Karen's Reindeer by Ann M. Martin

Author:Ann M. Martin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2016-11-08T05:00:00+00:00

Well, this was the most beautiful, perfect tree ever, and I was not going to let Charlie’s ornament spoil it.

Quickly I stuffed the ornament into my pocket and said, “Um, excuse me, I have to go upstairs for a minute.”

I ran upstairs and shoved Charlie’s ornament under my bed, next to the newspaper with the broken shards of vase folded inside. Then I tried to forget about it. Just like the vase.

It Must Be Magic

Before climbing into bed that night, I pulled back my curtain. I felt terrible. (Sometimes when you feel terrible, it helps to look out a window.) I knew hiding Charlie’s ornament had been bad. It was Christmastime, I was trying my hardest, and I was still doing bad things.

I took one last look at the twinkling lights Daddy had strung everywhere. They were shining on the snow.

Suddenly, through the window, what should I see but — the reindeer again. This was the second night in a row!

I ran downstairs and found Charlie in the kitchen. He was fixing himself a snack — a giant glass of milk and a sandwich about the size of a brick.

“Charlie!” I said breathlessly.

“Karen!” he said, imitating me. “What is up?”

“The reindeer is in the backyard and I forgot to feed him and he might be hungry but if I go out there now he might be scared and run away and I do not know what to do,” I said in a rush.

“Whoa, slow down,” said Charlie. “The reindeer is in the backyard, and what is the problem?”

I explained again, slightly more slowly this time. Then I dragged Charlie to the kitchen window.

Just as we reached the window, I saw a flash of motion in the backyard. And then the reindeer was gone.

“Did you see that?” I practically screamed.

“Mwahf?” said Charlie, his mouth full of salami and tomato and lettuce and bread.

“What?” I said.

He swallowed. “I said, What? Did I see what?”

“The reindeer! He was right there! You could not have missed him!”

Charlie shook his head and took another bite. “Norry, Yarum.” He swallowed. “Sorry, Karen. I did not see him.” He patted my head. “But I believe you did. Honestly. So let’s throw some food out there for him. It is a terrible thing to be hungry.” He took another huge bite of sandwich and swallowed.

How could the reindeer disappear like that? I wondered. Did it have some magical powers? Well, I mean, of course it did. It was Santa’s special flying reindeer.

“There is some celery in the fridge that is looking limp,” Charlie said. “It will be just right for the reindeer. You go back to bed. I will put out the celery, okay?”

I nodded. “Okay.” I started to leave, then paused in the doorway. “Thanks, Charlie. You are the best.”

Charlie smiled. “No problem.”

I went back to my room. I was still worried about whether my reindeer would find his way back to the North Pole. But at least I knew he would not go hungry tonight. I could worry about my bad behavior instead.

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