Rudy collapsed onto the wooden planks of the stage, the half-empty bottle of whisky rolling away into the wings. But his expression soon turned to one of extreme pain. Teen Nick was the first to notice the reason why. For, on either side of Rudy's scalp, the hair was lifting up by itself. Within a few moments, bony projections had become to emerge from the man's skull. Inch by inch they grew, until they both split into several branches, each ending in a flattened section. It had taken only five minutes for the drunken man laying prostrate on the floor to develop a fine set of antlers.
Following close behind each boy-turned jackass was now sprouting similar sets of antlers on top of each of their heads. Rudy lifted his body up as his hands and feet re-shaped into hooves. The air was filled with the sound of buttons popping on his plaid shirt and the seams of his jeans splitting as his torso expanded. Finally, his jaw was distended forwards into a muzzle, his mouth expanding to accommodate the huge new grinding teeth which had emerged.
Stephen shackled reindeer Rudy to the front of the sledge party so that the former man could lead the half dozen other new reindeer in pulling the sledge.
"Merry Christmas!" he cried as he fixed the last of the restraining straps to Rudy's muzzle. Now all we need is Santa, elves and some presents!"