Huge baskets filled with clusters of catnip dangled from
a thirty foot high ceiling.
Twinkling
lights from the rays of the sun danced on green leaves through the overhead skylight
window, and the tiny cracks in the roof dripped just enough rain to make them
grow until they almost touched the floor.
The barn
was sectioned off with everything a cat needed for a happy life. Squeaky fur
mice, dangly string toys, and assorted colored balls filled huge boxes. Comfy
beds and pillows made of denim and velvet, wood scratching posts, litter boxes
and perfumed cat litter were sorted into bundles. And hundreds of bags of dry
kibbles and canned wet food were piled in the center of the floor surrounded by
kitty treats.
Cali
counted her workers. There were eight in total. They were her pilot team, well
trained and reliable. They had gathered enough food, bedding, and toys during
the year to accompany two hundred cats and six dozen kittens on their journey.
Bombie and Angie were the leaders of the team. They
traveled together as a pair. Bombie, the gentle, well-mannered, elegant black
cat that resembled a panther from the jungle, had eyes the color of copper
pennies and was a purebred Bombay. Angie, the long-haired white Angora, could
trace her breed back over four hundred years to 1600. She was strikingly
beautiful and danced like a ballerina. Both were highly intelligent and
believed that every human deserved a special cat to love and be loved.
OK, commanded
CaliClaus, Is our team ready?
Yes indeed, answered Bombie and Angie, as they
moved toward the door together.
Yes indeed, purred Bali the Balinese, who always
had something to say. Yes indeed, sang Ragamuffin, the affectionate cat
that loved everyone. Yes indeed, Chirped Munchkin, trying to stand tall
on her short legs.
Yes indeed, cooed Dollie, the large mild-mannered
combination of the Persian and Siamese cat that became the Ragdoll breed.
Yes indeed, lilted the Scottish Fold twins in
their soft voices, their little ears folded tightly into their heads.
When there
were no cars in sight they ran across the highway one at a time so as not to be
noticed by any passersby. In the distance, they could see the animal shelter
where stray and unwanted cats were taken.
The Shelter was tightly secured with wire fencing and a
gate that had a combination lock. Using a pair of wire cutters, CaliClaus
clipped an opening for them to squeeze through. Then they found a window that
was slightly cracked open.
Dollie, since you are the largest of us, wedge
underneath and push the window open.
The 16 pound obedient Ragdoll did as she was told and,
with a huge effort, pushed the window upward just enough to let the others
through.
What
they saw caused them to stop in their tracks. There were cages from floor to
ceiling filled with cats and kittens. CaliClaus whispered, Over half of them
will be put to sleep before the week is over. The Scottish Fold twins wrapped their paws around each
other, holding each other tightly.
Why
can’t we take them all, and set free the ones that can’t live with people, mewed
Bali, who always had something to say.
Because
they will only be killed by cars or be attacked by raccoons or foxes or
Bobcats, meowed Bombie, her penny colored eyes
half closed with sadness.
Enough of this! We have to choose 200 cats and six
dozen kittens to place in homes
tomorrow night. It’s time to interview and bring them
with us as quickly as possible,
commanded CaliClaus.
It was a
difficult job. Most of the cats chortled, Take Me, Take Me, while the
kittens just cuddled together sleeping peacefully. But there were also a
large number who said they were street cats or wild Feral cats and were happy
living together but not with people.
Then there were the old cats and the sick cats. They were
in a separate area, waiting to be put to sleep. Every cat in the team stayed
away from them, while they slipped open the bolts of the cages and grabbed the
chosen by the scuffs of their necks with their mouths to drop them down to
CaliClaus.
All
except Ragamuffin. She tiptoed past the others, stopping to look into a cage
that held a single black and white old male Tuxedo cat.
You look like me, said the gentle, affectionate
Ragamuffin. Are you a thoroughbred?
