Missi was snoozing by the Christmas tree when she was woken up by a noise. It had come from the garden.
Running outside she stopped suddenly. To her surprise, she saw a pair of black boots dangling from the tree.
It was Santa, and he was stuck!
‘Ah, thank goodness, Missi! Can you help me?’ asked Santa.
Missi barked before resting her paws against the timber. She grasped Santa’s boots in her mouth and pulled and pulled until finally, he broke free. He landed heavily with a groan, flicking snow all over Missi. She then shook herself which sprayed Santa.
‘I suppose we are even!’ Santa chuckled. ‘You have saved Christmas and I thank you. Now I must locate my sleigh. I still have a lot of presents to deliver.’
Missi barked, wagging her tail. Santa laughed as he clambered to his feet.
‘I thought you might ask that. I am afraid I fell out! The naughty reindeer tricked me and performed a sharp sideways twist. That’s how I finished up in this tree,’ he explained, staring up at the bare branches.
Missi whined and snuggled up to him. ‘I agree, but no harm has been done.’
He scanned the star covered sky and located his sleigh. ‘Now that you have had your fun, get back down here,’ he shouted to his reindeer.
With a whoosh, they landed.
‘I suppose you thought that was funny?’ said Santa.
The reindeer nodded making their bells jingle.
‘Well, now that you have wasted so much of my time, your dinner is going to be delayed!’
The reindeer lowered their heads and looked sad. Santa chuckled.
‘Now I must be off. Thank you again, Missi. I don’t know what I would have done without your help.’
Missi barked and jumped up to his chest, giving him a long lick.
Santa laughed before climbing onto his sleigh. With a flick of the reins, he was up and away, to disappear into the night.

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