Today, I opened My GRL randomly to Page 25 and, with eyes closed, pointed to the page. My finger landed closest to the word” meeting.” That is our prompt today.
Meeting by John W. Howell © 2025
“What’s this meeting about?”
“I don’t know. I got a message to show up here at 9:00.”
“Yeah, me too. Makes me a little nervous.”
“Why’s that?”
“When the Boss calls a meeting with no subject, my mind always goes to a dark place.”
“Now that is silly. The Boss never calls meetings for bad news.”
“Well, this could be a first.”
“Besides, this is the holiday season, and we are way too busy for bad news.”
“All well and good. I’ve heard rumors that Amazon and free deliveries are putting the squeeze on traditional holiday outlets.”
“That may be true for some, but all our gifts are custom-made. Are you worried about a layoff?”
“That has crossed my mind.”
“Believe me, if there was going to be a layoff, it would have happened in the spring, not in the middle of the holidays.”
“That does make sense. We are needed right now.”
“You feel better?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
“Good. You’re fired.”
“W-what?”
“Just playing with you. Relax. Everything is okay.”
“You had me there.”
“One more point. The entire team needs you to guide the sleigh. Especially if it is foggy.”
“Thank you, Prancer. As the last to join the team, you can see why I might worry.”
“You’re good kid. Oh look. Here comes Santa, and if I’m not mistaken, he has a bag of oats slung over his shoulder. Looks like the reason for the meeting is a par-tay. Now smile.”
Fiction Favorites 
A good one. Santa would never lay off Rudolf!
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Never. Too risky.
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Great Christmas story! Santa couldn’t do without Rudolf.
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So true. Thanks, Esther.
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Thanks for not going dark, John. This was fun.
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Well, it is the season after all. Glad you liked it. 😊
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As if there could ever be a reindeer lay-off! Nicely done!
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I know, Right? Thank you, Dale.
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Exactly! Always a pleasure, John.
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😊
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The economy has certainly changed. Glad this traditional business is safe.
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Me too. It could go on forever. 😀
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I’d think Rudolph is immune to firing. He’s the only reindeer with a special skill. Donner might be in trouble though.
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I heard that Vixen is being looked at, too.
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OMG, you got me! What a great take on meeting!
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Thank you, Noelle. So glad you liked it.
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Perfect!
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😀
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Awww, perfect for the Christmas season!! Nothing more festive than a reindeer party! 🦌
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Yup. Oats all around. Thanks, Jan
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This conversation between Rudolph and Prancer is amusing, John. It’s good Santa is giving them a treat.
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He does take care of them. Thanks, Tim.
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Darn! I thought I had it! Elves, right? Reindeer??!! So funny!
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Well, you were very close. Just one species away.
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Prancer is such a jokester 🙂
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Yes, he is. Thanks, Denise.
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is this a version of Rudolph, the Red, Knows Rain, Dear?
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😀
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Since you usually include animals, based upon the provided details, I was guessing reindeer.
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Winner, winner, chicken dinner.
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Ha ha you had me going for a minute there thank goodness it was just a spoof! ❤️😹
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Yes. Spoof are us.
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😂
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😀
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Santa clearly knows he needs a fully-engaged fleet to help him keep all of his engagements on Christmas Eve, John!
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Yup, and they need to be full as well.
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I guessed Santa’s elves almost at the end.
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But then you could apply the human-like test. Animals win every time.
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Yes, they do!
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😀
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Ha ha that was funny and I did not expect that. Santa has a billion children to visit who are spread across the globe. 0.0000864 seconds per child including travel time. That is not the time to fire reindeers.
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We know that. But you know how workers start to spin up on thin rumors.
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Yes you are right
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I was wondering where this was headed. Great touch with the oats, John. Ingenious! 🤶🏻
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Thank you, Gwen. I’m glad you liked it. 😀
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This is almost as good as the book.
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Ha ha ha. Thanks, Jacqui.
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You KNOW things are tough all over when Santa’s reindeer are sweating their job security.
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Like any essential worker would, they start to rotate on thin rumors
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No doubt.
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When the Boss called a meeting with no subject, in my experience, that was never good. I was feeling for your characters. Then I got suspicious of your devious mind, John, and wondered what non-human you might have sneaked in… Yet I still didn’t get to reindeer — (despite the fact that I made reindeer Christmases for two days!) until the word “guide.” You clever devil. 😉 Hugs.
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Aw. you make me blush. Thanks, Teagan
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You had me here, John. This was wonderful!
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I’m glad you liked it, Jennie
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🙂
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