My name is TomCat and I'm snoozing on the sofa. The warm rays of sunshine make me sleepy and comfortable. I am completely relaxed and unaware of the coming Christmas holiday. This will be my second Christmas but, because I was so young last year, I don't remember the first. This year I am living in the home of a spry and cute senior citizen named Frannie. She adores me. I don't like to admit it, but I adore her, too. She doesn't complain when I spend the night on top of the fluffy down comforter, snuggled on her belly.

One morning the lady is in a frenzy. She is hauling out boxes from the storage closet and sorting through a lot of stuff. Garlands of greenery are spread all over the place and she has set up a little barn-like structure, complete with hay, in which there are small figurines of people and animals. It all seems very strange to me, but I am enjoying the excitement.

Frannie runs out of the house and is gone for hours. She comes home with more boxes. These boxes are filled with sweaters, scarves, nightgowns, board games, action figures, a basketball and some electronic stuff. I think these are called gifts. I wonder if I will get any?

While she was away today, I heard a rustling noise. When she's not around playing music or chattering, the house is usually very quiet. This strange noise was unlike anything I'd ever heard before. I went into my stalking mode and paid careful attention to the closet where the noise was coming from. I stuck my paw in the door which was slightly open and peered inside. There it was, a tiny gray mouse, nibbling on the bag that holds my cat food. Well, I went crazy. I've never seen a real mouse before, but I knew there wasn't going to be room enough here for both of us. I lunged and swatted the mouse with my paw. I guess I knocked it out. I'm sure I didn't hurt it, there's no blood and it's still breathing. At least I have this intruder under control. I'll grab it by the tail and drag it into Frannie's bedroom. I'll show her how brave and good I am.

Frannie comes home and goes into the bedroom to check for messages on the answering machine. I'm dozing again on the sofa when I hear a horrifying scream. She starts running around, tearing at her red hair and yelling. "What will I do? What will I do? Oh, my God, there's a mouse near my bed."

She closes the bedroom door and comes into the living room. She looks at me sternly. I open one eye and see a look of disgust on her face. "TomCat, did you do that? Did you bring that mouse to me?"

I get up and stretch, smiling so she can see how pleased I am. She still doesn't appear to be happy. She makes a phone call to a neighbor who comes over with a shovel. They go into the bedroom. The mouse has been deposited on the shovel and the neighbor is carrying it outside. Frannie is crying. Does she feel sorry for the mouse? I only swatted it; it will wake up soon.

I'm wondering now if I did something wrong. I'm wondering if there are going to be any Christmas gifts for me this year.






~ © Frannie (Frannie516@aol.com) ~


November 13, 2003





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Sledding

My Last Christmas Doll

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Love Brings Feelings

When Santa Was A Boy

Snowballing


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