Christmas mule stocking

A Short Christmas Tale in Mulhouse by Dominic Orbette

Drawing by Camille Orbette

A very strange adventure befell our mule, Chaussette, last night:

Chaussette's white markings blended into the snow that blanketed the landscape, softening the colors and shapes, reducing it to a pure, simple version, bringing it back to its essence. The stillness was such that you could hear the snowflakes crunching on the ground. The torn clouds allowed moonbeams to pierce through, casting deep black shadows. The old man was still there, still grumbling, in that clearing lost in the middle of the forest.

He had tried everything to catch Chaussette. He had approached very slowly, smiling, talking to her as if she were a simpleton... The young mule had looked at him first with disbelief, then with irritation. She had even let him slip the rope around her neck. Chaussette is usually quite friendly, a gentle mule, but this time, she found the old man very rude! She raised her head and stepped aside, knocking the lout over and sending him tumbling headfirst into the powder! He was crimson, furious, the old man! He threw back the pom-pom of his big hat, shouting insults in an archaic language and spitting out snow!

He took a few steps, gesticulating wildly, and collapsed again after tripping over his long coat. What an idea to dress like that in this weather! It's no outfit for walking in the snow! Well, maybe it is, after all...

Anger didn't suit the old man any better, and Chaussette ran off, kicking her bottom out at him in defiance. Let him try coming near her! The mule was about to turn back when she heard the rustling of paper... Nothing is more exciting for a mule, they're so curious... and greedy. It's almost irresistible...

Casually, she stopped and pretended to rummage through the snow for something to eat. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the figure approaching, offering her an apple with a smile. A little earlier, Chaussette had already eaten a carrot she'd found stuck in a strange pile of snow... with a hat on it! She'd hesitated for a long time, but finally she'd taken the tuber with the tips of her teeth and run off, giving the snow pile a good kick, which, under the impact, had lost its head... What a strange night! But an apple, why not... The trick was to manage to grab it without getting caught... She let him approach, then she turned around and stuck out the tip of her nose.

She was almost there! She could taste the fruit on her tongue... The man then made a swift movement to slip a halter around her nose! Sock nearly got caught, but she managed to escape. This time, it was too much, and she dashed off behind the hill to find her new friends. She had met them a little earlier. There were eight of them. They had all arrived at once, and she had crossed paths with them as she headed towards the forest, searching for the source of a loud noise she had heard earlier. They were rooting through the snow with their long antlers, still bound by the remnants of their harnesses. Sock prided herself on knowing the animals in the area well and often went to see them, but she had never seen such creatures! She led them over the hill to the stream, and it was as she was heading back into the forest that she encountered the rude fellow...

She asked her hosts what kind of animals they were: "Reindeer," they replied! "But what are you doing here in this weather?" "Oh, we only work one day a year, and we felt like taking a break..." The old man returned to his sleigh, which was stuck in the branches, slumped down on the seat, and grumbled, "Well, no Santa Claus and no presents this year!"

Without meaning to, Sock had hidden Santa's reindeer, and she had almost found a job...

Les Globe-Crotters - Anouk Nathan - Dominic Orbette and Chaussette !

Photo by the Globes-Crotters