Santa thought hard and then answered, the reindeer are used to sleeping in the snow, so they would probably go off in search of snow or something equal, equally as soft. Hmm. We don't have any snow around here right now, Mr. Sanderson thought aloud. What is as soft as snow? Heidi looked up at the sky. As she thought, she watched the big white clouds float through the night air and noticed a very faint flashing light coming through one of the clouds. Was it an aeroplane? Or could it be something even more interesting? Heidi pointed out the bright light glowing beyond the cloud and Santa felt a surge of hope run through him. Could that be the glow of his reindeer's bright noses that lit his way through the night sky? Maybe his reindeer were up in the clouds. The Sanderson family and Santa jumped back in the car and drove towards the glowing cloud. As they got closer and closer, the light seemed to grow brighter and brighter. Eventually, they noticed something large abandoned in the middle of the road ahead of them. As they got closer, they saw that it was Santa's big red sleigh. The reindeer were nowhere to be seen near the sleigh, but Santa now had a good idea where they were. He hopped out of the car and ran over to the sleigh, followed by the Sanderson family and Peggy the dog. The sleigh was in perfect condition and the reins for the reindeer were draped on the ground above their heads. They could hear a faint jingling. Elliot looked up at the cloud and pulled the carrot out of his coat pocket. He cried, how are we going to get up there so that I can give the reindeer My carrot. Santa smiled and ruffled the young boy's hair. He threw his magical sack onto the back of the sleigh and climbed into the front seat before asking, do you want to see something amazing? Elliot nodded his head vigorously and Santa told him to climb aboard the sleigh. The whole family piled into Santa's sleigh and awaited, waited patiently. Mr. Sanderson peered over Santa's shoulder and whispered, santa, how are we meant to fly the sleigh without the reindeer? Santa chuckled and answered, the reindeer can only fly with the power of Christmas magic. And that magic is everywhere around us right now. We can make the sleigh fly ourselves. The Sanderson family became excited and wanted to know how to use Christmas magic. Santa calmly explained that all they needed to do who has closed their eyes, think about all the wonderful things that Christmas time brings and believe in the power of Christmas magic. The Sanderson family closed their eyes and thought hard. They pictured themselves on Christmas morning, opening their presents and enjoying dinner around the table, pulling crackers and eating festive pudding. They imagined visiting the Christmas markets and ice skating in the park. They thought of how they could build snowmen and have snowball fights in the garden. And they remembered how lovely it was visiting their grandparents on Boxing Day. But most importantly, they all appreciated how each of these memories and traditions were spent together as a family with the people they loved. Santa's sleigh began to shudder as it lifted up off the ground and they listened as a gentle jingling sound began to radiate from the sleigh. They opened their eyes and saw that the sleigh was glowing with enchanted magic and Santa started to laugh with delight. Merry Christmas. Santa chuckled contentedly as the sleigh rose higher and higher up into the air. The Sanderson family looked down and watched as their car and the houses around it became smaller and smaller as they lifted up into the air. Peggy, the dog, barked excitedly as the sleigh burst through the clouds. As soon as they emerged on the other side of the soft, cool clouds, they saw the reindeer scattered all around them. All of the reindeer were resting on the surface of the clouds, either snoozing away or grazing lazily on the fluffy ground. Santa counted them to make sure they were all there. He was relieved as he counted them up one by one. However, just as he finished counting, he realised there was one missing. Where was the last reindeer? But his question was quickly answered. Santa looked over his shoulder to see the last one standing by the side of the sleigh eating a carrot, eating a carrot out of young Elliot's hand. Elliot had got his wish and finally managed to feed a reindeer after all. Santa rounded up the reindeer and attached them all back onto their reins. There was no time to lose. The reindeer had taken a break for long enough and it was time to get back on schedule. Starting back at Picket Road, where the Sanderson family lived. Santa instructed the reindeer to guide the sleigh back to the ground so that the Sanderson family could pick up their car. He dropped the family off back by the side of the silent road where their car was parked. Santa thanked the Sanderson family for their invaluable help and ruffled the fur of his little doggy friend Peggy. Elliot and Heidi looked disappointed as they said goodbye to Santa. Would you like to come for Christmas dinner with us tomorrow, Santa? Heidi asked hopefully. We always have lots of food left over, so there's plenty to share. Santa was grateful for the offer, but he advised Heidi that he already had a Christmas dinner of his own to attend with his lovely wife, Mrs. Claus. Santa gave Heidi and Elliot a hug goodbye and climbed back into his sleigh. The Sanderson family watched with admiration as the reindeer expertly guided Santa and his magical glowing sleigh back up into the dark night sky. They flew off into the distance until they were so tiny in the Sanderson family sight that they looked like a far off twinkling star. The Sanderson family drove home to their house where they climbed into their beds to rest, awaiting Christmas morning to see what Santa had brought for them. But they all knew that no matter what physical presence he had delivered to them, nothing would compare to the once in a lifetime adventure they had enjoyed with him. It wasn't every Christmas that they got to go searching for runaway reindeer and fly up into the sky on Santa's famous sleigh. This Christmas Eve had truly been one to remember.