Santa's Big Surprise

Santa's Big Surprise

Santa's known for being jolly.
He loves to play practical jokes.
He fills elf cushions with holly
or tell tall tales that are a hoax.

Like the time he told the reindeer
"to protect you while you fly
you need a special coating."
It was red and bright green dye.

Sometimes his jokes would backfire
leaving him chagrined:
he mixed beans with the deer food.
He forgot he rode downwind.

Santa's helpers held a meeting.
He needs a lesson they decided.
They loved his jolly nature
but his jokes were oft misguided.

They gathered at the Christmas tree,
hanging tinsel was their guise,
behind the bows and ribbons
they planned "Santa's Big Surprise!"

They enlisted Mrs. Claus to help
for she'd not been immune
to Santa's prankster nature
so the next late afternoon ...

She came rushing in, quite troubled,
yelling at him in his bed.
"You've overslept – Christmas is here!"
Get moving's what she said.

He leapt right up, into his suit,
and ran to pack the sleigh.
All was prepared, the reindeer hitched,
and he was on his way.

"On Dasher, Dancer," he exclaimed
as he flew through the sky.
It wasn't until Canada
he realized it was July!

Santa has learned his lesson,
at least that's what he said.
Still the elves have a backup plan –
whoopee cushions for his sled.

An entry for Day 8, "Invalid Item" 
Prompt: Write a short story or poem that includes the following words: reindeer, fly, trouble, red, green, tree, ribbon, and tinsel.
Line Count: 40