No, I’m just a mixture with good markings. I’m twelve
years old. The elderly lady who loved me died. I have arthritis in my legs and
back and I move very slowly. No one wants to adopt an old cat that cannot jump
or play, so they are going to put me to
sleep tomorrow morning. I do not mind, really. I will be at peace because I
have had a very happy life and miss my human.
That’s
terrible, replied Ragamuffin. If you’re part of my family, you were
still a kitten until you were almost five years old. We live a long life. You
could be happy for at least another five years. And, saying that, she ran
back to CaliClaus to ask if there might be a home for this unfortunate feline.
CaliClaus
studied her list and found an old
lady who lived all alone. She had no family and no pets. She had arthritis and
it was difficult for her to walk or go out. So she sat alone and lonely in her
rocking chair waiting to die.
Ragamuffin
ran back to the cage, unlatched it, and helped the old fellow out. Then she
pointed her paw at Dollie.
Please, Dollie, he cannot walk a great distance by
himself. Will you carry him
back to the barn on your back?
When
they returned to the barn Bombie and Angie wrote the names of a family or
person on tiny tags they fastened around the neck of each cat and kitten chosen
to belong to them. When they finished, they saw it was almost Christmas Eve and
they had not yet rounded up the dogs to pull the Contraption they had been
working on all year.
The back
part of the contraption was a huge crate made from the wooden planks that had
once separated the horse stalls. This would be filled with the heavy supplies
that would require eight strong and loyal dogs to pull.
The front was put together with pieces of wire fence that
once surrounded the field. The cats and kittens could look out while CaliClaus
kept a watchful eye on them.
The entire odd-looking structure was attached to a brand
new shiny Harley Davidson that CaliClaus had borrowed from the
motorcycle showroom when no one was looking. It was quite simple to do. She
quietly strode into the outdoor area where the bikes were lined up, jumped on
to the seat as though she was going to take a nap and then, with a quick stab
of her front claw and her magical meow, the bike lifted into the air and
sped away. No one thought anything unusual about a cat in the showroom until
they saw the empty space where the bike had been parked.
After
she returned to the barn, she and her team worked through the night, loading
the beds and toys and food into the back of the contraption and the cats and
kittens into the front.
All right, Ladies, announced
CaliClaus, it’s time to gather up the dogs. You will find them at private
homes where they have been well-trained and can be depended on to listen to
commands. Now, go and bring back eight strong, smart canines to do the job. But
first, sharpen your claws to protect yourselves in case of attack.
One by
one, they exited through the little door and lined up by the big oak tree. One
by one, they stood on their hind legs and furiously scratched the heavy trunk. When
their claws were well sharpened, they scattered in different directions to find
the dogs.
One hour
later, they returned.
Bombie and Angie brought the leader of the pack, a huge
Rottweiler with a powerful body and mean muzzle, and a Doberman Pinscher they
chose as his running mate. The Doberman immediately attacked the Rottweiler,
growling that he was going to be their leader.
The Rottweiler bared his teeth.
Don’t you guys dare bring your baggage into my barn, commanded
CaliClaus. We felines are about to embark on a magical miracle mission. So,
get rid of your macho aggressiveness or go home. Do you understand? Rott
and Pinch sat down.
Now, the rest of you: Raise one paw when I introduce
you.
BEAGLE:
You are part of the Hound family and, although you’re not too bright, you are a
good family dog. As a hunting dog, you are a tireless runner. A happy paw went up.
BOXER: You are a great athlete with your lean,
muscular body and strong legs. You
are also sensitive and proud, but tend to be very
stubborn. A large brown fist of a
paw shot up into the air.
DALMATION: You were bred to run with the horse and
carriage. You have super
energy. You have been a hunter, firehouse dog and
circus performer. Don’t get goofy or even think about tearing apart my
contraption. An elegant spotted
paw went up.
YORKSHIRE
TERRIER: Although you are a tiny fellow, you are highly intelligent. However,
you are difficult to train because you want your own way. Your original job was
in the coalmines getting rid of the rats, so you are clever and confident and
strong for a little guy. A small fluffy
paw went up.
