SANTA CAT

Santa Cat lay curled up on his favorite chair. The afternoon sun silvered his whiskers and stroked his grey coat as he purred softly to himself. It had been a very busy day and he was enjoying these few, quiet moments away from the bustle and hurry. The past several weeks had been very hectic. Lists had been double-checked and gifts carefully selected.

Today Mrs. Cat and the kittens had helped him wrap, decorate, and pack these things in his big cat sack. All day long they had reassured him that things would be ready on time and nothing would be forgotten.

"Soon..." he mumbled as he drifted off into thoughts of the special journey he was about to make.

"Mau!" yowled Santa Cat as he started in surprise and his eyes snapped open. What was that irritating, picking at his side?

A quick turn of his head and he soon realized that he was being kneaded by the sharp, tiny toenails of several pairs of paws.

"Mother sent us to get you," explained Muffin, one of the several young mischief-makers.

"She said you must hurry papa!" Sam added as the two kittens frisked back out the door.

"Oh-h-h," yawned Santa Cat as he stretched a big stretch. " How long have I been asleep?" he wondered as he looked around. There was no sun reaching in through the windows now - only the distant blackness of night and twinkling stars. Mrs. Cat had already turned on the table-lamp and made a fire in the fireplace. The kittens had set the table. Food was ready and supper smelled delicious.

Santa Cat shook his head several times. He smiled a yawn that stretched from ear to ear. The yawn was so big that the corners of his mouth were almost joined together behind his ears. He stood up and arched another big stretch. Then he crawled down from his chair and sauntered across the floor to the dining room.

He padded up to his wife and licked her a big kiss on the cheek. "Hello dear. I'm sorry I fell asleep," he apologized. "Why didn't you waken me earlier?"

She smiled back at him and replied, "That's perfectly alright. There wasn't much left to finish and the kittens all helped. I'm glad you were able to have a bit of a catnap before your long journey. You were very tired and needed to have a rest." She then turned to the kittens and called, "Come children! It's time to eat!"

With the usual amount of teasing and jostling about, the family members took their places. Mr. and Mrs. Cat each sat at one end of the table and the kittens sat along both sides.

Santa Cat raised his bowl of milk and made a toast. "To my wonderful family," he said. "Thank you for your hard work and help."

Then they all settled down into a fine meal of roast beef and gravy. For dessert they had small pieces of smoked salmon. The children were very excited and asked many questions throughout supper.

"May I please go with you papa?" pleaded Muffin.

"Where will you go first?" asked Sam.

"How long will you be away papa?" demanded Sassy.

"Will you bring us something back?" asked George.

"Can we stay awake until you come back," begged Su Ling.

Santa Cat grinned warmly and patiently answered each question in turn. "No, Muffin, you may not come with me. It is a long journey and I must travel quickly. It is best done alone. Nor will you be allowed to stay up; Su Ling. Children need their rest. I will tell you each and every detail tomorrow morning at breakfast. And yes, George, your papa will bring each one of you something special. Now children, we must hurry!" he finished.

The children cleared the table and washed the dishes while the two grown-ups did one final check. Then Santa Cat kissed each one of them in turn and gave last minute instructions. "Be good little kittens for your mother," he cautioned. "Help her with the rest of the tidying up and listen well. Go straight to bed when she tells you." he continued. "I love you and I'll be home in a twinkling. Sweet dreams," he concluded.

Mrs. Cat licked him a big kiss. She took the cat sack from it's special hook and helped Santa Cat put it on then fasten it up. She reached up to the hook once more and took down the magic collar with the three small bells. Her eyes moistened as she snapped the buckle closed. "Do be careful, my love. I'll be waiting up for you."

With one last "mau," Santa Cat stepped outside and closed the door behind him. The air was crisp and cold. The stars twinkled brightly in the dark sky. The snow sparkled like a soft, white quilt embroidered with a million diamonds. What a perfectly magical night!

Santa Cat scratched at the bells on the collar and purred:

“Jingle me some music
Jingle me a song
Jingle me some magic
And don't be long."

Within seconds he disappeared from his own front yard and arrived at his first destination. He was in a big, dark room with a huge stone fireplace, a large Christmas tree and a heavy, wooden bed. Curled up under the quilt and snoring loudly was a big tomcat. His whiskers quivered and his paws jerked as he relived the day's adventures in dreams. Hanging on the bedpost was a button-up jacket, a cape, and a floppy hat with a long, feather plume. At the foot of the bed was a big pair of tall boots with buckles on them.

"Perfect!" thought Santa Cat as he turned and pussyfooted over to the stocking hanging by the chimney. Into it he gently dropped a tin of black shoe polish, a large jar of leather protector, and several cans of tuna.

"Merry Christmas, Puss-in-Boots," he whispered.

Then he scratched at the bells on the collar and purred:

"Jingle me some music
Jingle me a song
Jingle me some magic
And don't be long."

Within seconds he disappeared, then reappeared at his second destination. He was in a small, neat room containing a little table and four chairs, a small wood burning stove with an oven, and a beautiful little Christmas tree. Beside the front door were four coat-hooks. On three of the hooks were small, well-worn jackets and tattered pairs of mittens. A bonnet and an apron were hanging on the fourth hook.

Santa Cat tiptoed over to the bedroom door and peeked inside. Soft, little mewing sounds were coming from three little beds along one wall. A much louder sigh came from a larger bed on the other side. He quietly crept over to the three little beds and placed a small catnip toy and a brand new pair of mittens in each of the small stockings hanging on the bedposts. In the stocking at the foot of the larger bed he put a big book of pie recipes.

