The Dog That Saved Santa (Christmas Story)

Bedtime with Mrs.

Honeybee.

Today,

In the Honeybee neighborhood,

We're counting down to Christmas.

I've been counting down the days since the summer.

It's almost time!

I've just added a little treat to your stocking,

Melody Bee.

Don't you peek until Christmas morning!

Mr.

Honeybee,

I would never!

Christmas gift rule number one,

Ahem,

No peeking!

Yes,

Harold,

I put a few treats in your stocking too.

Before Mrs.

Honeybee comes back downstairs,

I need to finish wrapping her present.

Melody Bee,

Can you help me with that?

Buzz,

Buzz,

Buzz.

All you have to do is close your eyes,

Get cozy,

And listen to the sound of my voice.

Mrs.

Honeybee will be your guide.

Let's begin.

You are here,

Walking along the sidewalk up to our driveway on a chilly Christmas Eve afternoon.

Clouds blanket the sky but offer little warmth to you on the ground,

So you wrap your coat and your scarf in closer to feel even cozier.

Take a slow,

Deep breath in through your nose.

Feel your chest and your spirits lift as Christmas draws near.

Then,

Slowly,

Breathe all the way out through your mouth and scope out which puddles you want to splash along the sidewalk.

The sun peeks out from behind the clouds little by little,

But not enough to dry the deep puddles from all this rain.

You're sure not to leave a puddle unsplashed on your way to our house,

But stop when you hear someone splashing the puddles behind you.

Before you can turn around,

Opie,

The opposite elf,

Reaches up to your hand that's swinging by your side unheld.

Hey there,

Old friend.

Are you excited for Christmas?

Don't you just love it?

Doesn't it just feel like all is right in this wobbly world of ours?

Wish I could enjoy this Christmassy feeling with you,

But we have a job to do,

And fast.

Opie squeezes your hand and leads you up the driveway,

Following in the tiny footprints he leaves on the ground.

He knocks on the door and doesn't wait long at all until he knocks yet again.

What's taking them so long?

We do not have time.

They had to have received Mr.

Claus's transmission.

As always,

Harold answers the door with his bark first to alert Melody Bay.

Then,

Also like always,

She tries her little hands at the locks once more,

Hoping Roger Robot hasn't updated them.

While Melody Bay fumbles with the door lock and Harold urges her to hurry,

A smile comes across Opie's face that quells all the urgency he felt.

Aw,

He's the one.

How could I forget about Harold,

The opposite reindeer?

Opie,

So nice to see you.

Are you excited?

This is your time to shine.

This is my time,

And I am certainly shining,

But that is beside the point for today.

I need help,

And you,

My little friend.

Mr.

Honeybee and I join Melody Bay and Harold at the door,

Just as surprised to see Opie there too.

Opie,

How are you?

So nice of you to stop by.

Come in,

Come in.

How is your first Christmas stationed at the North Pole going?

Time is unfortunately not permitting.

I wish it was.

I just need to borrow this little guy for a moment.

You need to borrow Harold?

What?

He looks to be the opposite of a reindeer to me.

No antlers and thus no signal,

No flying capabilities,

Certainly not enough fur for polar winters.

And Harold is a dog,

Not an opposite reindeer.

Are you looking for a reindeer by chance,

Opie?

Precisely!

Oh,

I get it.

He's looking for a reindeer.

So,

He needs Harold's help?

Actually,

I don't get it.

Why do you need a reindeer?

Is something wrong at the North Pole?

Very wrong!

A logistics nightmare!

I am down a very crucial reindeer.

Looked everywhere for a replacement,

Found none.

You find me here on your doorstep as a friend,

Albeit a new one who is in desperate need of help.

We'll do anything we can,

Opie.

Just say the word.

Or words,

If it's kind of long.

Harold,

That's it in one word.

But with the allowance of a sentence or two,

I'd say,

I need a creature capable of bringing a sleigh full of joy to the entire world in a single evening.

Specifically,

This evening.

And specifically,

I need someone at the front of the sleigh for Santa.

How does that sound,

Little guy?

That sounds like a yes,

And not an opposite one.

Excellent!

Mr Santa Claus and a world full of expectant people thank you in advance,

Kind sir.

Harold hears the importance of this task in Opie's voice and feels as if his moment has come.

He runs out of the doorway on a mission.

Where do you think he went?

Jetpacks.

And probably one other thing.

After a moment,

Harold rounds the corner,

Dashing and prancing through the house with an elegance we haven't seen from him before.

