The Christmas Party

	The Christmas Party was exciting.  It was the first time Jay came
to one of Jill and Tom's parties.  They throw one every Christmas season.
Jay had always been out of town visiting family the previous years.  Jill
and Tom were thrilled that Jay could come this year.
	Many people from the office were there, along with other friends
and neighbors.  Everybody was having a good time.  Jay was having the time
of his life.  He even got to know Mary better.  Mary worked in the same
"cubicle maze" that Jay and Tom worked.  But before tonight, Jay never got
to know her very well.
	"Ok everybody!" shouted Tom.  "It's time to get ready for the
sleigh ride."  Everybody cheered.
	"We even get to have a sleigh ride?" Tom asked Mary.
	"Yeah," replied Mary, "it's the most popular part of these
Christmas parties."
	Jill continued with the sleigh ride announcement.  "Let's see
who's going to have the honors this year."  Bill held up a box.  Jill
reached inside and pulled out a slip of paper.  "It's Jay!"
	Jay was surprised.  It was his first Christmas party with Jill and
Tom, and he got the honors this year.  "What does that mean?" Jay asked
Mary.
	"You'll see.  I'm sure you will enjoy it," encouraged Mary.  "Now,
go up there."  She pushed up toward Jill and Tom.
	Jay walked over to where Jill and Tom were standing.  "I'll be
back with the prize," said Jill walking toward the kitchen door.  She came
back with a glass of some dark drink.  Here you go, Jay," she said handing
the glass to Jay.
	"Go ahead, Jay," said Tom.  "Drink up.  We all want to go ride in
the sleigh."
	"What is it?" asked Jay.
	"It's the honorary drink," replied Jill.
	Jay smelled of the drink.  It didn't smell bad.  Sort of a
chocolate flavor.  He held up the glass and said, "Here goes nothing."  He
swallowed the drink in one gulp.  It was a chocolate drink.  It tasted
pretty good.  Then the room started spinning.
	"That stuff works quick," he heard Jill say.  Then everything went
dark.
	Jay woke up outside on the snowy ground.  Mary was sitting by him.
"Jay, you awake?" she asked.
	Jay nodded.  That drink must have really been spiked.  His head
seemed heavy.
	"Try to stand up," she instructed.
	Jay tried to stand, but he was off balance.  Mary helped him to
his feet.  All four of them.  Jay looked at what used to be his hands and
saw hooves.  His body was covered with brown fur, and he felt something on
the top of his head.
	"How are you feeling?" asked Mary.
	Jay tried to respond, but all that came out was bellows and
grunts.
	"Don't worry, Jay.  You will return back to your former self by
tomorrow."
	"Ok, Jay.  We're ready!" yelled Tom.  Jay looked back and saw that
he was hooked up to the sleigh.  There were four people in it at the time.
"Jay, all you have to do is pull the sleigh on the route.  Then we will
return and pick up new passengers," instructed Tom.  "You ready?"
	Jay nodded.  "Ok, off we go!" shouted Tom.  He hopped into the
sleigh and picked up the reins.
	Jill and Mary stayed at the house with the other guests waiting to
ride.  They watched Jay happily pull the sleigh while the passengers were
singing carols.
	"I think Jay is taking it pretty well," said Jill.
	"Yeah, he does seem to enjoy it," said Mary. "What was the drink
this year?  Why didn't he changed into a reindeer as usual?"
	"We couldn't find the Reindeer Ale.  All we could find was
Chocolate Moose."
	Jay didn't mind being a moose pulling the sleigh of singing
people.  He was happy that he was playing a big part in the Christmoose
party.