The Vixen

“Oh, hello Don. Nice of you to visit me. What’s up?”

“Came to see how you’re doing. I’m worried about you, bro.”

I turn to stare at him. “Why?”

“You seem a little off your feed.”

“So what?”

He mutters, “A bit grouchy too.”

I frown. “Heard that. Wouldn’t you be upset if it happened to you?”

Don shakes his head. “The big guy knows what he’s doing. It will work out just great.”

“That upstart can lead. I have no difficulty with that.”

He stares at me a long moment. “Then what’s your problem?”

I sigh. “I’ll never understand the female psyche.”

Don gulps. “Don’t know. I’m not inclined in that direction.”

“What does she even see in him?”

“Dunno. I don’t find him the least bit attractive.” He clears his throat. “You going to roast chestnuts for her this year?”

“How many did the big guy give you last year?”

“Only five.”

“Then no. I got 20 for leading. Five won’t be enough to bother.”

“Uhm.” He rubs his nose. “Maybe you could ask Buddy to get you some.”

I shake my head. “Guess you haven’t heard. He went south. Said he didn’t fit here.”

Don grunts. “Yes, he was definitely oversized. Don’t let her get you down, big guy.” He walked away.

She continued ignoring me. I couldn’t sleep. Lost without her warmth beside me. I even almost stepped on Pepper two days later.

“Hey watch it you big galoot! Pick up your head and look where you’re going.”

“Geez. Sorry Pepper.”

Pepper stared up at me. “What’s the matter with you?”

I frowned. “Vixen is giving me the cold shoulder, and I don’t know how to get her back.”

“She’s a player that one. True to her name.” Pepper chuckled. “You’re better off without the likes of her.”

A week passed and I remained in a funk.

On the special day, I was placed beside her. But her gaze was fastened on him. Her beauty overwhelmed me. Hypnotized, I stared at her, oblivious to our surroundings.

Thirty minutes later, Don kicked me.

“Ouch. Watch where you’re going!”

Don yelled. “Yo! Been calling you. Rudy can’t handle it. We’re gonna crash. Dasher do something!”

Shaken out of my reverie, I saw Rudolph was straining to carry the load by himself. His red nose was dim, and his strides were off kilter. The blustery Chicago wind was pushing us off course.

I concentrated hard, sending my thoughts to Rudy. “Don’t shut us out. Let us in.” I focused more. “Believe me. We can help. Feel the joy. Share the love.”

Donner, Cupid, and Comet joined their concentration with mine. “Believe. Feel joy. Share love.”

Prancer, Blitzen, and Dancer echoed us. “Joy. Love.”

Rudolph quit straining and matched his glide to ours. We narrowly passed Sears Tower and came down on Wacker Drive. Santa looked shaken for a moment, then emitted a hearty chuckle. “Well, at least we didn’t land in Lake Michigan.” He rummaged in his sack, then was gone in a flash.

The big man called me into his office when we got back to the North Pole. He looked firmly into my eyes. “I need Rudolph to light our way, but today you proved you are the leader of the pack.” He counted 20 chestnuts and handed those to me. “Thank you.”

As I roasted the nuts to share with everyone, I thought about Vixen. She hadn’t helped us when we needed it. Though we had often shared carnal pleasure, I doubted she knew true love. I was better off without her.