Chez was doing his normal routine this cold December morning of watching the birds in the garden eating their food,  and keeping an eye out for stray cats who might sneak through the fence to try to catch them.

He was beginning to wish they would hurry up and finish, so they could fly away and he could go inside and warm his paws by the fire.

 

Suddenly he noticed an old man with a white beard dressed in a duffle coat, wearing a flat cap that had white curly hair trying to escape from underneath it.

 “Hello” said the old man, “you’re a fine looking Border Collie, what’s your name?”

 Chez was rather startled, he could understand every word the stranger said.  “I’m Chez”, he said, “I live here and one of my jobs is to make sure the birds are fed properly”.

 “And a very important job too”, said the old man.  “You do it very well.  I’ve never seen healthier birds”.

 “I’ve never seen you around here before” said Chez.

 “No”, said the old man with a smile on his face, “I only come round once a year, and it’s late at night when you are fast asleep.  But this year I thought I’d come during the daytime for a look at the Street.  You see, last year, I got lost going up and down the terraces and looking for houses and flats, especially those with central heating, trying to figure out how to make my deliveries”.

 “I know the Street pretty well” said Chez. “I’ve lived here for four years and twice every day I take the missus for a walk all around. I could easily guide you”.

 The old man thought for a minute, chuckled, and said “By jingo, Chez, I’m going to take you up on that offer. Can you meet me and my group tomorrow night at midnight?”

 “How many are there in your group” asked Chez,  “don’t forget tomorrow is Christmas and you mustn’t make any noise, because people will be in bed trying to sleep” he added.

 “Oh, ho, we’ll be as quiet as mice; there will be eight of us; Prancer, and Dancer, Donner and Blitzen, Comet and Vixen, oh and Rudolph.

He has a red nose and leads the way. Oh  and they’ll all be pulling a sleigh!”

 Chez looked at the old man askance. “This I’ve got to see!” he thought...

He was wondering how he was going to meet the old man when he got back indoors. The cat was looking at him curiously. She was a portly creature and was always being nosy about his activities so he decided to say nothing and keep her guessing! She had given him an idea.

 

The following night, when all in the house were abed, Chez slipped through the large cat flap, and hopped over the fence, just as the clock on the church struck midnight.

Suddenly, from out of the sky came a red light, followed by a sleigh being pulled by a herd of …reindeer ! Chez gasped. Sitting on the sleigh was the old man, dressed in a long red coat and hat, trimmed with white fur.

 

“Glad you could make it Chez” called the old man quietly, “Now no time to waste, we’ve a lot to do. How do you want to go about it ??”

 “Well, said Chez” feeling important, “I’ll run behind you and shout  softly “Away”, or “Come bye” when I want you to turn left or right”. Excellent”, said the old man, “Come on then, and not too much noise everyone”.

 

 

 

They carried on up the Street, in and out of the terraces, until finally all the deliveries were made and the sleigh was almost empty.

 

“Thank you, Chez, that was a job well done”, said the old man. Before we go I have a present for you, a special one to say “Good Night and Thank you” from Santa and all his helpers”!!!

 

 

Santa gave Chez a large brightly coloured paper bag ….

 

   ...and with that the sleigh swooped up into the sky

...and was away again before he could reply!

The following morning, when the house awoke, the family found Chez fast asleep under the Christmas Tree … with an empty, brightly coloured ‘doggy bag’ by his nose ….. and a look of complete happiness on his face.

 

Chez had already had a

very  Happy Christmas !!!