SAMOYED TWINS: You have endurance and power from your
days as reindeer
herders in Siberia. You are gentle and dependable. Try
not to bark too much and don’t chase my cats. You will be at the back of the
line to push the others on. Two white furry paws went up.
Ok, put on your helmets and get into line to tie up to
the Contraption, ordered CaliClaus.
I won’t wear a helmet. It’s for sissies, growled
Boxer.
Oh, yeah, hissed
CaliClaus. It’s time you found out that cats – not dogs – are in charge of
this event. Smart sissies are invited to the party. Dumb arrogant boxers are
not. Go home and take your Attitude with you.
Boxer
slumped toward the door, stepped half-way through, stopped, turned around, put
on his helmet, and took his place in line.
Meanwhile, CaliClaus had other problems.
Which
one of you lifted his leg on the Cat Contraption? Seven heads turned to
look at Yorky. You stupid terriers are all the same. You refuse to be
housebroken. If you can’t hold it in, find a tree. The next time you hit on my
Cat Contraption, you’re dismissed. Do you understand?
Now,
where did Beagle go? Has anyone seen Beagle? In the corner was an empty
bag of cat food with Beagle asleep in the middle. Get
up, you bottomless chowhound. You are about to work this meal off.
With all
the dogs in line tied together, CaliClaus secured the ropes to the Cat
Contraption. In a flash, she shot out her front claw and
quickly tapped each of their noses, being careful not to draw blood. The dogs
were stunned but not hurt.
Then,
the eight feline members of her team fastened their helmets decorated with pink
bows and jumped onto the dogs ------- Bombie
on Rottweiler, Angie on Doberman, Bali on Beagle, Ragamuffin on Boxer, Munchkin
on Yorky, Dollie on Dalmatian and the Scottish Fold twins on the Samoyed twins.
CaliClaus mounted the Harley, gave a loud magical meow,
and the contraption
lifted into the air, climbing high above the trees and
houses, and flew into the clouds pulled by the dogs and cats.
Checking her map, CaliClaus directed her team to 272
homes of the families they had chosen to give these special gifts to.
As they
landed on each roof to bring the cats, kittens, and supplies inside the houses,
people gathered below on the lawns to point and exclaim, “That’s not Santa Claus
and his reindeer. Those are cats and dogs. And, that’s
not a sleigh. It’s some sort of strange contraption.”
It was
almost midnight and all but one cat had been delivered. The contraption struck
the ground with a loud thud in front of a small house where an old lady was
sitting alone, rocking in a wooden chair. Ragamuffin let Tuxedo out. He walked
slowly up the porch steps and looked at her. When she saw him, happy tears
filled her eyes. She reached down and lifted him up into her lap. He cuddled against
her, knowing that both of them had found something to live for.
The
empty Contraption rose again and soared through the sky. Its mission was
completed. When it landed, CaliClaus directed her team to take the dogs back to
their homes. Her team untied them, removed their helmets, and guided them into
their kitchens. It would take several hours for the magic to wear off. They
would not remember their adventure but would find a whole steak as a reward for
being good.
The
contraption was broken in pieces and piled in the corner of the barn. There was
only one chore left. CaliClaus flew the Harley back to the dealership and
returned it to the exact spot she had taken it from. She wished she might be
able to see the confused salespeople explain to the police that their missing
Harley was back where it belonged.
When she
entered the barn, her team welcomed her with a celebration. There was broiled
fresh fish the restaurant owner had given to the beautiful Angora and sweet
Scottish twins when they came to his door. And there were sautéed chicken
breasts the hotel chef had given to Ragamuffin, Munchkin, and Dollie after Bali
charmed him with her voice.
They ate heartily, then lazily dipped their heads into
saucers of warm milk as CaliClaus raised her paw in a toast to her faithful
felines.
You have done well, my Team. Sleep soundly in the
catnip plants because tomorrow we must begin to collect what we need for our
voyage next Christmas.
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