A Cape Girardeau Christmas Story

Editor's Note: The Southeast Missourian needs your help in finding the perfect ending to this year's Christmas story. You decide what happens to Santa Claus, Rudolph and the rest of the reindeer gang during their stop in Cape Girardeau.

Send your version of this story's ending to features editor Callie Clark Miller at PO Box 699, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 73701, or e-mail cmiller@semissourian.com. The best ending will be published in the newspaper with credit to the writer. Deadline is Friday, Dec. 16. And now, on to the story...

"Whoaaaaa!" Santa Claus yelled as he guided his sleigh down onto the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge.

The reindeer hooves landed silently atop the well-lit four-lane concrete pad that was free of traffic. It was shortly after 1 a.m. The nine reindeer shuddered slightly as the cold, thick Southeast Missouri air collapsed all around them. Below, the Mississippi River was partially frozen.

Santa crawled out of his sleigh and walked to the front of the reindeer procession.

"Rudolph? You OK buddy?"

Rudolph's let out a violent sneeze.

"Poor fella," Santa said. "You're sick. Your nose is burned out. It's a foggy night and we're only halfway across the United States. We can't make it without you, but I think you've gone far enough tonight."

Santa thought to himself. He hadn't been in this kind of pickle since Rudolph was a young lad.

"Aha! I know just what to do," Santa said softly.

He pulled out his cell phone and called...