The Wonderful World of Rudolpha: Jack and the frozen pipes

It’s exceptionally cold today in the North Pole. Despite the weather, Rudolpha the reindeer, teacher at the North Pole Animal Day Care decides to leave for work early. When she arrives, she turns on the tap to wash her hooves, but no water comes out.

Luckily, Rudolpha knows just who to call in a situation like this. Pressing a button on the intercom, she calls Jack the elf-of-all-trades.

“Jack, there’s no water coming out of the tap! Can you come to the day care? The children will be here in half an hour!”

“Count to three and I’ll be there!” answers the elf, happy to be of service.

Exactly three seconds later, Jack arrives with his toolbox. “I hope the pipes aren’t frozen. Have you checked if the toilets and sinks in the bathroom are working?”

“Not yet,” admits Rudolpha. “I’ll do it right now.”

A few seconds later, the teacher comes back looking discouraged. The pipes are definitely frozen. Jack scratches his head as he thinks about what to do.

“We’ll have to warm up the pipes so they thaw. What’s the warmest thing I can think of? I know. The scarves knit by Mrs. Claus,” says the elf. “I’ll get my dear Nougat to help me. We’ll ask all the elves to lend us their scarves. After all, this is an emergency.”

“Excellent idea,” says Rudolpha, “but please hurry. I really need running water today.”

Knowing the smartest elf couple in the North Pole are taking care of the problem, the reindeer begins to get her supplies for the day ready. Less than 15 minutes later, Jack and Nougat arrive pulling a sled piled with dozens of colourful scarves behind them. Working together, they wrap all the day care’s pipes in the warmest knit scarves in the world.

As Jack thought, the polar sheep’s wool has an immediate effect. To Rudolpha’s relief, the water starts to flow moments before the children arrive.

“Good morning, Rudolpha, good morning Jack, good morning Nougat!” call the children as they enter the room. “What are we doing today?”

“Today, we’re going to be paw and wing painting!” answers the teacher.

“I see why you need water today,” laughs Jack. “Paw and wing painting is messy business!”

Waving at Rudolpha and the children, the handy elf and his partner leave the day care arm in arm, happy to have saved the day.

Written by Johannie Dufour and Sarah Beauregard
Translated by Cyan Caruso-Comas