
YOU'LL BELIEVE A REINDEER... -- Pg 5/5 Standard text
Date posted: Dec 27/2013
Page Five of Five.
© 2010 Fred Brown
............................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................
❱❱❱❱ NOTA BENE: This story is in an enhanced, better-readable font. It's designed to be read on
dark background screens. Only. There's a second version that's readable
on cyan screens.
It's here: YOU'LL BELIEVE A REINDEER... -- Enhanced text
Main account is here:
fwbrown61 (This sub is in the fwbrown61-work account)
Story icon credit to
shadoweon
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=============================================================================
Jim's face softened. "Yeah," he said quietly. "From what could've been worst
Christmas ever to best Christmas ever in a single stroke. Much, much later, I
wondered just how Santa made his decision to land here. So he knew it all, about
everything, about what had happened to us: let's take that as a given. So did he
know what it would mean to us, to do all that, to have Jillian with us? And Karen
too, who Janie's latched onto as not-quite-a-momma, but close enough. Who I've
latched onto a little bit, to tell the truth. Hard not to. Love is something these
reindeer are very, very good at. Another dunno, for where we go after Jillian
leaves next Christmas. It'll be damned hard to say good-bye. But that love won't
leave. And with love, there is hope. Now we've got some where we didn't before."
"You gotta think that's a big part of what Christmas is about," the Sheriff
said slowly. "Might be an invisible hand--or hoof--guiding it all. Might be more
magic behind it than we can even imagine. Doesn't matter. Every year, every
Christmas, there is just something... good in the world. That can't be touched.
That can't be stopped. That stands opposed to all the bad in the world, in a way
that very little else human ever can. That's a lot to magically pack into a simple
present. But times a few billion or so it adds up, don't it?"
Jim turned to lean on the porch rail as he looked up into the night sky. As
many stars as before; none missing. "I don't believe they're kidding themselves
about the size of the task," he said quietly. "We're ornery contrary critters, us
humans. That sleigh'll be flying for many years yet, however many kids there are
in the world. And as for good, yes they are. The reindeer, that is. Look into their
eyes and tell me there's anything but that there. Certain other myths speak
about beings with great power who are equally as good, and also with the power
of flight, you'll note. Fur 'n hooves 'n antlers seem to do about as effective a job
as wings. That's magic for you. Any similarities beyond that are..."
Behind them: a <Scritch-scritch-scritch> sound. The Sheriff and the farmer
looked over their shoulders.
The source was instantly clear. At the bottom of the screen door, one of the
cats was putting claws to use on the screen in the typical feline way, and for the
typical feline reason. And not the first from the raggedy condition of that part of
the screen.
But of more importance, above the cat were two noses pressed silently into
the screen, one a little damper than the other, as Janie and Jillian listened in the
gloom. And not without some anxiety on their faces.
"Ah, Poppa?" Janie said, a little nervously. "We... um... sorta remembered
what you said about Jillian talking, and how nobody was supposed t' know about
that. Or might be that somebody might wanna take her away from us."
"I was laughing too hard at Sponge-Bob," Jillian whispered. "Forgot. Sorry."
The cat meowed and butted at the door. Janie reached up to the latch and
pushed open, and the cat slipped through and disappeared down the porch steps
into the night. Janie and Jillian stepped out with a light tapping of hooves. Janie
had a grip on the leash.
"I know you're th' Sheriff, Sheriff, but you're not taking Jillian," Janie said
firmly, with all the bravado that children are capable of. "Put it outta your mind,
'cause you're just not! Okay?" She put a hand on Jillian's neck in a way that
suggested a thousand years worth of spankings wouldn't ever separate them.
Likely true.
In the dimness of the porch, neither child's features were well clear. Brown
skin and brown fur were all the darker in the low light. That didn't mask their
eyes: Janie's defiant, Jillian's calm and deep. It is not easy to look at any child,
animal or human, and get a sense of what they will be like when they are grown,
or who they will be. Not so here. Neither man could miss it, in those reindeer
eyes, what Jillian would be. As young she was, it came through crystal clear.
Tiny hooves would soon grow big enough to go through the porch.
But oh, how she would be able to fly.
The Sheriff blinked. Which was what Jillian was doing as her hooves left the
porch floor. She floated up a couple of inches. Then a few more. "Whups," Janie
said, and gave a gentle tug on the leash.
Jillian looked down. "Oops," she giggled. "If I don't think about it all the
time..." Then settled back to earth.
"Her control's gettin' better," Janie said to the Sheriff (who had allowed only
a little bit of bogglement on his face). "Momma reindeer can damp it down, and
don't need a leash t' keep their kids off the ceiling. 'Fraid Jillian's gotten a little
spoiled about flying here."
"Floor, ceiling, what's the difference?" Jillian quipped.
"One's got a fan on it, dummy. As you found out pretty fast."
