THE CHRISTMAS KITTEN

By

Barbara Foster

            Tippy was a four month old kitten that lived with his mother and two sisters as well as two uncles and two aunts.  He loved playing with his sisters and occasionally his uncles would play with him.

            He loved playing hide and seek with anyone who would play with him or wrestling.  He thought it was fun to climb a little ways up the tree and wait for one of his sisters or aunts to come by and jump down to scare them.  Of course, that meant he would be chased and usually bowled over when caught and wrestled until he begged to be let up.  But after a while, he would do it again until he got tired of the game.

            Tippy was a pretty kitten with long dark fur.  He had four white feet and white around his face and under his chin but he got his name because of the white tip at the end of his tail.  He knew he was pretty and he loved to be petted but at the same time was a little bit afraid of the big people who lived in the house and who came out to feed him.  He allowed them to pick him up but he still was afraid.  He tried to be brave so they wouldn’t see that he was afraid but also so that his family would see that he was brave.

            When they would put him down, he scampered off looking back over his shoulder as if to say, “Ha Ha, I got away.”

            When Tippy and his sisters were born, it was warm and he never had to worry about being cold but then for the first few weeks he was close to his mother who protected her three kittens and if it was a cool night, she wrapped herself around them to keep them warm.

            Tippy felt safe when he was near his mother.  Even now that he was weaned and could go play on his own.  He still liked to be close to her and at night would lie next to her feeling her warmth but it also meant he would be safe as he knew she would protect him.  His sisters would join them sometimes.

            But the weather was turning cold and all the cats found places where they could get in out of the wind and could huddle together to keep warm.

            One morning when Tippy woke up and looked out from under the wood pile where he and his mother and sisters had slept, he closed his eyes to look again.  What was that?  Everything was white.  He noticed his mother was gone and he made his way away from the shelter he had during the night. 

            “Oh,” he said as his paw touched the white stuff.  It was cold and wet.  He licked his paw and backed back inside to look out.  He cried out to his mother who came running.

            “What is it?”

            “What is that stuff?  It is cold and wet on my feet,” he told her.

            “It is snow,” she told him.  Looking at the other two kittens that were wide eyed now, she told them.  “You will have to jump and run as fast as you can to the area where the food is.  You will be all right.  Just follow me.”

            The mother cat turned and began her jumping as she made her way towards the house where the food would be waiting.  The porch had been cleared so it would be dry for them as they ate and fresh water had been put out since the other had frozen overnight.

            Tippy stepped out, but he didn’t like this stuff, but with his biggest jump, he began jumping as his mother had done followed by his sisters and soon they were all gathered on the porch to eat.

            His aunts and uncles were there too and after all had eaten and got a good drink of water, the older cats looked out over the snow and one of his uncles said, “I guess there will be no hunting until this is gone.”

            Tippy looked up at him, “Uncle Freddie, when will it go away?”

            His uncle looked at him, “Don’t worry little guy, it won’t last to long.  Today will be a good day for snuggling up and sleeping.”  With that being said, his uncle jumped from the porch and headed towards a shed where he had sought shelter the night before. 

            Tippy watched as he disappeared and looked at his other uncle who shrugged.  “I guess I might as well join him.” 

            Tippy’s sisters were complaining they were cold and their feet were cold and wet.  Their mother told them, “Go back to the wood pile and snuggle up.  You’ll be warm soon.”  As they started off, she called out, “Be sure to wash your feet.”

            She looked at Tippy, “You better go with them.”

            He looked up at his mother and then rubbed against her.  He loved her so much.  “Will you come too?”

            She looked around, “I’ll be there in a little bit.  I’m going to look around.”  She hoped she could find a warmer place for her and the kittens.  The snow had started before she realized it and they were caught in the wood pile but it was cramped and if this lasted for a day or two they would need more room to move about.

            She knew her brothers wouldn’t want the kittens to be underfoot all day so she had to find another place where they could at least play.”

            Tippy watched as his mother jumped off the porch and headed away from the house.  He looked towards the wood pile and as much as he hated it, he made his way back to it and found his sisters all curled up together.  He snuggled in with them trying to warm himself as he waited for his mother to return.

            He heard a noise and again went to the opening where he could look out.  He saw the children who lived in the house outside playing in the snow.  He stood there and watched as they gathered the snow up and made a pile of it.  They were putting sticks in the side of it and put a hat on it and then began putting rocks in for the eyes and nose.  He looked at the house as the woman came out with a scarf to give the children and they wrapped it around the pile of snow.  What were they doing, he wondered.