"Merry Christmas to you Mother Cat, and also to you, three little kittens," he whispered.

Then he scratched at the bells on the collar and purred:

"Jingle me some music
Jingle me a song
Jingle me some magic
And don't be long."

Within seconds he disappeared, then reappeared at his third destination. He was at the foot of a most unusual tree in a strange and wonderful land. Hanging, or perhaps more like drooping, nonchalantly from the branch above was a very independent cat, it's tail flicking back and forth while it slept. On it's face a curious grin held its own mysterious secret. Santa Cat tucked a new toothbrush and some toothpaste into a stocking, which dangled from the tree.

"Merry Christmas, Cheshire Cat," he whispered.

Then he scratched at the bells on the collar and purred:

"Jingle me some music
Jingle me a song
Jingle me some magic
And don't be long."

Within seconds he disappeared, then reappeared at his fourth destination. Plopped on a big pillow-bed and resting it's cheek on it's front paws was one of the fattest cats he had ever seen. Every so often it would click it's lips together, making tiny smacking noises as if it was eating in it's sleep. Then it would utter a long, deep sigh of satisfaction. Santa Cat shook his paw from side to side.

"Tsk, tsk," he added softly, "I have just the thing for you!" Into this stocking went a box of diet biscuits and a book called 'The No-Fail Diet'.

"Merry Christmas, Morris," he whispered, "and good luck with your New Year's diet."

He scratched at the bells on the collar and purred:

"Jingle me some music
Jingle me a song
Jingle me some magic
And don't be long."

Within seconds he disappeared, then reappeared at his fifth destination. On the floor was a vast assortment of play toys, empty boxes, crumpled treat bags, empty tin cans, fish bones and a large food bowl. "What a catastrophe!" thought Santa Cat.

In the middle of the room was a box with a blanket in it. It had a stocking draped across the bottom end. Two big bumps vibrated up and down under the blanket.

"This certainly is a busy room!" said Santa Cat as he reached over and quietly slid some gifts into the stocking. There were two books called 'Getting Along With Dogs' and 'Using Your Best Manners: A Helpful Guide To Etiquette'. There was also a small broom, a dustpan, and garbage bags.

"Merry Christmas, Garfield," whispered Santa Cat.

Then he scratched at the bells on the collar and purred:

"Jingle me some music
Jingle me a song
Jingle me some magic
And don't be long."

Within seconds he disappeared, then reappeared at his sixth destination. He was in a large, well-furnished room. Along one wall was a fireplace with Christmas stockings hung at each side, a hooked rug on the floor in front, and two large, plush chairs at it's hearth.

On the opposite wall was a large picture window overlooking a backyard full of grass, flowers, and trees. To the right side of this window and off into the corner, a large birdcage was suspended from the ceiling. Inside it was a small, yellow bird asleep on it's perch. In the other corner, near the fireplace, was a well-dressed Christmas tree.

Along the wall on the other side of the room was a wooden table with an embroidered tablecloth, candelabra, and several crystal dishes filled with fruit and candy. Under this table and curled up in sleep was a long, black cat with a white face and tummy. It's whiskers were twitching and it's paws were moving as it dream-chased some small creature.

Santa Cat padded silently over to the fireplace and put a toy canary bird and two books into one of the stockings. The books were titled 'Bird-Catching Made Easy' and 'The Power of Positive Thinking'.

"Merry Christmas, Sylvester," whispered Santa Cat. "I hope this helps," he added.

Then he scratched at the bells on the collar and purred:

"Jingle me some music
Jingle me a song
Jingle me some magic
And don't be long."

Within seconds he disappeared, then reappeared at his last destination. It was his very own home. Standing by the bedroom door was Mrs. Cat. She turned to him and smiled as he tiptoed up beside her.

She licked his cheek and whispered, "Welcome home, dear. How was your trip?"

"Fine," answered Santa Cat. "All of the deliveries were made on time and things went well," he added.

"I was just looking in on the children," said Mrs. Cat. "They have finally settled in. They were so excited!"

"You would never know it to see them now!" exclaimed Santa Cat. "Just look at them!" he smiled proudly.

There, in his or her own little beds, was a kitten. Some lay curled up in tiny balls. Some were lying on their sides with their paws outstretched. Some were lying on their backs with their little bellies showing. Some were fidgeting. Others were lying motionless. But each one was fast asleep and dreaming of Christmas.

"Come, let me help you get your things off. Then, you sit down and rest while I make us a bowl of warm milk. You look so tired," said Mrs. Cat.

"I would love that!" said Santa Cat. "I have just one more set of deliveries to make, then I'll join you," he said. He padded into the bedroom and over to each bed in turn. He licked each of his babies a big kiss, pulled the covers over some, tucked in some of the paws, and stroked others gently. In each little stocking he put a bag of treats, a new catnip toy and a can of their favorite cat food.

"Merry Christmas, little ones," he said as he left the room, "and Merry Christmas to you my dear," he added as he gave Mrs. Cat her present.

"Oh, Santa Cat! Catrushka dolls!" she purred excitedly. "They're beautiful! Thank you!"

"I thought you'd like them," he said. “I made them myself when I had spare time in the workshop.”

"And here is my gift to you," she said as she handed him a bright red jacket lined with white fur and a matching red cap with a white fur tassel.

"Merry Christmas, Santa Cat," she whispered. "Now let's get your things off so we can sit down and you can have some warm milk and tell me about your journey.