25 Days of Rudolph
Day 5: Rudolph The Lawn Ornament
In the serene and chilly days of early December at the North Pole, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer felt a surge of determination stirring within him. He decided to challenge his own limits, testing the extent of his stamina and the power of his magical hooves. The idea was simple but ambitious: to fly from the North Pole to the Equator and back, all by himself. It was a journey that no other reindeer had ever attempted, and Rudolph was ready to accept the challenge.
With a sense of anticipation and excitement, Rudolph launched himself into the crisp, wintry air. His nose shone brightly, casting a crimson trail across the night sky as he embarked on this epic journey. The North Pole rapidly receded into the distance, replaced by a vast expanse of stars and the endless blackness of the Arctic night.
As Rudolph flew further and further south, the temperature gradually began to rise, and the landscape transformed from a snow-covered wonderland to a lush, green panorama. He marveled at the sight of the Equator, where the world's hemispheres met. The stark contrast between the frigid North Pole and the warm, tropical Equator was a sight to behold.
However, the return journey proved to be more challenging than Rudolph had anticipated. The exhausting flight took a toll on his energy reserves, and the distance seemed to stretch endlessly. Rudolph's once majestic and graceful flight grew labored and strained.
It was during the arduous return that Rudolph found himself forced to make an emergency landing in a quiet suburban neighborhood. His strength waned, and he couldn't continue the journey without rest. Rudolph descended gracefully onto a soft bed of snow, his labored breath visible in the cold night air.
As Rudolph looked around the neighborhood, he was captivated by the warmth and charm of the Christmas season. Every house was adorned with a breathtaking array of holiday lights, ornaments, and festive decorations. The front lawns were transformed into winter wonderlands with elaborate displays of snowmen, reindeer, and a sea of twinkling lights. But what struck Rudolph most was the multitude of Rudolph statues and inflatables scattered throughout the neighborhood. It was as if he had stumbled upon a shrine dedicated to his own legend.
Unable to resist the temptation to explore, Rudolph gingerly stepped across one of the lawns. He admired the lifelike statues and the cheerful holiday spirit that surrounded him. He couldn't help but feel a deep sense of humility and gratitude for the affection people had for him.
Just as Rudolph was about to continue his exploration, a security floodlight from one of the houses suddenly flickered to life, casting a brilliant beam of light upon him.
Rudolph froze in his tracks, his heart pounding as a man stepped out of the house.
The man's eyes widened in surprise as he stared at the majestic "Rudolph" standing on his lawn. He scratched his head, perplexed.
"I don't remember buying a Rudolph statue… Did my wife get this as a surprise for me?"
As the man approached Rudolph, he noticed that this particular "statue" seemed more mature, majestic, and muscular than the typical holiday decorations he'd seen before. He curiously moved closer, leaning in to inspect the lifelike representation of the iconic reindeer.
"Wow, this is a pretty impressive Rudolph decoration. And the nose... what kind of light bulb is that?"
Intrigued, the man gave Rudolph's bright red nose a gentle poke, and to his surprise, it squished a bit under his finger. This caused Rudolph to sneeze, revealing his true identity. The man took a step back, stunned.
Rudolph smiled and said apologetically, "Excuse me, I'm... I'm not a decoration."
The man's astonishment quickly gave way to pure elation as he realized he was standing in the presence of the real Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
"You're Rudolph! The real Rudolph! I can't believe it!"
Rudolph smiled warmly, his nose casting a soft glow, and nodded, ""Yes, I am. It's a pleasure to meet you."
The man practically bubbled over with excitement, his voice filled with admiration, "Oh my goodness! The real live Rudolph! I love your song, your story, and all your Christmas specials!"
Rudolph accepted the praise with humility and replied, "Thank you so much. I'm glad to meet a fan like you."
The man's eyes sparkled with curiosity, "Well, what brings you here, Rudolph?"
Rudolph explained that he had been flying non-stop and had become too exhausted to continue. The man's concern was evident as he rushed back into his house to get a bucket of water for the tired reindeer.
He quickly returned holding the bucket. "Here, Rudolph. Have some water."
Rudolph gratefully accepted the offer, taking long sips of the cool water. The man watched with a smile, delighted to be of help to his beloved hero.
"I'm so honored to meet you, Rudolph. Can I ask you something?"
Rudolph nodded and said, "Anything, kind sir."
"Which Rudolph movie is the most accurate?"
Rudolph thought for a moment, then replied, "I'd say the Rankin-Bass stop motion one is the closest to the truth. Although, Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus are much kinder than that stop-motion film portrayed them to be. Oh, and Rudolph's Shiny New Year also really happened too!"
The man chuckled, satisfied with the answer. They continued to chat about Rudolph's adventures and the magic of Christmas. The man found himself hanging on to every word, amazed by the surreal encounter he was having.
Eventually, Rudolph knew he had to continue his journey, and he said regretfully, "I've enjoyed talking with you, but I should be on my way."
The man understood, though he couldn't hide the excitement in his voice as he asked one final question, "Can I... can I pet you, Rudolph?"
Rudolph happily agreed, lowering his head to allow the man to run his hand along his warm and magical reindeer fur. As the man gently petted Rudolph, a sense of warmth and gratitude filled his heart. "Merry Christmas, Rudolph," he said softly.
With a final nod, Rudolph leaped into the night sky, his red nose illuminating the darkness. The man watched with a sense of wonder as the iconic reindeer disappeared into the starry night, carrying with him the magic of Christmas.
Rudolph's voice carried down to the man from the night sky.
"Merry Christmas to you, and may your heart always shine bright!"
And with that, Rudolph continued his journey, leaving the suburban neighborhood aglow with the enchantment of their encounter.
Note: While I consider the Rankin/Bass version to be THE Rudolph story, I hate Mr. and Mrs. Claus in that version. I like to imagine the Mr. and Mrs. Claus from "Santa Claus the Movie" (1985) in the Rudolph story instead. Not perfect but not openly hostile to everyone.