ONCE in the North Pole, a little reindeer called Robbie, Rudolf's son in fact, was lying on his bed of straw, in his stall in a a stable with all the other reindeer.

It wasn't night but he was just resting from pulling a sledge for Santa's children. He only pulled a sledge to entertain them and to give them rides, but anyway he wasn't strong enough to pull the sleigh, or that's what Santa said.

He lay there for a while thinking about how great it would be to pull the sleigh. Suddenly he jumped up. I'll go and ask Santa a few questions!" he said loudly, not meaning to wake Blitzen, who was in the stall by him sleeping. "Shut up!" groaned Blitzen, "I'm sleeping. I'm getting strength to pull Santa's sleigh." And he laughed nastily.

Robbie crept out of the stable trying not to wake anybody else but somehow he managed to wake everybody except Prancer who never heard anything.

"Robbie!" They all shouted "We are sleeping!"

"Sorry" stuttered Robbie.

He found Santa packing presents on to the sleigh. "Hello Robbie!" laughed Santa in his jolly voice, "Hard time you know! I have to pack all the presents! What are you doing anyway?" "Well I came to ask you a few questions." Mumbled Robbie. "Spit it out then!" laughed Santa "First will I be able to run fast when I am bigger?" "Of course you will" answered Santa. "Will I be able to do lots of things I can't do now?" "Yes" replied Santa. "Then can I pull the sleigh tonight" Robbie said slyly. Santa thought for a moment then finally he said "Well, Okay then! I'll have to find you a harness though." "Yes!" Shouted Robbie and he jumped for joy. "Lets go and tell the others that we have you on the team then" shouted Santa and that's what they did. That night Robbie's dream came true. Santa found him a lovely harness made from leather with blue gems all the way around with an extra large one on the top. "Why's that one so big?" asked Robbie. "You'll soon find out" smiled Santa and he took a penknife out of his pocket and carved on the big gem ROBBIE.

"Wow" whispered Robbie, "Can I try it on?" "yes" said Santa and he slipped it over Robbie's head.

Robbie never forgot that day and he never will.