The Magic Christmas Reindeer Bell

The Magic Christmas Reindeer Bell : A Holiday Adventure

By Steven J. Culver December 24, 2003

Illustrated by Mark McBrearty

It was a crisp cold Christmas Eve morn. Jack and his father set out across the gleaming white snow in search of their holiday tree. The sun shone brightly from a clear blue sky, igniting sparkly diamonds in the pure snow. Jack was excited because he was going on a Christmas adventure with his dad.

He remembered sitting on the kitchen table earlier that morning licking a cookie batter spoon and watching his mother as she prepared their Christmas feast. The room was warm and steamy. The sweet smell of pumpkin pies baking wrapped him in a yummy blanket.

"I’m going on a Christmas adventure," he excitedly exclaimed.

"I know Jack. You’ll have a wonderful time, but you have to promise me you’ll be careful," his mother warned, kneeling in front of him and placing her hands on his blue jeaned thighs.

"I have something for you", mother said.

She gave his legs a little pat, stood and reached up to the cookie jar shelf to retrieve a faded red giftbox. She set the box on the table, opened it, and removed a red velvet ribbon from which hung a round silver bell. She slipped it around his neck..

" This is a Magic Christmas Reindeer Bell, it will protect you on your tree hunting adventure. If you are cold, hungry, lost, or in danger simply ring this bell and the Christmas spirit will help you," she explained, as she packed their sandwiches and cocoa into a lunch box.

Jack liked the feel of the soft ribbon around his neck, and the gentle weight of the bell. He gave it a little shake. "Jingle, jingle." They both laughed at the merry sound it made.

"Mommy, does the magic come from Santa?"

"This bell is magic because it came from Santa’s sleigh. I found it in our yard one Christmas morning when I was just about your age. My dad told me it must have fallen from Santa’s sleigh when he landed on our roof," she explained, lifting him from the table and hugging him briefly before setting him down.

"Thanks for the bell and the lunch," he shouted back over his shoulder as he went out the door with the lunch box in one hand and the bell in the other.