Rudolph - The Red Nose Reindeer Part 2

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Previously on Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer.
Despite being laughed at by his peers for his bright nose, Rudolph was approached by Santa to guide his sleigh on a foggy Christmas Eve. This new status won Rudolph a lot of friends who proclaimed “Ruddie you’ll go down in history.”

One Year Later.

Rudolf  scratched his nose and sighed. No missed calls, no texts, nothing. He hadn’t heard from Santa for 363 days and counting. He looked at the weather app on his phone. Christmas Eve was forecast to be bright and clear, no need for a washed up old reindeer then. 
He watched the rest of the herd playing their reindeer games. How long had it taken them to ostracise him again? A month? Six weeks? As soon as it became clear he wasn’t going to be able to get them jobs with old SC, they were back to calling him names. Baboon Bumface was their favourite, but there were plenty to choose from.  
“Go down in history, my arse.” He mumbled to himself, He took another swig of vodka.
“Hey Rudolf easy on the booze,” Daimler called to him,  “it’s no wonder you’ve got a red nose,” the others laughed. Rudolf just took another swig and snoffed at the pack. 
It was his own fault of course. When he’d got back that night, he’d let the success go to his head. Arrogant they called him; he preferred to say he enjoyed the trappings of fame. But old St Nic had been so nice to him, promised to call him, to give him a job on the team. But the call never came. He felt used, abused. 

Christmas Eve - the sun shone in the sky and Rudolf’s head thumped. He should have taken Daimler’s advice and gone easy on the vodka. He was sweating beneath the winter coat; bloody global warming would be the death of him.
He looked up at the sky; there was no chance of mist or fog tonight and even if Santa did come what would Rudolf do? He knew deep down inside he’d go; did he have no pride, no dignity?   As the day progressed the cloud cover grew; maybe, just maybe thought Rudolph. Nah, no point in hoping, he decided to have an early night. 
“Where the bloody hell is Rudolf?” Santa boomed. Daimler and the others looked around and shrugged. They’d be far too busy playing Reindeer hide and seek to notice where the drunk old deer had sloped off to. 
“Rudolph!” Santa cried. 
Rudolph staggered to his feet. it was wet and misty, but he didn’t mind. His nose lit the way.
“What do you want?” he said. 
“Come on I need you.  Look at this weather and my Sat Nav is broken.” 
Rudolph hesitated. His herd were dancing around with glee: “go on Ruddie” they cried. “you’ll go down in history.” 
“Thanks for the offer, but no,” Rudolph said and turned his back.
“What?” roared Santa.
“What? roared Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Dunder and Blixem. 
“What?” roared Daimler and the rest of Rudolph’s herd.
“You heard me,” said Rudolph. “I said no! I’m not going to do it. Get a torch, use your mobile, I don’t know. And look at you lot, he turned to his own herd, suddenly I’m your friend again. I’ve got a red nose, not leprosy. Well fuck off, fuck off the lot of you.” With that, he slinked off back to his hiding place and settled down to go to sleep. 
Rudolph didn’t sleep too well, he didn’t regret what he’d done, but then again he did. He’d go down in history as the petulant one, the bolshie one. He’d cut off his red nose to spite his face. 
“Hey Rudolph!” he looked up and saw Daimler coming towards him.
“Fuck off,” Rudolph said and turned his back on him.
“No Rudolph listen. I really liked what you did last night. You know, you’re right. We’ve been bastards. We’ve had a chat and we’re sorry.” Daimler pushed a box of carrots. towards Rudolph, “these are for you.” 
Rudolph looked at him suspiciously. 
“We’re gonna play Reindeer hopscotch later, come and have a game?”
“I’ll think about it,” Rudolph said.
“Oh, there’s someone here to see you.” 
A man came through the woods. At first, Rudolf didn’t recognise him without the red suit. 
“Oh it’s you,” Rudolph said. 
Santa held out a hand. “I’m really sorry, I just didn’t think,” he said. “Peace?”
Rudolph’s frown turned upside down. He held out a hoof. “Peace,” he agreed.