A Small Christmas "Tail"-Final

Alas, all things must come to an end. And so it is with this Small Christmas Tail...

A Small Christmas "Tail"-Final

When the Man opened the door to let him inside, Casey discovered a surprise. The living room was full of people. And since there wasn't a stranger among them, he didn't even need to bark once. He wagged his stubby tail and went from person to person, greeting each one in turn. Even the most insatiable attention seeker would be satisfied with the number of  pats and ear scratches he received. 


Then the Lady appeared carrying a huge tray filled with delicious smelling food. The air around it made his mouth water with the aroma of ham, turkey, sausage, and cheese. Casey sat as close to to the tray as possible, but knew better than to sneak a nibble. As usual, his patience paid off. He received a juicy morsel of ham from the Man which was so tasty, he swallowed it whole.

The entire room seemed filled with smiling faces. But contentment soon turned to excitement once the people began to exchange wrapped packages of all sizes and shapes. Casey watched paper drift to the floor as treasures were uncovered amidst exclamations of delight.

And then, the Lady held out a package for him!

She held it while Casey's teeth eagerly ripped paper off in bits and pieces until he discovered a fine new fleece toy. He mouthed it and was rewarded by a thrilling squeak. This prompted him to prance around the room, making it squeak with every step. The people laughed, so he ran three more laps before dropping the toy and smiling a doggy smile of his own. He couldn't remember when he'd had such a marvelous time.

Much later, after each guest had bundled up and left, Casey rested his muzzle on his new toy. The Lady and the Man sat close together, talking quietly while the fireplace snapped and crackled with warmth. Suddenly Casey lifted his head.

How silly to look for a single word to describe the meaning of Christmas. No doubt Christmas did include fun, sharing, home, and peace. But there was something else, too. He abandoned his toy and jumped on the couch to snuggle between the Man and the Lady. Casey pondered the evening's events until just the right word came to mind. And in his opinion, it was the best one of all.

Love.

Love is the meaning of Christmas. It's the thread that sews all the pieces together, neatly as his new fleece toy. He watched as Sasha stalked to the tree and batted an ornament. Yes, he decided, even love for a cantankerous cat is part of the magic of Christmas. And wouldn't it be perfect if that same magic filled every day of the year?

Casey yawned. He knew that to be a question for another day. And then, as the Lady gently stroked his head, the little dog fell asleep in the flickering light of the fire.

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From all of us at Critter Alley, may this holiday season grant you fun, shared blessings, a happy home, peace, and love.