            He continued to watch as they laid down on the ground and moved their arms and legs and then laughed as they got up.  They ran around in the snow throwing it at each other.  Tippy didn’t understand what they were doing or how they could be out in that cold wet stuff.  He was cold and went back to cuddle with his sisters and fell asleep.

            He woke up later and wondered where his mother was.  She should have been back by now.  He went to the opening and looked outside.  He couldn’t see her but decided to go to the porch to see if she was there waiting.  He hated it but soon was jumping and leaping through the snow.  When he got to the porch, his mother wasn’t there.  No one was there.  He looked around and decided he would follow her steps in the snow.

            He jumped down from the porch and noticed she had gone around the house the other way so he made his way, keeping track of the tracks she had made earlier.  He had come around the house and was near the pile of snow the children had made.  He walked around it and looked at it.  It looked strange and he wondered why they had done that.  Oh well, he continued on but now he couldn’t find his mother’s tracks and with the snow, he couldn’t even get her scent.  He sat down and cried out, “Mother, where are you?  Where did you go?”

            There was no answer and Tippy was getting worried.  His mother never left them for long and now with this, he thought she should be there with them.  He had to find her and so he made a jump out into the snow and looked around for her tracks.  He wasn’t watching where he was going and soon he had moved far away from the house.

            It was getting dark and everywhere he looked, it was just white.  He could see the house but it was so far away and now he wasn’t sure that was his house.  It looked different.  He looked around again and called out, “Mother, where are you?”

            Tippy was beginning to be afraid.  It was getting darker and colder and he didn’t know which way to go.  Maybe he should stay right there and keep calling.  Maybe one of his aunts or uncles or his mother would hear him and come get him.  He sat down, shivering in the cold snow and began to cry out.  He continued with his mewing, getting loud at times hoping someone would hear him and come get him.

            It was dark and now he had no idea which way to go.  Everything looked the same.  He couldn’t see the wood pile from where he was and no matter how much he cried out, he hadn’t been able to see anyone or have them come rescue him.

            He shivered and wished now that he hadn’t gone so far.  He didn’t know how he would stay warm out here in this cold snow by himself.  He huddled down tucking his feet under him and wrapping his tail around himself with his nose buried in it to help keep the heat in.  He was still cold and shivered every little bit.  He couldn’t sleep because of the cold and the shivering.  He had to try one more time.

            He sat up and let out the loudest meow he could muster and hoped his mother or someone would hear him.

            He heard a voice and continued to cry.  Someone had heard him and was coming to him.  He cried out again and again as the voice grew louder.  It was the voice of one of the children.  He looked around but there was no place to hide and he didn’t want to be held.  He wanted to find his mother and cuddle up next to her and listen to her purring as he fell asleep.

            The little girl was close now and talking softly to him.  “Come here Tippy.  How did you get out here?”  She reached for him but he was afraid and tried to run away.  But the snow was too much and she reached down to pick him up and held him close to her.  “Tippy, you are cold.  How did you get so far away?”  She was walking back to the house as Tippy kept looking around.

            It felt good to feel the warmth from her but it wasn’t his mother and he thought maybe she was taking him to his mother.  But as they got closer to the house, the little girl stepped up on the porch and opened the door and carried him inside.

            Immediately Tippy could feel the warmth and looked around.  He had never been in here before.  He heard more voices as more people came to the little girl and soon he was being taken from her.  He grabbed on to her, holding on as long as he could but the pull was stronger as he was pulled away from her and held by another child.

            Then a bigger person came over and took him.  She looked at him and petted him and then talked to the children.  Tippy didn’t understand what she was saying but the children began running to another room and he was still being held by the big person as she followed.

            He heard noises and got scared and tried to get away.  But the big person kept hold on him and wouldn’t let him down.

            Then he felt himself being let down.  He thought he would fall and was squirming as the big person bent over to put him on the ground near a bowl with food.  He realized he was hungry but he looked around for his mother and sisters.  He didn’t even see his aunts or uncles.  He looked at the food but then looked around again and seeing a dark corner, he ran as fast as he could to it and hid.

            As the children came close to him, he hissed and huddled down closer.  He wanted to find his mother and he didn’t know where he was.  This was warm and not cold like where he had been but he didn’t see any of his family and he was afraid.  He stayed crouched down for a long time and then when he didn’t see anyone around, he slowly made his way out.  The food was inviting and he slowly walked over to the dish and smelled it and then took a bite and then another and soon was eating.  He ate what he wanted and took a drink of water and then looked around some more.

