The Dexter Tinker Arc 2
The Path To Patience
Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Candy Catastrophe Snowball Mixer Rodeo Toy Shop Mixup Elf-Mail Mayhem
Reindeer Rodeo
Reindeer Fields - July 2022
The sun hung lazily in the sky, casting a golden glow over Santa’s Village. The usual chill of the North was replaced with a warm summer breeze, and the gumdrop rooftops and candy-cane fences sparkled in the early evening light. July had arrived, and with it, the annual Summer Festival—an event that promised nothing less than fun, laughter, and a whole lot of chaos. This year, however, Santa had declared it was time for a proper Reindeer Rodeo.
The crowd gathered around a colorful arena, its fences adorned with vibrant pennants that swayed in the gentle breeze. The arena was set just behind the Sleigh Garage, a spacious area with bleachers made of peppermint planks, and the scent of roasted kettle nuts and snowberry slush filled the air. Reindeer handlers, some seasoned and some new, guided their prancing mounts into place, while elves in all manner of costumes bustled about preparing for the competition.
At the front of the crowd, near the entrance, stood Tilly Frothwhip, the ever-enthusiastic elf who was handing out safety waivers to anyone who would listen. With her clipboard in hand and a smile that could brighten the darkest day, Tilly was in her element. She was the one everyone turned to for a reassuring word or a bit of guidance, especially when the event was about to get chaotic—something she’d learned the hard way during the Great Sugar Rush.
“You sure you’re ready for this?” she asked a young elf as she handed over a waiver. “If you can’t rope the wooden sled, just remember: it’s all about timing and a steady hand.” Her advice was always practical, but with a hint of humor that made her a favorite among the new recruits.
Behind her, Penny Tootle, the ever-responsible elf, was keeping an eye on Dexter. He had managed to fashion a truly ridiculous cowboy outfit and was currently twirling his lasso in a dangerous and uncoordinated fashion.
“I don’t think ‘Dangerous Talent’ is quite the right name for that thing,” Penny muttered under her breath as she adjusted her safety goggles.
Tilly noticed Penny’s side-eye and leaned closer with a mischievous grin. "You don't think he's got what it takes?" she teased, just loud enough for Penny to hear.
Penny shot her a look but didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she turned her attention back to Dexter, who was now attempting to lasso a lamppost. This time, his rope caught the air, but unfortunately, it also caught a nearby candy cart, sending the lollipops soaring in all directions. Elves ducked and dived to avoid the candy missiles. One lollipop landed squarely in Bernard’s pocket, and he simply stared at it without saying a word, his eyebrow raised.
Dexter blinked. "Direct hit! I’ll call that a win."
"Always a win with you, Dexter," Bernard replied dryly, pulling the lollipop from his pocket.
Just then, Tilly turned to Dexter and, with a simpering smile, said, “Hi, Dexter, here’s a waiver form for you. Be careful out there!”
Dexter beamed at her, taking the waiver with exaggerated care, his grin widening. "Why, Tilly, you’re making me feel special today." He gave her a wink, and she fluttered her eyelashes dramatically in return.
"That’s what I’m here for," she replied, leaning in just a little too close.
Penny, having caught the exchange, crossed her arms and huffed under her breath. "He doesn’t need encouragement, Tilly."
Tilly, sensing an opportunity to stir the pot, gave Penny a playful wink. “Oh, Penny, I’m just making sure he’s... well-prepared.” She held her clipboard a little higher, the smirk on her face clearly teasing.
Penny narrowed her eyes. “He doesn’t need you to prepare him. He needs some common sense.”
Tilly’s eyes twinkled mischievously as she glanced back at Dexter, who was already twirling his rope again, trying to catch a breeze in his oversized hat. “Common sense? Now that’s something no one’s ever accused Dexter of having.” She giggled lightly, clearly enjoying the tension she was creating.
Penny shot her a sharp look, her patience running thin. “Just... keep an eye on him. Someone has to,” she muttered, exasperated.
“I’m sure he’ll be fine,” Tilly said, all sweetness, as she patted Penny on the arm. “I’m sure you’ll handle any disasters that come up.”
Penny clenched her fists, but before she could respond, Dexter gave a loud, “Howdy, partner!” as he swung his rope wildly, tripping over his boots and nearly knocking into Tilly.
“Dexter!” Penny shouted in exasperation. “Please, for once, try to stay on your feet.”
Dexter, with a theatrical bow, straightened himself up and gave Penny a big grin. “All part of the show, Penny! All part of the show.”
Tilly leaned toward Penny again and whispered with a teasing edge, “You know, he does have a certain... charm. Maybe you should lighten up a little. What’s the worst that could happen?”
“Don't jinx it,” Penny muttered as she fixed her goggles, already preparing herself for the chaos that was sure to unfold.
At the lassoing station, elves were lined up, ready to rope a wooden sled that was slowly pulled by Rudy Winters, who was doing his best to maintain a dignified air despite the absurdity of the situation. Dexter, seeing an opportunity for grand entrance, bellowed, “CLEAR THE WAY!”
