“Happy birthday, Rey!” Emilia and I say simultaneously.

    “Thanks, you guys! Though I didn’t think I’d be spending my birthday this year as something inanimate.” It is certainly a unique birthday present for Rey but, just like all the others before him, he has volunteered himself for this.

    “Go on then, open your ‘present’,” I say with a wink.

    Rey opens the door and, much to his surprise, there is actually a gift inside about the size of a foot with the poem attached.

These animals can often be seen running for Santa’s sleigh

But for this party, a smaller, softer version is the better way

“A smaller, softer reindeer?” Rey ponders aloud. Of course, he is quite curious about the gift box but before he opens it, he actually looks down at Helen. The toy train that had been gift-wrapped before her transformation back on day 13. He chuckles as he embraces himself for a similar process to happen.

    “Well, here goes nothing then,” he says as he undoes the ribbon keeping the present shut. The moment he does so, he can instantly feel a pull on his entire being, trying to suck him inside. He gives Emilia and I one final smile before letting himself be consumed.

    When he is inside, the gift seals itself up again, after which the transformation begins properly. Now, for the two of us, there is of course very little to see but inside, the change is in full swing. Just as he had hypothesised, he is becoming a reindeer. But… not an animate one.

    He grows antlers and hooves, his face is turned into a muzzle and he goes from being bipedal to being a quadruped.

    And at the same time, all of it is artificial, made of fabric. He grows a fluffy tail and his ears become a lot bigger. His eyes are turned into simple black beads. Imitations of real eyes. His nose becomes red while his mouth becomes sewed on, not unlike the facial features made in icing on Laura the gingerbread girl.

    And as all of this is happening, his insides are turned into nothing but fluff. Fluff that makes him a lot softer… and is limiting his movement more and more. Quickly, his strength is leaving him at the conversion from muscle into fluff. Fluff that he is incapable of moving on his own.

    To us on the outside, we can detect that this is happening. We can see that the gift with Rey inside is ceasing its movements more and more while the transformation is busy with its finishing touches. Any sounds that he may be trying to make are hushed. Any movement he could attempt to make is impossible thanks to the fluff.

    And only when there is absolutely nothing anymore to suggest that a transformation was taking place inside of this present do I step forward and pick it up.

    “Let’s open it,” I say.

    Emilia giggles. However, just before she reaches for the wrapping paper, she eyes me for a moment. “It’s not going to suck me in now, is it?”

    I laugh. “Of course not. Your transformation isn’t until tomorrow, my dear.”

    Relieved, Emilia removes the ribbon and opens the gift-wrapped box to find a reindeer plushie inside. A plushie that used to be Rey mere moments ago. Eagerly, she holds it up and hugs it. “He’s so soft!”

    “That was the idea,” I chuckle while giving the new plushie a pat on its head. “Happy birthday, Rey.”

    With another transformation completed, I cannot help but notice a hint of anticipation bubbling up within me. After all, tomorrow will be the final day.

    The final transformation.