“Come on, Rocky! We’ll be late if you don’t speed up,” said Rosy. Rosy was Rocky’s BFF.

“For the last time, will you tell me why we’re speeding up?” said Rocky.

“Ok, fine,” said Rosy. “We’re going to try out for Santa’s B sleigh team.”

Five minutes later, Rocky and Rosy were at the tryouts. They were very excited. They had to fly and see how fast they could go. A reindeer was telling them who had gotten on the B team. They were handing out little pieces of paper. The papers told them if they had gotten on the team or not. Twenty reindeer had tried-out, so eleven of them had started to walk away. The last person who would be eliminated would be told out loud. “So, the last person to be eliminated is: Ro–ck-eo.” Rosy and Rocky were so excited! But then the coach said, “Oh wait. I read this wrong. I meant Rocky.” Rocky started to run away, so sad that he didn’t make the team.

But that Christmas, there was something bad happening. The reindeers on the A team had gone to the pond to go ice skating with Rudolph. But they were gone so long, Santa got worried. They went on a search and when they found them, they saw that the pond had cracked and the reindeer had turned into ice cubes. “Oh no,” said Santa. “You won’t be able to fly. Well, we are so lucky to have the B team. You reindeer rest up for next year.”  

But that Christmas Eve, it turned out to be a stormy, foggy night. Rudolph got up and tried to convince Santa that he could light the way, but his feet were so cold, he collapsed. Meanwhile, Rocky was so sad not to be flying with Santa, but still, he was very happy for Rosy. But suddenly, something started happening to Rocky’s nose. It started to turn brown, then greenish, then really light green, then yellow, then it faded to orange then suddenly, it lit up the whole room with bright, glowing red!

He realized what he had to do. He went to Rudolph and asked him how he convinced Santa to let him ride? Rudolph was so glad that somebody would be able to take his place. “I’m so glad somebody will be able to take my place and Santa won’t crash in the fog and get exposed to the whole world. You just need to convince Santa. Now how to do that… wait, don’t convince Santa! There is a little piece of rope at the end of the harness. If you can get it around your neck, it’s good to go. Once you’re in the sky, Santa won’t be able to come down again because he won’t have time to deliver all the presents.” 

Rocky was nervous about this suggestion. Rudolph was still very cold, and he was talking a little cuckoo. But he got the rope around his neck and as Santa started to take off, Rocky felt happy. All the reindeer were so thrilled to have a reindeer that could light the way. They decided to hide Rocky so Santa wouldn’t see him.

But all the reindeers, including Rocky, knew that Santa would find out at one point. So, when it came to the first house, every reindeer was nervous. As Santa walked to the chimney with a “ho-ho-ho,” he turned around and said, “Rudoph, is that you?” Rocky just went still so Rosy said, “No, Santa. This is Rocky.”

“Well, Rocky, I’m glad you snuck on. I have to admit it’s been a little brighter, and I have been able to see nicely.”

So everytime the A team did something silly and got themselves sick or way too hot, Rocky and the B team filled in!

The End