RAYMOND REINDEER: GIFT OF THE BELL

Raymond's ears perked up. He lifted his head from his bed of sweet smelling straw. His eyes fluttered open. A tinkling noise pulled him from his land of dreams. He rose and tottered on shaky legs to the partially opened door of his stall.

"Jingle, jingle." There it was again.

The curious little reindeer toddled out into the main barn. There he discovered the source of the noise that had awakened him.

Burt stood on a ladder that stretched from the floor to the eaves of the barn. He was removing the leather harnesses that hung from the barn's rafters eleven months out of the year. On each harness, there hung a multitude of gold bells that jingled as the elf lowered the leather strap to his partner.

"Excuse me. What are you doing?" asked the little reindeer as he looked on in wonder.

"Did we wake you, Raymond?" Burt asked. "We decided to get an early start. We have to polish all the gold bells until they sparkle and shine."

"Santa's team has to look proper for their Christmas journey," he explained as he climbed down from his perch on the ladder. He took out a soft white cloth and dipped it in a jar of polish, then began to rub a bell.

Raymond moved in closer. He watched as Burt polished each bell until it gleamed.

"There," said Burt as he handed the finished harness to his buddy. "Only eight bells on that one. Let me see if I can find one with more bells than that," he said as he dug through a pile of leather and bells. He pulled up a harness with fifteen bells.

"Why do some have more bells than others?" asked Raymond, poking his nose into the jar of polish.

"Haven't you heard of the The Gift of the Bell?" questioned Burt as he pushed Raymond's nose from the jar.

"Every year Santa awards The Gift of the Bell to any reindeer he chooses to honor for their wisdom, heroic acts or kindness. It's a great honor. "Rudolph received the very first bell the year he guided Santa's sleigh on that terrible foggy Christmas Eve. He's probably earned dozens of bells by now."

"What other reindeer has received a bell?" asked the little deer.

"We're a little busy this morning for stories," Burt told him, "But you can go and ask your grandmother. She's got three bells herself." Raymond was surprised. He hurried off to find his grandmother.

At a stall at the end of the barn he stopped to knock softly on the door. "Grandmother, it's Raymond,", he called. "May I come in?"

"Certainly dear. It's so nice to see you. Be a good help to your grandmother and bring in some fresh straw for my bed," she told him.

Raymond did as he was told. "Now, what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?" she inquired.

"Ma'am, Burt said you had earned "The Gift of the Bell" three times. Tell me how you earned them," he pleaded.

"I'd love to tell you Raymond. But first fetch me a cup of tea," asked his Grandmother.

"Yes, Ma'am," said Raymond as he scampered off to get her tea. When he returned Grandmother said, "I'd be more comfortable with my shawl. You're such a good little deer," she said as he wrapped the shawl around her shoulders. "Now sit and listen and I'll tell you all about them," she began.

"Well, your old grandmother managed to earn three of those bells herself even though I never was part of Santa's team," she said as she pointed to the three bells on the leather strap around her neck. "I got my first when I was just a girl. I shared my winter ration of oats with a family of polar bears. That kept them from starving that winter."

"Wow, how generous of you," Raymond said. "How did you earn the next bell?" he asked.

"Go and fetch me a pillow for my head. I'll be more comfortable then," she said as she settled in her bed. "Thank you sweet boy, now I'll go on. Right after I married your Grandfather we had a terrible storm. Coming home one evening I came upon a little elf nearly frozen to death huddled under a tree in the forest. I carried him on my back to the village," she explained. "That's how I got my second bell."

"You were a hero!" he exclaimed. "What else did you do?" Raymond begged her to tell.

"The year your father was born, a terrible thing happened. Santa's team was late for their rounds. They just couldn't move fast enough that year. On their return I noticed how the runners of the sleigh were covered in rust. It was just enough to slow them down. And sure enough when we polished them, the sleigh just flew. Now every year Santa makes sure the sleigh is cleaned and polished before he leaves," she rambled as her head began to nod. "Now it's time for an old reindeer's nap. Be a good little deer and tidy up before you leave," she requested.

"You are the smartest, kindest, bravest grandmother in the world!" he announced. "I want to be just like you when I grow up!" he said as he fluffed her pillow and smoothed her blanket. He then washed her cup and saucer and tiptoed back to his stall to take a nap of his own.

Again a tinkling noise woke Raymond from his nap. He peeked out the door of his stall. But now the barn was empty. He trotted across the barnyard. In the distance he saw a huge crowd gathered in the center of the Secret Village. As Raymond approached a bearded elf he asked, "Excuse me, but could you tell me what is going on?"

"It's the Gift of the Bell. Santa has called the entire Secret Village together for his annual ceremony. Shh, He's about to begin," said the elf standing on tiptoes straining to see.

Santa stood before the crowd. He began to present dozens of bells to deserving reindeer. He spoke of their heroic acts, their wisdom and kindness to others.

Finally, he held up the remaining single gold bell on a glistening red ribbon.

"A good friend of mine has asked me to make a very special presentation." Santa declared.

"There is a little reindeer, she tells me, that is always polite and respectful. He's proved to be kind and considerate of others and he is especially helpful to his grandmother. He may not be old enough for a harness, but I think this ribbon will do. Raymond, I present you with this Gift of the Bell. Your first, may it not be your last," Santa said.

Raymond came forward. Santa draped the ribbon over his tiny head. He then took his place and stood proudly with the other honored reindeer.

In the crowd below, his grandmother stood smiling as she watched her grandson receive his special reward.

THE END!