BlogFestivus 2012 – Vixen

BlogFestivus 2012 – 243 words – 9 days – 9 Reindeer (wait, are there 9?)

Vixen left the gym and headed to the spa.  She had to work out twice as hard as her male counterparts to keep in shape, especially since her propensity for drinking the fellas under the table perpetuated her tendency toward saddlebags .  Between the training regimen for her annual gig on the sleigh team, maintaining her blog and cranking out stories for the local rag – the Arctic Circle, there weren’t enough hours in the day.  Unfortunately, none of those enterprises were lucrative – her creditors were getting a little testy.

With her hooves soaking and a hot oil treatment on her luxurious coat, Vixen sipped a lichen tea.  She wondered how she was going to come up with the rent money – the paper had cut her hours and Santa had threatened to cut staff since that red-nosed rabble-rouser had tried unionizing the elves.  She hoped her debit card could cover today’s spa visit – the credit cards were all maxed out.  Between the Pole dancing lessons, increasing costs for her high-maintenance look, and her love of harness bling Vixen was in deep deer doo-doo in the credit arena.

She held her breath as the receptionist swiped her card…and it wasn’t rejected.  She had ten days till Christmas and the next paycheck.  Time to reap the benefits of the plan she’d worked out so carefully.  She replaced the card in her wallet and smiled to herself.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

These fine folks are also participating in the BlogFestivus 2012 writing contest.  Check it out!

Blogdramedy – The Hostess with the mostest

Steve Betz – the holiday mixer.

Rewind Revise – newly married and on her very own joy train.

Lenore Diane — thoughts from the Elf Queen herself.

Shouts from the Abyss – Tom’s on a mission to blighten your holiday season.

Fix it or Deal — Amy Severson bringing it robot-style.

Lynn Schneider Books — Lynn, the BlogFestivus newbie.

1 Point Perspective — the Bruce Willis of WordPress.

So I Went Undercover — she’s undercover and that’s all I’ll say about that.

Joe Owen’s Blog — he’s got forty-something eyes. Not Betty Davis eyes.

MC’s Whispers – Maria-Christina works in PR. What kind of “spin” will she put on this writing challenge?

LittleWonder2  – a musical surfing vampire lover. I know.

Blog It or Lose It! – One word. Minecraft.

Voice in Me — Reena’s from India…where reindeer go on vacation.

Apprentice, never master – Gwendolyn, the fearless.

A Year of Daily Posts — Sarah, the paperback writer (three manuscripts but they count.)

Diary of a Sensitive Soul — Immie, blogging from the U.K. (Why am I feeling Bruce Springsteen?)

Dot Knows! — Liz, the life changer.

A Spoonful of Suga – Making reality sexy.

Random Says – in the moment. At the moment.

BlogFestivus 2012 – Prancer

Dancer tippy-tapped his way out of the Sheriff’s Office, his well manicured hooves beating a simple rhythm.  “Dance with me, I want to be your partner.  Can’t you see, the music is just starting…” he sang out.

Sheriff Kringle pressed the intercom.  “Elf-ira, get Prancer on the phone.”

Prancer checked his reflection in the window, polishing a well-groomed antler before entering the darkened bar.  He adjusted his “deggings” and sashayed over to an empty bar stool. Cocking up one hip, he perched provocatively on the edge of the stool.  He lit a cigarette, and laid his vibrating cell phone on the bar.  He signaled the bartender for his usual – a Bi Polar-tini.  His messages flashed.  Dasher.  Dancer.  Sheriff’s office.  Comet.

Tundra turds, he thought.  This can’t be good.

Things were closing in on him.  He’d blown off the summons to the Sheriff’s office.  Heard the Sheriff was investigating the disappearance of one of the founding fathers of that right-wing reindeer club.  Like those jerks had ever really included him in their fanatic little group.  He’d been an outsider for so long.  Always the whispers.  Called on to fill out the roster of eight until…well, until the whole Rudolph thing.  Well, Prancer was no stranger to secrets.  This one would keep a little longer.

