The Flying Sleigh

It was a cold, misty morning in early December, and Daniel bear was visiting his friend Hoppy rabbit.

- Amitabh Shankar Roy Choudhury

"Good morning, friend!" Daniel greeted Hoppy. "How are your preparations for Christmas coming along? Are you all set to become Santa?" Hoppy was chosen to be Santa that year, and Daniel was excited for his friend.

"Yes, but I'm facing a dilemma," Hoppy replied.

"Tell me about it," Daniel put his hand around Hoppy's shoulder, "Maybe I can help."

"I have the sleigh and the reindeer ready, but they can only run through the jungle. They cannot fly! I attached model planes at the base of the sleigh, but they are not working. What do I do now?" Hoppy said worriedly.

Daniel took a sip of coffee from his mug and pondered for a while. Then he said, "Your nephew Hector is a pilot in Germany, isn't he? Why don't we ask him how to make a sleigh fly?"

"Good idea! But he might be fast asleep now. Germany is three-anda-half hours behind us."

They waited until noon to call, and when the phone rang, Hector rabbit answered, "Guten Tag! Hector here, what can I do for you?"

Hoppy and Daniel took turns explaining what they wanted.

Hector heard them out and said, "Uncle Hoppy, I'm going to send you six more model planes. Build a lightweight sleigh and attach the planes underneath it.

Uncle Daniel, you will have to handle the remote-control and operate this sleigh from the ground. Make sure you conduct a trial flight!"

As promised, Hector sent them six remote-controlled planes within a few days. Hoppy and Daniel crafted a sleigh and attached the six planes underneath it.

They chose nine young deer to stand in for Santa's reindeers Dasher, Dancer and Prancer, and made soft velvet antlers for them to wear.

Daniel gave the fully-assembled sleigh a trial flight, and the nine deer had no trouble staying airborne with it.