"Ouch. Yeah."
The Sheriff stood up and turned around. Then slowly went down on one knee
to put him on their level. Janie had left a question open. The answer wasn't hard
to give.
"No, Janie, I'm not gonna take Jillian away," the Sheriff whispered, staring at
the two children. "Wouldn't dare try. Wouldn't even think of it. And if anybody
does try I'll try my damndest to stop 'em." He glanced back up at Jim. "Next time
you talk to Karen, tell her your security just got a little thicker." His eyes flicked
upwards. "If she didn't just find out."
"I'll tell her you said," Jim murmured. "Think she'll be grateful to hear it."
"Good."
The Sheriff looked back at Janie. "You Pa's been telling me how Jillian got
here," he said to the little girl. "And how important she is. And how you're taking
good care of her. I think I understand. Well, don't understand a lick, of course,
but I'm not gonna let that get in the way of anything."
Janie and Jillian looked at each other and visibly relaxed. "Told you he was
gonna be okay," Jillian murmured. "I could tell."
"Did I say I didn't believe you?" Janie said. "We just don't dare take chances,
is all. Next time, if there is one, you just go all fluffy; the safest thing."
"I know, I know," Jillian sighed. "Forgot. Sorry. I can only say that so many
times, y'know. But I hate doing that. Feels like I can't breathe. Probably because I
can't."
Janie put her arms around the fawn's neck. "Awww, but you're so cuuute!"
she giggled, nuzzling into Jillian's fur.
"Wait until I'm as big as Momma and say that," Jillian giggled back.
"So I'll need a step ladder to hug you. Big deal."
"Next time you see me you sure will."
Jim had moved to stand beside the Sheriff. "Karen tells me Jillian's in line to
fly a few times," he said quietly. "When she does, Santa promised to drop back in
for a visit. And we get to keep the comp, so they'll be able to stay in touch.
Gonna help Janie with school too. Seems we bought a lot of cred with our work
that night, and since then. I'm hardly sure that we've seen the last of reindeer
around this place; Southern hospitality, our greatest asset, y'know? We'll see. Try
to be here for next Christmas Eve. We'll wait up for them together and hoist a
holiday toast or two or three."
"Guaranteed. Make up some eggnog with that 'shine of yours. That'll get a
ho ho ho outta him."
"Better not. You nail enough folks for DUI around Christmas time."
"S' truth."
The two men looked at the two children. For all that this evening had
dumped several loader's worth of unbelievable on the table, some acceptance had
come with it. Talking flying reindeer indeed. And all that that stood for. Right in
front of them being hugged by a little girl. There might be some who could still
disbelieve, even with the proof standing there on four hooves, who would look for
how the trick was done, where the wires were attached. Nor is such skepticism
without value, and often our only defense against the falsehoods that others
would try and put over on us. Talking flying reindeer would count as a biggie.
Or there are times when skepticism ought to just stifle itself and shut up,
because there was nothing for it but to believe. Do you see now? the little fawn's
eyes said. How it really is? And why? Whatever else the world is, there is some
love in it, love for it, love that will not die.
So long as we can fly.
Slowly, the Sheriff lifted a hand and reached out, not quite realizing he was
doing so. Then he did, and hesitated.
Jillian and Janie both picked up on it. "You can pet me," Jillian said softly. "If
you got fur, you gotta like being groomed. Or scritched." She tapped a front hoof
on the floor. "Can't say these are very good for grooming."
The Sheriff reached out further and touched between Jillian's ears as she
dipped her head a bit. Now no longer any skepticism whatsoever. Touch is what
convinces us in so many things. The Sheriff petted for a moment, then put
fingernails to use and delivered that scritch. Jillian's tail flicked once or twice in
pleasure.
Faintly, just very faintly in the dark, but then getting a little stronger,
Jillian's nose was glowing.
"I've been told who your Momma is. But I think I've got a clue about who
your Daddy is too," the Sheriff whispered.
Jim folded his arms over his chest. "Gad, Holmes," he chuckled. "You know
poor Lestrade's just goin' bananas at how you figure these things out." As they all
laughed.
=============================================================================
Page 5
<<< PREV Pg 4 First Page
Date posted: Dec 27/2013
Page Five of Five.
© 2010 Fred Brown
............................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................
❱❱❱❱ NOTA BENE: This story is in an enhanced, better-readable font. It's designed to be read on
dark background screens. Only. There's a second version that's readable
on cyan screens.