Prancer eyed the lone young buck at the far end of the bar.  Big brown eyes, button antlers, delicate ankles and tight little haunches.  He signalled the bartender for another.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

These fine folks are also participating in the BlogFestivus 2012 writing contest.  Check it out!

Blogdramedy – The Hostess with the mostest

Steve Betz – the holiday mixer.

Rewind Revise – newly married and on her very own joy train.

Lenore Diane — thoughts from the Elf Queen herself.

Shouts from the Abyss – Tom’s on a mission to blighten your holiday season.

Fix it or Deal — Amy Severson bringing it robot-style.

Lynn Schneider Books — Lynn, the BlogFestivus newbie.

1 Point Perspective — the Bruce Willis of WordPress.

So I Went Undercover — she’s undercover and that’s all I’ll say about that.

Joe Owen’s Blog — he’s got forty-something eyes. Not Betty Davis eyes.

MC’s Whispers – Maria-Christina works in PR. What kind of “spin” will she put on this writing challenge?

LittleWonder2  – a musical surfing vampire lover. I know.

Blog It or Lose It! – One word. Minecraft.

Voice in Me — Reena’s from India…where reindeer go on vacation.

Apprentice, never master – Gwendolyn, the fearless.

A Year of Daily Posts — Sarah, the paperback writer (three manuscripts but they count.)

Diary of a Sensitive Soul — Immie, blogging from the U.K. (Why am I feeling Bruce Springsteen?)

Dot Knows! — Liz, the life changer.

A Spoonful of Suga – Making reality sexy.

Random Says – in the moment. At the moment.

BlogFestivus – Dancer

“Look, Sheriff,” Dasher stammered.  “I gotta dash.  I’m taking Mrs. Claus to see Santa over at the rehab facility.”

“Not so fast.  Which of your antlered friends is missing?”  The Sheriff tapped his finger on the photo.

“I don’t have my glasses – I can’t see so clearly.  If there’s nothing else, I’m outta here.”

“Okay, send in – let’s see, Dancer, I guess.”

All right.  Sheriff, just know this…Dancer is, shall we say, a little dramatic”.

Dancer slid into the chair, crossed his legs, tilted his head and peered at the Sheriff.

“I don’t believe we’ve met.  Dancer LeDeer.”

“Yeah, yeah…let’s get down to business.  What’s wrong with this picture, Mr. LeDeer.”

“Oh, my, well let’s see.  This was taken the night of the…oh, yes.  I remember this picture.  I was trying to get the club to underwrite the musical I wrote and choreographed, Rooftop Rhapsody.”

“Musical?”  the Sheriff looked confused.

“Yes, Sheriff.  I tried to get this project underway. Introduce a little culture.  There was, um, some resistance.”

“Resistance?”

“Yes, Sheriff.  Resistance.  Fighting.  Rudolph outright refused, Vixen demanded the female lead…Donner stomped out.  Blitzen – pure diva.”  Dancer’s eyes rolled.

“Female lead?”

“Sheriff, I’ve got to run.  Dance class over at the pond.”  Dancer pushed a slipping antler with his manicured hoof.

“Whoa.  Are those fake?”

“Sheriff, nothing is what it seems.  Including that crazy photo.”

“Are you saying this picture is staged?  What kind of polar poop is going on here?”

“Sheriff…I’m done here.”

***********************************************************************************

These fine folks are also participating in the BlogFestivus 2012 writing contest.  Check it out!

Blogdramedy – The Hostess with the mostest

Steve Betz – the holiday mixer.

Rewind Revise – newly married and on her very own joy train.

Lenore Diane — thoughts from the Elf Queen herself.

Shouts from the Abyss – Tom’s on a mission to blighten your holiday season.

Fit it or Deal — Amy Severson bringing it robot-style.

Lynn Schneider Books — Lynn, the BlogFestivus newbie.

