Next up is Blitzen. Moral of this story is: Listen to others. They may be able to tell you bigger lies about yourself than you believed possible.

Sponsored by Blogdramedy, each story will be about one of Santa’s reindeer and must be exactly 243 words long. Many other bloggers are taking part. The list follows the story, if you would like to check out other stories and compare.

Blitzen.

Blitzen, diagnosed with PPD (Paranoid Personality Disorder), hid his affliction long enough to be taken on by Team Clause. But once he was surrounded by eight other reindeer, he was the odd buck out, befriended only by Dancer, who was, with her gender-identification issues, the butt of a few jokes of her own.

Blitzen and Dancer bobbed in the grog trough together, and stood side by side at the oat bucket and mash bins. Blitzen, ruled as he was by the powerful notion the other bucks talked about him, overreacted shamefully, constantly looking over his haunches, to see who was grazing together, gossiping about his shortcomings.

One day he found Dasher and Prancer together, as they whispered.

Dancer, sobbed Blitzen. They say my rack is a blighty joke!

No, Blitzen, no, said Dancer. They say your rack is a mighty oak.

The following day it was Comet and Cupid who did not make eye contact.

Oh, Dancer, mewed Blitzen. They say my chin is too big!

No, Blitzen, no, said Dancer. They say you are thin as a twig.

And that same night, he heard Vixen and Rudolph.

Oh, Dancer, cried Blitzen. They say I fly slow as a turtle!

No, Blitzen, no, said Dancer. They say you don’t fly but you hurtle.

Finally, Blitzen, convinced that he was wrong and Dancer right, smiled, ditched his excessive compulsions, became the lithe, strong buck he was meant to be and lived successfully ever after.

 Steve Betz – the holiday mixer.

Rewind Revise – newly married and on her very own joy train.

Lenore Diane – thoughts from the Elf Queen herself.

Shouts from the Abyss – Tom’s on a mission to blighten your holiday season.

Fit it or Deal – Amy Severson bringing it robot-style.

Lynn Schneider Books – Lynn, the BlogFestivus newbie.

1 Point Perspective – the Bruce Willis of WordPress.

So I Went Undercover – she’s undercover and that’s all I’ll say about that.

Joe Owen’s Blog – he’s got forty-something eyes. Not Betty Davis eyes.

MC’s Whispers – Maria-Christina works in PR. What kind of “spin” will she put on this writing challenge?

LittleWonder2  – a musical surfing vampire lover. I know.

Blog It or Lose It! – One word. Minecraft.

Voice in Me – Reena’s from India…where reindeer go on vacation.

Apprentice, never master – Gwendolyn, the fearless.

A Year of Daily Posts – Sarah, the paperback writer (three manuscripts but they count.)

Diary of a Sensitive Soul – Immie, blogging from the U.K. (Why am I feeling Bruce Springsteen?)

Dot Knows! – Liz, the life changer.

k8edid – oh, yes. She did.

The Day After — A musing wannabe.

A Spoonful of Suga — Making reality sexy.