Christmas Drabbles: reindeer
Hugo's probably about 5 or 6... I don't really know where this came from. But it just became all dialogue, and yea.
"Mummy, are reindeer real?"
"Yes, Hugo, they are. They live up in the very northern parts of the country, in the Arctic. Why do you ask?"
"Because in Muggle school today, we learned about Santa Claus and his reindeer. And I was wondering why Santa needed reindeer when he could just Disapparate?"
"Oh, Hugo!"
"Mummy, why are you laughing? I'm asking a very serious question!"
"Yes, of course, sweetheart. Well, Muggles believe Santa travels by flying reindeer because they don't know about Disapparation. So they leave out cookies and carrots for Rudolph, who has a bright red nose."
"So Rudolph isn't real?"
"No, sweetheart. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is just from a story. But I'm sure some clever person named a reindeer Rudolph, just to be funny."
"Oh."
"..."
"Mommy?"
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"Have you ever met Santa Claus? You like staying up late to read books. Have you seen him on Christmas?"
"Why, yes, I have. He's a very nice man."
"What does he look like?"
"Well, he isn't actually fat and jolly like everyone thinks. Mrs. Claus put him on a diet, so he doesn't eat the cookies anymore."
"What does he do with them?"
"He brings them back to his workshop for all the little elves to eat."
"Oh. Does he still have a big white beard?"
"Well, no, he's actually a ginger."
"A ginger? Like Daddy?"
"Yes, sort of like Daddy. And he's the kindest man alive, and he'd never hurt a fly."
"Oh. For a moment I thought you were trying to tell me Daddy was Santa, but Daddy loves to prank people, and I've seen him kill a fly before. It can't be Daddy."
"Oh, Hugo!"
"Mummy! Stop laughing at me!"