Chapter Eight - The Midnight Rescue

"How are we going to rescue Chimmy?" wondered Chippy. "We cannot just leave him in the box on the back of the truck. Christmas is almost here. We have to do something and do it fast!"
It was as if Rudy must have heard his thoughts as he suddenly appeared out of nowhere and said, "We will have to make a great big ruckus. Then that man will unlock the lock on the truck door."
"That might be a good idea," said Webb, who had been very deep in thought. "But what do we do about that dog?" he asked fearfully.
Suddenly, he had an idea. "You know," he said, "Maybe I could hop away. The dog will chase me. He cannot get under the fence and Chippy can help Chimmy to escape."
"Yes, I can get up into the box and help Chimmy!" said Chippy excitedly.
"Let's do it!" Rudy said. "But you will both have to help me."
Chippy could see a glow around Rudy and a twinkle in his eye that he had never noticed before. He saw that Rudy was carrying something on his back. He was not quite sure what it was.
As quickly and as quietly as they could, the three of them headed back to the big yard and the truck.
"Sh," said Rudy. "Be really careful."
"I have a plan," he whispered, as they came closer. "We have to be really quiet. Chip, climb up over my antlers and get that candy cane. Then get up on my antlers and help me hang it on the lock on the door of the truck. Webb, you watch for that dog. We don't want him barking yet!"
Rudy lowered his head, so that Chippy could scramble up over his antlers onto his back. He was totally amazed at what he found and he did exactly what Rudy told him to do.
"Perfect," said Rudy, as they gazed at the big red and white candy cane that Chippy and Rudy had hung on the lock. "Now Chippy, get up on top of the box and stay there."
"But....but....." Chippy said, hesitating for a moment. "I am going to do it," he decided bravely. "I think Rudy knows what he is doing."
Chippy climbed up to the top of the box on the back of the truck, just as quick as a wink, forgetting all about being afraid of heights.
"Now just watch and be ready," Rudy ordered, as he bounded away towards the fence. Webb looked up at Chippy and Chippy looked down at Webb, and then both of them looked at the candy cane.
"Now what?" they both wondered, but neither of them spoke.
Suddenly, they heard a voice.
"Chippy?" said a sleepy voice that was coming from inside the truck. "Is that you?"
"Chimmy!" whispered Chippy excitedly, "Sh......we are going to get you out of there!" Rudy was right after all. Chimmy was trapped inside the big box on the back of the truck.
Suddenly, there was a huge gust of wind and the candy cane hammered against the side of the truck several times, with a loud clanging. Then there was another gust of wind and a tremendous ruckus on the top of the box, as there appeared not only Rudy, but a whole collection of other reindeer in front of a sleigh carrying Santa Claus and a huge bag of toys.
"Run for it," Rudy ordered Webb, as the dog that had spotted them earlier came running towards them. "Go Webb! Run as fast as you can!"
Webb did not waste even one second. He hopped away towards the fence, with the dog right behind him.
"Ho! Ho! Ho! Now it is up to you," Santa hollered to Chippy, as he, Rudy and the other reindeer pulling the sleigh, flew away into the night. Rudy was the reindeer leading the way!"
"Grandma! Grandpa!" hollered the little girl that they had seen earlier in the forest. "Santa Claus was here. I heard him."
A few seconds later, the door of the house opened and the elderly man, his wife and the little girl, all in their pyjamas, came outside and gazed up into the sky.
"Look Grandpa! He left you a present!" the little girl said excitedly as she spotted the candy cane on the back door of the truck. "Wow! I have never seen a candy cane that big before!"
The elderly man went over to the truck and gazed at the huge candy cane. "Oh my goodness! It is really huge!" he said, as he tried to pull it off the lock. "It is stuck. What is my combination? I think that I will have to take the lock off," he said finally.
"33-14-25," he said, as he struggled with the combination lock in the moonlight. "Or was it 25-14-33?"
"33-14-25, I think," said his wife. "That is some candy cane!" She could not believe what she saw.
"Hurry!" thought Chippy. He could hear the dog still barking at Webb in the distance. "Hurry before that dog comes back!"Suddenly, the lock popped open and the candy cane fell to the ground. The elderly man left it there for a moment, as he opened the door of the truck.
"Wonder what all that ruckus was about!" he said. "I'd better check inside!" He gazed at the candy cane lying on the ground, as he lifted the door.
Chimmy did not waste even one moment. He scurried out and climbed up to the top of the truck where Chippy was waiting for him.
"Grandpa!" the little girl hollered, at the very same moment. She had spotted the dog coming towards her. "I think that Santa brought me a puppy! What does this say?" she asked excitedly, handing him a note that was tied around the dog's neck.
"Hmmmm...." said Grandpa, holding the note up to the moonlight. He did not see the two chipmunks on the top of the truck. "It says, 'I need a good home'. Looks like you have a puppy, girl."
"You mean that I can really keep him?" asked the little girl with amazement. "I am going to call him 'Boots'?" she decided.
"I will make you a deal," said her grandfather. "If you take really good care of him and if I get to keep the candy cane, you get to keep the dog. Fair?" He picked up the huge candy cane. "I really like candy canes," he said.
"I love you!" said the little girl as she picked up the puppy and held him close. He licked her cheek as if he understood what she had said.
"I get the Christmas wreath!" said the little girl's grandmother. "And now I think it is time for hot chocolate!"
With that, they all disappeared into the house. Chippy and Chimmy scurried down from the top of the box on the truck and stood there looking at each other in amazement. Webb hopped back across the yard towards them.
"Merry Christmas!" he said happily.
"Merry Christmas!" Chippy and Chimmy said at the same time.
"You said it right!" said Chippy with amazement.
"I did?" said Webb. "Merry Christmas! I really did!"