Copyright Carol Bastian, 2007
All rights reserved

Chapter 2 - The Journey

      Hare-iette ran outside and couldn’t believe her eyes. There was a small cart, brightly painted with holly and bells. It was pulled by a big, beautiful reindeer. The reindeer was tall and sleek. As she approached, still too amazed to speak, the reindeer extended his head towards her and, in a warm, deep voice said,
“Gooot morrrning, Eeeeeevan.”
Then he chuckled. It was a warm and friendly sound.
Hare-iette shrieked, “Ivan? Is that you? You are gorgeous! You’re so big!”
He smiled and said, "Tank you Harrrri-et you loook goooot too."
Hare-iette ran to him and threw her arms around his lovely head and hugged him.
      “I’m so glad to see you. How are you? What have you been doing? How did you get so big?”
Ivan nuzzled Hare-iette, “I fine, very hoooppy, thanks to you, leeeetle frrreind.”
“Come on Hare-iette, get in. We have to go.”
      The voice came from the cart. Hare-iette looked around and saw a tiny, pretty, young girl dressed in a green outfit with white faux fur trim. Hare-iette gave Ivan another hug and scratched his ears. Then she went back and climbed in the cart.
“Who are you?” she asked.
The girl answered, “My name is Natalie. Santa sent me keep you company on the trip. Ivan knows the way and doesn’t need me, but it’s better if it looks like someone is driving. Besides, you might get lonesome. Reindeer never talk. They do seem to understand everything we say though.”
Hare-iette giggled.
       “That‘s just because you are human and can‘t hear them.”
Hare-iette was all excited.
      “Can Ivan fly? Are we going to fly?”
      “Oh no, Hare-iette. Reindeer can only fly on Christmas eve. Besides, Ivan is still too young to do any long distance flying.”

      Hare-iette asked Natalie about the job she was going to do for Santa. Natalie told her she didn’t know anything about it. She told Hare-iette she got to come and pick her up because she was the only one, at the location, not working around the clock to get ready for Christmas.
      "Why aren’t you working?”
      “I’m only 12 years old. Elf children can only work 2 hours a day.”
Hare-iette glanced up and gasped as she noticed Natalie’s little pointed ears.

      The two girls, wrapped in blankets, talked and giggled and told stories and played guessing games for hours. Then Hare-iette fell asleep.

      When Natalie woke Hare-iette up, it was dark out and very cold. She looked around and saw a large cabin nestled in the woods.
      “Is this where Santa is?”
      “Yes, this is where we’re staying while Santa goes to stores in the area to talk to the children. You can go right in. I‘m going to put Ivan to bed.”
Hare-iette went to hug Ivan again.
      “Good night, Ivan, thanks for the ride.“
      “Gooooot nite, Harrrrrri-et, you arrrre verrrrry velcome.“
Hare-iette raced to the cabin.

Click For Chapter 3 - The Mission