\u2018We\u2019re going to be late because of you again!\u2019 Rudolf stamped his foot impatiently.
\n\u2018We\u2019ve never been late before,\u2019 said Father Christmas teasingly, a mischievous grin playing at the corner of his mouth.
\n\u2018Of course not! Because we gallop and run!\u2019 muttered the horse under his breath.
\n-See! Anyway, I\u2019ve still got loads to do: I\u2019ve got to comb my beard, pack my bag, and my glasses aren\u2019t even clean!
\n\u2018You know we\u2019ve got to get there! On time! By 5 December!\u2019 Rudi rolled his eyes
\n\u2018There? Where?\u2019 Santa raised his head, looking a little uneasy, as he wasn\u2019t entirely sure of the timetable.
\n-To Patca! To Katica Farm! At 3 o\u2019clock!!!!!
\n-Oh! Well, we might actually have to get a move on then \u2013 it\u2019s a bit of a way!
\n\u2018I told you so! I told you!\u2019 grumbled Rudolf, though at the same time he noted with satisfaction that they had started packing the bags.
\n\u2018Have you sent the letters?\u2019 asked the old man.
\n\u2018What letters?\u2019 \u2013 a look of horror spread across Rudolf\u2019s face. He wasn\u2019t in the habit of making mistakes, and now that the possibility had arisen, he didn\u2019t feel too good about it.
\n\u2018The ones where I asked the children to draw themselves with me!\u2019 he replied nonchalantly, whilst carefully combing his beard.
\n\u201cOh! Of course! The little sleigh-puller breathed a sigh of relief. After all, I finished that ages ago!\u201d \u2013 but his mind was already elsewhere. He ran through his list of completed tasks: packing his rucksack: tick, combing his beard: tick, Katica Tanya is far away, 5 December is nearly here, the letters about the drawings are sorted. Only his glasses are still missing\u2026 he realised nervously.
\n\u2018Can we finally set off?\u2019 asked Father Christmas, having forgotten the last thing he needed to do before setting off.
\n\u2018I\u2019ve still got a bit of work to do,\u2019 said Rudi, and, amidst a great clatter of hooves, he rode off, only to reappear a short while later wearing Santa\u2019s spotless spectacles.
\n\u2018I only cleaned it for you so that you could see the drawings of you clearly on 5 December at Katica Farm,\u2019 he said sarcastically, and stormed off to the front of the sledge.
\n\u2018Oh dear, these reindeer are such a bother!\u2019 sighed Father Christmas, and with a smile he closed the door behind him. He knew a lovely afternoon awaited him at Katica Farm, and not even Rudi could spoil it.<\/p>\n