1 Point Perspective — the Bruce Willis of WordPress.

So I Went Undercover — she’s undercover and that’s all I’ll say about that.

Joe Owen’s Blog — he’s got forty-something eyes. Not Betty Davis eyes.

MC’s Whispers – Maria-Christina works in PR. What kind of “spin” will she put on this writing challenge?

LittleWonder2  – a musical surfing vampire lover. I know.

Blog It or Lose It! – One word. Minecraft.

Voice in Me — Reena’s from India…where reindeer go on vacation.

Apprentice, never master – Gwendolyn, the fearless.

A Year of Daily Posts — Sarah, the paperback writer (three manuscripts but they count.)

Diary of a Sensitive Soul — Immie, blogging from the U.K. (Why am I feeling Bruce Springsteen?)

Dot Knows! — Liz, the life changer.

A Spoonful of Suga – Making reality sexy.

Random Says – in the moment. At the moment.

BlogFestivus – A seasonal short story contest: Dasher

“Have a seat, Dancer” Sheriff Kringle waved at the empty chair across the desk from his own.

“Name’s Dasher, Sheriff.  Why’d you bring me in?”  Dasher lowered himself into the office chair, resting his hoofs on the cluttered desktop.

“Dasher, Dancer…whatever.  See this?”  Kringle tossed a photograph across the piles of paperwork.

“Yeah.  That’s us.  The Reindeer of the Icelandic Antler Club,” Dancer handed the photo back, avoiding the Sheriff’s eye.

“Well, as you can see…there are only eight reindeer. Everyone knows there are nine reindeer.  Nine.”  Kringle pulled slowly on his fluffy beard.  “I don’t know what kind of shenanigans are going on out at my brother’s place.  Kris ain’t ever been right.  The pressure.  It gets to him, especially this time of year.  But we’ve got us a missing reindeer and I’m determined to get to the bottom of this.”

“Santa has been a little overwhelmed…”

“Overwhelmed, my ass. He’s been drunker than a skunk since January” the Sheriff snorted.

“He takes a nip now and again,” Dasher admitted. “I’m sure there is a logical explanation.”

“Caribou crap.  Rudolph must’ve knocked one of you off to get a permanent spot on the team.  You all look alike, but I’m going to figure out which one is missing and what happened.  You might as well tell me what you know,” the Sheriff’s gaze was intense, his fingers drumming the desk.  “Start talking.”

Dasher scratched his antler and shifted nervously in his seat. “Well…”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Join these other bloggers to see their entries in the BlogFestivus Seasonal Short Story Contest:

Blogdramedy – The Hostess with the mostest

Steve Betz – the holiday mixer.

Rewind Revise – newly married and on her very own joy train.

Lenore Diane — thoughts from the Elf Queen herself.

Shouts from the Abyss – Tom’s on a mission to blighten your holiday season.

Fix it or Deal — Amy Severson bringing it robot-style.

Lynn Schneider Books — Lynn, the BlogFestivus newbie.

1 Point Perspective — the Bruce Willis of WordPress.

So I Went Undercover — she’s undercover and that’s all I’ll say about that.

Joe Owen’s Blog — he’s got forty-something eyes. Not Betty Davis eyes.

MC’s Whispers – Maria-Christina works in PR. What kind of “spin” will she put on this writing challenge?

LittleWonder2  – a musical surfing vampire lover. I know.

Blog It or Lose It! – One word. Minecraft.

Voice in Me — Reena’s from India…where reindeer go on vacation.

Apprentice, never master – Gwendolyn, the fearless.

A Year of Daily Posts — Sarah, the paperback writer (three manuscripts but they count.)

Diary of a Sensitive Soul — Immie, blogging from the U.K. (Why am I feeling Bruce Springsteen?)

Dot Knows! — Liz, the life changer.

A Spoonful of Suga – Making reality sexy.

Random Says – in the moment. At the moment.