It's here: YOU'LL BELIEVE A REINDEER... -- Enhanced text
Main account is here:

Story icon credit to

............................................................................................................................................
|
| Page Links: ▪1▪ ▪2▪ ▪3▪ ▪4▪ ▪5▪
|
=============================================================================
Jim's face softened. "Yeah," he said quietly. "From what could've been worst
Christmas ever to best Christmas ever in a single stroke. Much, much later, I
wondered just how Santa made his decision to land here. So he knew it all, about
everything, about what had happened to us: let's take that as a given. So did he
know what it would mean to us, to do all that, to have Jillian with us? And Karen
too, who Janie's latched onto as not-quite-a-momma, but close enough. Who I've
latched onto a little bit, to tell the truth. Hard not to. Love is something these
reindeer are very, very good at. Another dunno, for where we go after Jillian
leaves next Christmas. It'll be damned hard to say good-bye. But that love won't
leave. And with love, there is hope. Now we've got some where we didn't before."
"You gotta think that's a big part of what Christmas is about," the Sheriff
said slowly. "Might be an invisible hand--or hoof--guiding it all. Might be more
magic behind it than we can even imagine. Doesn't matter. Every year, every
Christmas, there is just something... good in the world. That can't be touched.
That can't be stopped. That stands opposed to all the bad in the world, in a way
that very little else human ever can. That's a lot to magically pack into a simple
present. But times a few billion or so it adds up, don't it?"
Jim turned to lean on the porch rail as he looked up into the night sky. As
many stars as before; none missing. "I don't believe they're kidding themselves
about the size of the task," he said quietly. "We're ornery contrary critters, us
humans. That sleigh'll be flying for many years yet, however many kids there are
in the world. And as for good, yes they are. The reindeer, that is. Look into their
eyes and tell me there's anything but that there. Certain other myths speak
about beings with great power who are equally as good, and also with the power
of flight, you'll note. Fur 'n hooves 'n antlers seem to do about as effective a job
as wings. That's magic for you. Any similarities beyond that are..."
Behind them: a <Scritch-scritch-scritch> sound. The Sheriff and the farmer
looked over their shoulders.
The source was instantly clear. At the bottom of the screen door, one of the
cats was putting claws to use on the screen in the typical feline way, and for the
typical feline reason. And not the first from the raggedy condition of that part of
the screen.
But of more importance, above the cat were two noses pressed silently into
the screen, one a little damper than the other, as Janie and Jillian listened in the
gloom. And not without some anxiety on their faces.
"Ah, Poppa?" Janie said, a little nervously. "We... um... sorta remembered
what you said about Jillian talking, and how nobody was supposed t' know about
that. Or might be that somebody might wanna take her away from us."
"I was laughing too hard at Sponge-Bob," Jillian whispered. "Forgot. Sorry."
The cat meowed and butted at the door. Janie reached up to the latch and
pushed open, and the cat slipped through and disappeared down the porch steps
into the night. Janie and Jillian stepped out with a light tapping of hooves. Janie
had a grip on the leash.
"I know you're th' Sheriff, Sheriff, but you're not taking Jillian," Janie said
firmly, with all the bravado that children are capable of. "Put it outta your mind,
'cause you're just not! Okay?" She put a hand on Jillian's neck in a way that
suggested a thousand years worth of spankings wouldn't ever separate them.
Likely true.
In the dimness of the porch, neither child's features were well clear. Brown
skin and brown fur were all the darker in the low light. That didn't mask their
eyes: Janie's defiant, Jillian's calm and deep. It is not easy to look at any child,
animal or human, and get a sense of what they will be like when they are grown,
or who they will be. Not so here. Neither man could miss it, in those reindeer
eyes, what Jillian would be. As young she was, it came through crystal clear.
Tiny hooves would soon grow big enough to go through the porch.
But oh, how she would be able to fly.
The Sheriff blinked. Which was what Jillian was doing as her hooves left the
porch floor. She floated up a couple of inches. Then a few more. "Whups," Janie
said, and gave a gentle tug on the leash.
Jillian looked down. "Oops," she giggled. "If I don't think about it all the
time..." Then settled back to earth.
"Her control's gettin' better," Janie said to the Sheriff (who had allowed only
a little bit of bogglement on his face). "Momma reindeer can damp it down, and
don't need a leash t' keep their kids off the ceiling. 'Fraid Jillian's gotten a little
spoiled about flying here."
"Floor, ceiling, what's the difference?" Jillian quipped.
"One's got a fan on it, dummy. As you found out pretty fast."
"Ouch. Yeah."
The Sheriff stood up and turned around. Then slowly went down on one knee
to put him on their level. Janie had left a question open. The answer wasn't hard
to give.
"No, Janie, I'm not gonna take Jillian away," the Sheriff whispered, staring at
the two children. "Wouldn't dare try. Wouldn't even think of it. And if anybody
does try I'll try my damndest to stop 'em." He glanced back up at Jim. "Next time
you talk to Karen, tell her your security just got a little thicker." His eyes flicked
upwards. "If she didn't just find out."
"I'll tell her you said," Jim murmured. "Think she'll be grateful to hear it."
"Good."
