Father Christmas
This is basically a one-character story, and that character is both familiar and strange. Father Christmas is the name by which the British know Santa Claus. This version mixes and matches a little of both. He is definitely British, but in appearance he is the very image of the iconic version of Santa Claus with his long white beard, red velvet suit, and round little belly. Except that he is not so jolly. In fact, he is grumpy as a matter of course and as the story begins, he is especially grumpy. The reason for his grumpiness also sets him apart from the traditional image of this character: he really hates the cold.
In fact, he hates the cold so much that that decides to go on vacation. It is something of an around-the-world trip which reveals several things about Father Christmas many may not know. He enjoys rich French cuisine, but not the exorbitant cost to eat it. He enjoys Scotland because he is a fan of bagpipes but is not such a fan of the cold water in their lochs. He also like gambling in Vegas casinos and, perhaps most surprising of all, finds actual joy on the links of the desert city’s golf courses.
Another thing that is learned about Father Christmas is that his suit requires dry cleaning. It is not wash-and-rinse. As for his one-day-a-year job, even he complains about having to get up early when the alarm clock goes. It isn’t that Father Christmas does not enjoy handing out gifts. In fact, he clearly delights in his duties and takes them very seriously. If only Christmas took place during summer, he would probably be an entirely contented man.
Cat, Dog, and the Reindeer
The only other characters of significance—though admittedly limited significance—are the animal friends of Father Christmas. Two of them are a cat and dog named, respectively, Cat and Dog. While he goes off on his multi-continent vacation, Cat and Dog are lodged in a kennel.
Oddly enough, his means of conveyance is his trailer which flies from destination to destination powered by two flying reindeer. Neither of the reindeer are addressed by name. Instead, the refers to them both as “m’deers” in a little spelling joke. Since he is traveling incognito—disguised beneath a jumper and beret—the presence of reindeer presents problems requiring him to quickly leave for the next destination whenever the reindeer are accidentally discovered.
Immediately upon his return home, he retrieves Cat and Dog from the kennel. Cat rolls itself around his neck while Father Christmas cooks the holiday dinner. Each get a present upon his return home from his duties on Christmas Eve while the reindeers are led to the stables following their exhaustive flight.
