TheTrueStoryofRudolph

　　Thestorybehindthestory

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　　OnaDecembernightinChicagomanyyearsago,alittlegirlclimbedontoherfather'slapandaskedaquestion.Itwasasimplequestion,askedinchildren'scuriosity,yetithadaheart-rendingeffectonRobertMay.

　　"Daddy,"four-year-oldBarbaraMayasked,"Whyisn'tmymommyjustlikeeverybodyelse'smommy?"

　　BobMaystoleaglanceacrosshisshabbytwo-roomapartment.Onacouchlayhisyoungwife,Evelyn,rackedwithcancer.Fortwoyearsshehadbeenbedridden.Fortwoyears,allofBob'ssmallincomeandsmallersavingshadgonetopayfortreatmentsandmedication.

　　Theterribleordealhadalreadyshatteredtwoadultlives.Now,Bobsuddenlyrealizedthehappinessofhisgrowingdaughterwasalsoinjeopardy.AsheranhisfingersthroughBarbara'shair,hegropedforsomesatisfactoryanswertoherquestion.

　　BobMayknewonlytoowellwhatitmeanttobe'different'.Asachildhehadbeenweakanddelicate.Withtheinnocentcrueltyofchildren,hisplaymateshadcontinuallygoadedthestunted,skinnyladtotears.Later,atDartsmouth,fromwhichhegraduatedin1936,BobMaywassosmallthathewasalwaysbeingmistakenforsomeone'slittlebrother.

　　Norwashisadultlifemuchhappier.Unlikemanyofhisclassmateswhofloatedfromcollegeintoplushjobs,BobbecamealowlycopywriterforMontgomeryWard,thebigChicagomailorderhouse.Nowat33,Bobwasdeepindebt,depressedandsad.

　　Although,hedidn'tknowitatthetime,theanswerhegavethelittlechildonhislapwastobringhimfameandfortune.ItwasalsotobringjoytocountlessthousandsofchildrenlikehisownBarbara.OnthatDecembernightintheshabbyChicagoapartment,Bobcradledthelittlegirl'sheadagainsthisshoulderandbegantotellastory...

　　"Onceuponatime,therewasareindeernamedRudolph,theonlyreindeerintheworldthathadabigrednose.Naturallypeoplecalledhim"Rudolph,thered-nosedreindeer."AsBobwentontotellaboutRudolph,hetrieddesperatelytocommunicatetoBarbaratheknowledgethat,eventhoughsomecreaturesofGodarestrangeanddifferent,theyoftenenjoythemiraculouspowertomakeothershappy.

　　"Rudolph,"Bobexplained,"wasterriblyembarrassedbyhisuniquenose.Otherreindeerlaughedathim;hismotherandfatherandsisterweremortified,too.EvenRudolphwallowedinselfpity."

　　"WhywasIbornwithsuchaterriblenose?"hecried.

　　"Well,"continuedBob,"oneChristmaseve,SantaClausgothisteamofhuskyreindeer-Dasher,Dancer,Prancer,andVixen,andtheothers--readyfortheiryearlytriparoundtheworld.Theentirereindeercommunityassembledtocheerthesegreatheroesontheirway.But,aterriblefogengulfedtheearththatevening,andSantaknewthatthemistwassothickthathewouldn'tbeabletofindasinglechimney."

　　"SuddenlyRudolphappeared,hisreadnoseglowingbrighterthanever.Santasensedatoncethatherewastheanswertohisperplexingproblem.HeledRudolphtothefrontofthesleigh,fastenedtheharnessandclimbedin.Theywereoff!RudolphguidedSantasafelytoeverychimneythatnight.Rain,andfog,snowandsleet--nothingbotheredRudolphforhisbrightrednosepenetratedlikeabeacon."

　　"And,soitwasthatRudolphbecamethemostfamo