The Sheriff looked back at Janie. "You Pa's been telling me how Jillian got
here," he said to the little girl. "And how important she is. And how you're taking
good care of her. I think I understand. Well, don't understand a lick, of course,
but I'm not gonna let that get in the way of anything."
Janie and Jillian looked at each other and visibly relaxed. "Told you he was
gonna be okay," Jillian murmured. "I could tell."
"Did I say I didn't believe you?" Janie said. "We just don't dare take chances,
is all. Next time, if there is one, you just go all fluffy; the safest thing."
"I know, I know," Jillian sighed. "Forgot. Sorry. I can only say that so many
times, y'know. But I hate doing that. Feels like I can't breathe. Probably because I
can't."
Janie put her arms around the fawn's neck. "Awww, but you're so cuuute!"
she giggled, nuzzling into Jillian's fur.
"Wait until I'm as big as Momma and say that," Jillian giggled back.
"So I'll need a step ladder to hug you. Big deal."
"Next time you see me you sure will."
Jim had moved to stand beside the Sheriff. "Karen tells me Jillian's in line to
fly a few times," he said quietly. "When she does, Santa promised to drop back in
for a visit. And we get to keep the comp, so they'll be able to stay in touch.
Gonna help Janie with school too. Seems we bought a lot of cred with our work
that night, and since then. I'm hardly sure that we've seen the last of reindeer
around this place; Southern hospitality, our greatest asset, y'know? We'll see. Try
to be here for next Christmas Eve. We'll wait up for them together and hoist a
holiday toast or two or three."
"Guaranteed. Make up some eggnog with that 'shine of yours. That'll get a
ho ho ho outta him."
"Better not. You nail enough folks for DUI around Christmas time."
"S' truth."
The two men looked at the two children. For all that this evening had
dumped several loader's worth of unbelievable on the table, some acceptance had
come with it. Talking flying reindeer indeed. And all that that stood for. Right in
front of them being hugged by a little girl. There might be some who could still
disbelieve, even with the proof standing there on four hooves, who would look for
how the trick was done, where the wires were attached. Nor is such skepticism
without value, and often our only defense against the falsehoods that others
would try and put over on us. Talking flying reindeer would count as a biggie.
Or there are times when skepticism ought to just stifle itself and shut up,
because there was nothing for it but to believe. Do you see now? the little fawn's
eyes said. How it really is? And why? Whatever else the world is, there is some
love in it, love for it, love that will not die.
So long as we can fly.
Slowly, the Sheriff lifted a hand and reached out, not quite realizing he was
doing so. Then he did, and hesitated.
Jillian and Janie both picked up on it. "You can pet me," Jillian said softly. "If
you got fur, you gotta like being groomed. Or scritched." She tapped a front hoof
on the floor. "Can't say these are very good for grooming."
The Sheriff reached out further and touched between Jillian's ears as she
dipped her head a bit. Now no longer any skepticism whatsoever. Touch is what
convinces us in so many things. The Sheriff petted for a moment, then put
fingernails to use and delivered that scritch. Jillian's tail flicked once or twice in
pleasure.
Faintly, just very faintly in the dark, but then getting a little stronger,
Jillian's nose was glowing.
"I've been told who your Momma is. But I think I've got a clue about who
your Daddy is too," the Sheriff whispered.
Jim folded his arms over his chest. "Gad, Holmes," he chuckled. "You know
poor Lestrade's just goin' bananas at how you figure these things out." As they all
laughed.
=============================================================================
Page 5
<<< PREV Pg 4 First Page
Category All / General Furry Art
Species Cervine (Other)
Size 270 x 270px
File Size 138.7 kB
Mucho TYs. Sometimes there are stories that just fire on all cylinders, and you
know it while you're writing 'em. Exhibit A, right here.
There's a novella-sized sequel in progress (that's more in a furry vein) but couldn't
get it finished in time for this Xmas. So went back to this, edited fiercely,
and said let's post it. Win.
Surely I can finish the sequel before next Xmas? We-ll, considering who's writing
it, let's not be too definite about that. But should get it. Alternately,
there's a couple of other Xmas items from SexyFur that should be
looked at.
Onwards into 2014!! (And finishing Backstage, damn it. :- ) )
FB
●●●●●●●●●●
The FA Writers Directory v 1.0
know it while you're writing 'em. Exhibit A, right here.
There's a novella-sized sequel in progress (that's more in a furry vein) but couldn't
get it finished in time for this Xmas. So went back to this, edited fiercely,
and said let's post it. Win.
Surely I can finish the sequel before next Xmas? We-ll, considering who's writing
it, let's not be too definite about that. But should get it. Alternately,
there's a couple of other Xmas items from SexyFur that should be
looked at.
Onwards into 2014!! (And finishing Backstage, damn it. :- ) )
FB
●●●●●●●●●●
The FA Writers Directory v 1.0
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