He arrives at our feet,

Already strapped into his jetpack and wearing a red blinking nose.

Melody B buzzes down to honk Harold's nose and the two get distracted playing an impromptu game of laser tag using Harold's nose.

Sorry.

Together,

Opie helps us help Harold get ready for his big night.

Harold looks to you for a reminder of his courage and capability so you're sure to let him know how confident you are that he will do a wonderful job as a lead reindeer,

Especially with such short notice.

Take another slow,

Deep breath in through your nose.

Feel the sensation of your heart beating once,

Twice,

Three times as the source of your courage.

Then,

Slowly,

Breathe all the way out through your mouth and send all of the encouragement you have to Harold as he begins a Christmas Eve marathon.

First up are the reindeer games.

Opie sets up an obstacle course for Harold to run that will acclimate him to how the reindeers will take off and land.

Harold,

Hear me.

Reindeer legs are much longer than opposite reindeer legs,

So you will need to account for this at each launch and landing so all of my reindeer don't land too hard on their hooves.

It's confusing at first and of the utmost importance,

But I promise you it will get easier.

One by one,

Each of us gives Harold our slice of expertise.

You and I remind Harold how to focus his mind to do what he has set his heart to do.

Mr.

Honeybee fine-tunes the jet pack and shows Harold tricks for how to limit the flames so as not to crisp up the reindeer that follow him.

You will need to fly in solar mode.

Luckily,

They're all charged up and can run off a special generator that processes moonlight if needed.

You're good to go for the whole night,

Little guy.

Last but not least,

Melody Bee spends a lot of time with Harold ensuring he won't reach the point of flutter exhaustion.

She's felt it before and knows exactly how to avoid it.

It's all about the breeze,

Harold.

You have to lean into the breeze wherever you find it.

Melody Bee licks the tip of her finger and puts it up to the wind to see which way the breeze is flowing.

Harold then practices catching it to give the jet packs and his little paws a much-needed break if needed.

Roger Robot,

Just waking up from a power cycle,

Sees that Opie has returned and joins us at the end of the driveway where Harold just successfully completed the obstacle course in record time.

Opie,

You're back!

Wait,

Why is Harold's nose flashing?

Is something opposite happening right now?

Harold,

The opposite reindeer,

Is going to be my stand-in lead reindeer tonight,

The most important night of the year!

We're helping Harold prepare.

Do you have anything to add,

Roger?

It's like you guys don't even know me.

I could transform Harold into a reindeer just like that.

Before our eyes,

Roger Robot transforms Harold into a reindeer among reindeer who requires no special training,

No friendly assistance,

And no preparation.

Harold the reindeer snarls and thrashes his horns back and forth,

Angry at the transformation.

Okay,

Okay,

I'll turn you back.

I thought I was helping.

Here.

Back to not a reindeer.

Opposite reindeer.

Fine.

If you won't let me help by transforming,

Then at least take this optimized mat.

It has all your stops to get you home the fastest.

You make me proud,

Little guy.

Harold takes the digital map that plugs into a port on his collar that he will use for navigation,

In addition to his blinking nose.

While Mr.

Honeybee helps him insert the device,

Melody Bee asks a question that we're all thinking.

Harold,

You don't want to be a reindeer reindeer?

Wouldn't that be much,

Much easier,

Little guy?

Harold barks back to say that he can do whatever he sets his mind to as an opposite reindeer.

He wants to practice and challenge himself and do something that doesn't seem possible.

Though he's grateful to have friends that help him in so many ways,

He knows he can do this as himself.

And we do,

Too.

As the sun begins to set,

It's time for Harold and Opie to return to the North Pole.

The world awaits opposite reindeer.

Let's get flying!

Before Harold takes off down the driveway,

We all hug him goodbye,

Knowing that he will do a great job.

After her hug,

Melody Bee reaches her tiny hand out to honk Harold's nose once again.

But this time,

It doesn't.

It appears that the red blinking nose has fused with Harold's snout.

He did transform after all.

Look at him go!

We watch as Harold charges to the end of the driveway with a full sleigh behind him.

He leaps into the evening sky,

And the sleigh follows.

Harold soars into the sky,

Looking forward to the challenging night ahead of him,

But one that he is ready for.

All that's left to do now is bake the cookies for Santa Claus and go to sleep so Christmas morning gets here as fast as possible.

We are so excited to hear about Harold's journey and to open all the presents he delivers as the best opposite reindeer this world has ever seen.

Always remember,

Mrs.

Honey Bee believes in you.

You are special,

And you are loved.

I can't wait to see you again.