Take-Off

From the runway red, gold, green, and blue fireworks lit the North Pole sky with fantastic patterns.

Two elves at the front of the sleigh blew a trumpet fanfare.

Tah-tah tah tah-tah tah tah. Tah-tah.

Boomer sprinkled Santa’s reindeer from his bag of magic sparkles. The sparkles gave them the power to fly.

Chip and Number One looked on with frowns. Everyone was nervous except for the reindeer.

"I’m all set, chief," said Dasher, and pawed at the ground.

"Me too," said Dancer, and shook his bells.

"Let’s go, Santa," said Comet.

From the front of Santa’s team came a red glow and a giggle.

The reindeer loved Christmas Eve. Santa didn’t have the heart to tell them thousands of children would be given a miss on this one.

He slumped in his sleigh. Even his beard seemed to droop.

Olive watched from a rise.

Although she wanted to forget about the Big Trip, she just couldn’t help coming to see the show. She especially loved the fireworks.

She heard the reindeer’s excited voices. Oh, how she wished she could be one of them.

But I’ll always get left behind, she thought.

Olive turned away.

She’d seen enough. A tear trickled down her cheek.

Suddenly there were cries of alarm. And...