The Legend of Boofus & Goofus

Way back in hinterland, somewhere near the Arctic Circle, the whereabouts of Santa’s home, there were a very special group of reindeer. From this group of reindeer, Santa had chosen his team of reindeer which had guided his sleigh for years and years. More recently, he had picked Rudolph to guide his sleigh, and we all know his story; but very few had known the story of Boofus and Goofus... until now. It all began many years ago, when Santa had noticed that a certain group of reindeer had very special abilities. Some could fly and some had special gifts, such as Rudolph, with his bright and shiny nose. Now, Beulah and Godfrey were from this very special group, and Beulah, very unexpectantly, found out that she was expecting a baby reindeer. They obviously were very excited and assumed they would have a very special baby, because each one of them had special gifts. Beulah had a soft blue glowing nose, whereas Godfrey had a soft green glowing nose, and both of them had bright shiny white tails. From time to time, Beulah would feel a bump and then another bump in her side. Her bump, bump was similar to what her lady reindeer friends had told her, when one was going to have a baby, but yet somehow this was different. Little did she know the significance of the bump, bump. This she would find out later. Her pregnancy went well until the grand and glorious day arrived! Out popped a baby boy reindeer with a soft blue glowing nose and Beulah and Godfrey were very happy, thankful and excited. But wait- “What’s happening?”, Beulah said, “I believe there is another one coming” and out popped number two – a baby boy reindeer with a soft glowing green nose. Both baby reindeer looked the same - identical twins – except for the color of their noses. Both Beulah and Godfrey were stunned! Now they understood the bump, bump. They had only planned their stall for one – now they had two. They had planned the simple name of Tabor, if it were a boy, or Merry (for Merry Christmas) if it were a girl. Now they would need two names. Godfrey suggested Naber (to rhyme with Tabor), because they would be close neighbors, so to speak, and Beulah said, “That’s silly!” Because they had noticed the babies noses would blink, Godfrey suggested Blinky and Dinky, or Stinky. Beulah said, “That’s even sillier! Can you imagine how Dinky or Stinky would get teased with a name like that?” Godfrey tried again and suggested Donny and Ronny, and Beulah said, “That’s too plain and just not unique”. Godfrey then suggested Duke and Fluke, because the second reindeer was unexpected. Beulah said, “That’s dumb!” Then in desperation, Godfrey suggested Finklestink and Stinklefink, sarcastically, and Beulah said, “That’s worse!” Finally, Beulah said in jest, “How about Boofus and Goofus?” And somehow, I think because it was Beulah’s idea, and Godfrey had given up, the names stuck and the two baby reindeers became known as Boofus and Goofus. In retrospect, what caused Beulah to come up with these names, was when the first baby was born, with the blue nose, he peeked out from behind his parents and spoke his first word – “Boo”. Thus she came up with the name Boofus. His brother, the second baby, with the green nose, standing on shaky legs, just stood there and looked goofy. Thus she came up with the name Goofus. Beulah apparently had a premonition, in that Boo (in Boofus) seemed appropriate, because it means to startle, and Boofus later on would startle many a reindeer with his many pranks. Goof (in Goofus) seemed fitting, because it implied a goofy individual who is sort of crazy, or silly, and he would prove this many times with his practical jokes. These names seemed to represent these young reindeer, both individually and as a pair. So, from henceforth, these soon to be infamous, then to be famous – pair, became known and renowned as Boofus and Goofus!...