With a dramatic flourish, he swung his lasso around like a windmill in a hurricane. But instead of roping the sled, the loop caught a nearby candy cart. The stand jolted forward, sending a shower of lollipops into the air, causing several elves to duck and dive for cover. A particularly sticky candy landed squarely in Bernard’s pocket, who was observing quietly from the sidelines. He didn’t flinch—he just stared at Dexter, his arms folded, before slowly pulling the candy from his pocket.
“Direct hit! I’ll call that a win!” Dexter shouted, as if the entire spectacle had been part of the plan.
Bernard’s only response was to raise an eyebrow.
The next event was the Barrel Dash, and it quickly became a crowd favorite. Reindeer galloped in figure-eights between barrels while young elves held on tightly, their faces a mixture of joy and sheer terror. Dexter, however, was determined to put his own spin on things. He had signed up to ride Carl, the gentle reindeer, but with one condition—he was going to ride backward.
“I’m a cowboy, not a fool,” Dexter muttered as he climbed onto Carl’s back, facing the opposite direction. “I’ve seen it in the movies. They always look way cooler going backwards.”
Tilly, who had started to hand out safety waivers at the next station, stopped and watched with a mix of curiosity and amusement. Penny, meanwhile, was already holding her head in her hands, bracing for whatever chaos would follow.
Dexter raised a toy sheriff’s badge above his head and shouted, “Yeehaw!” as if trying to summon every cowboy trope he could think of.
The flag dropped, and Carl trotted forward, confused but obedient. Dexter, of course, was still facing backward, waving his hat in the air triumphantly. The crowd erupted into laughter as Carl completed the perfect course—one that Dexter didn’t even realize had finished until Carl stopped at the line and laid down.
“We’re just getting started!” Dexter shouted, kicking the reins as if Carl hadn’t just crossed the finish line.
Carl gave a tired snort and lay down, perfectly content.
The next event was the most unpredictable of them all: The Bucking Reindeer. A handful of reindeer, some with particularly strong personalities, were chosen for this event. These reindeer were known for their attitude—unlike Carl, who was as gentle as a lamb, these were the rebels of the herd.
Elves gathered around the arena as Rudy Winters led out a particularly feisty reindeer named Blaze. His fiery red coat practically gleamed under the sun, and his eyes sparkled with mischief. The crowd was buzzing with excitement as a few brave elves volunteered to try their luck.
Dexter, of course, couldn’t resist. He leaped forward, nearly tripping over his oversized boots, and declared, “This one’s mine!”
“You sure about that?” Penny called out from the sidelines, already preparing for the inevitable disaster.
Dexter jumped onto Blaze’s back without hesitation, raising his arms triumphantly. “Yeehaw!” he yelled, just before Blaze snorted, kicked his hooves, and bucked him high into the air.
Dexter was airborne for a full second before he crashed into a nearby haystack, covered in hay and bruised pride.
Blaze trotted around the arena, clearly unphased by the chaos he had just caused. The crowd erupted into laughter, and even Penny had to stifle a smile.
“Well,” Dexter groaned from the haystack, “at least I didn’t get trampled.”
Penny, crossing her arms, said dryly, “That's one way to look at it.”
The final event of the day was the relay race. Teams of three were supposed to wear boots, hats, and saddlebags filled with plush pigs, then race around the course and tag in the next team member. Dexter, ever the lone wolf, had signed up solo and insisted on doing all three legs himself.
“This is how real cowboys do it!” he declared proudly to the scorekeeper, who had already seen enough to know what was about to unfold. She handed him three flags without saying a word.
Dexter’s start was nothing short of spectacular—he launched off the line with a single boot already on the ground behind him, struggling to keep his balance. As he rounded the first barrel, his saddlebag exploded, sending pigs scattering across the course like rolling fluffballs. Dexter, undeterred, scooped up a few, jamming them under his vest as if this was the most normal thing in the world.
By the final leg of the race, Dexter’s hat had flown into the lemonade barrel, his vest had torn, and he was dragging his third flag behind him like a mop. He reached the finish line with a cartwheel that sent him upside down, landing in a heap of hay.
Penny, watching from the sidelines, blew her whistle, unable to contain her amusement. “Dexter Tinker… disqualified for reasons too numerous to list.”
Lying on the grass with a goofy grin plastered across his face, Dexter gave a thumbs-up. “Best... rodeo... ever.”
The crowd began to disperse, laughing and chatting about the day’s events. The reindeer were led off to their cool-down snacks, and Dexter, feeling better than ever, took a seat on a hay bale, sipping lemonade with one eye half-closed from a mild bump to the head.
Bernard walked past, his eyebrow still raised. “You good?”
Dexter nodded solemnly, still grinning. “Better than good. I found my calling.”
“As a rodeo clown?” Bernard asked, his voice dry as dust.
Dexter shook his head, his grin widening even further. “As a legend.”
From his pocket, he pulled out a patch he’d stitched together himself. It was unevenly sewn and read: Most Spirited Cowboy, Self-Appointed.
He pinned it proudly to his vest, letting the moment sink in.
Somewhere behind the barns, Carl the reindeer let out a tired snort, confirming that Dexter’s legendary status had, at least for the day, been cemented.