            He sat down and began to cry.  “Mother.”

            The children came running which scared him and he ran back to his hiding place.  Where was his mother?  Why didn’t she come for him?  He was tired but he couldn’t go to sleep.  He might miss his mother if she came.

            It was quiet again and he slowly came out and ventured a little farther this time.  But when he began to call out for his mother, the children came again.  But this time they didn’t run up to him and walked over slowly and talked to him.

            He sat there looking at them, trying very hard not to close his eyes as he was so sleepy.  He shook his head trying to stay awake as he had to find his mother.  Maybe he could let them know he wanted his mother.  He let out a meow, “Mother, where are you?”  He did it again and the little girl picked him up.

            “Tippy, it is okay.  You can stay in here with us now.”  She was holding him tight and petting him. Soon the other child, a little boy, came over and started petting and talking to him.

            Tippy couldn’t wait and soon his eyes closed and he was asleep.  But he didn’t sleep to long and when he woke, he began his crying again.  He wanted his mother and he was going to find her.  He was still being held but squirmed and squirmed and finally got away from the little girl and went running.   He found the door where they had come in and he stood there meowing loudly.  “Mother, Mother, Mother.” 

            It was several hours later when Tippy finally gave up.  Somehow he was lost and he would never see his mother or sisters again.  And he wouldn’t see his aunts or uncles or play with them.  He was so tired that he gave in the sleep and soon was sleeping soundly.  He dreamed about playing with his sisters, aunts and uncles and being close to his mother.  He thought he heard her once and opened his eyes.

            It was dark and quiet in this new place as he began to walk around and explore his new surroundings.  He even ate some more and took a drink of water.  He noticed a box and went over to see what it was.  He stepped inside it and began to paw around.  He needed to relieve himself and this would work out fine.  When he finished, he covered it up and stepped out of the box to look around some more.

           

            Tippy made it through the night with periods of sleeping and exploring.  He hid though when he heard the voices and the children came running from another part of the house.  He watched as they sat down and was doing something.  He was curious and came out to stretch to see what they were doing.  He couldn’t see but they were laughing at him and Tippy didn’t know what to think.  Was he doing something wrong?  He went back to his hiding place and soon the children were by the door.  This would be his chance.  If they opened it, he could run outside and find his mother today.

            But he never got the chance as when the door opened; the big person was there and grabbed him before he got outside.  He began to cry for his mother and then he saw her on the porch.

            She looked at him and closed her eyes telling him it was okay.  He cried out to her again but the door closed and he couldn’t see her.  He had seen her look and knew she was there and she knew where he was, so why didn’t she come get him.

            He had to see her and noticed a window.  But he couldn’t get up there.  He touched the curtain and then sunk in his claws as he climbed to the sill.  He sat there looking out onto the porch.  He could see his mother, his sisters, his aunt and his uncle Freddie.  He meowed calling to them but they couldn’t hear him.

            Tippy sat there for a long time watching and hoping they would come back and he could be with his family again.  But they were gone.  He couldn’t see them anywhere.  He looked around and the ground seemed a long way down but he jumped and walked slowly into the room where the food bowl was.

            The big person was there and began talking to him.  He was so tired.  He finished eating and walked back into the room with the door and laid down by it.  He went to sleep and had a nice long nap.

           

            As the day wore on, he had explored the entire house and even found the little girl’s bed.  He knew it was hers as he could smell her scent on it.  He even took a nap on it as it was soft and warm.

            Maybe this wouldn’t be too bad, he thought.  It was warm and he had plenty of food and the children weren’t all that bad.  He stood in the middle of the room looking at the big person.  Even she was nice, not like his mother, but nice.  He allowed her to pick him up and he found himself snuggling up against her as she petted and talked to him.  He kind of liked being held and petted this way.

            When she put him down, he meowed, not wanting to leave her.  But she walked away so he scampered after her.  He watched her all day until the children came home.  At first, he ran as their noise scared him but then he came out and soon he was allowing them to pick him up and he liked being held by them.

            Tippy had found a new home.  He would see his family from the window but he wouldn’t be with them anymore.  He missed them but he also liked his new family and he wasn’t cold anymore.  He wondered if his mother and sisters were warm.  He wanted to talk to them to find out but he only saw them through the window every morning.

            He heard a noise one night and went to another door.  It was his mother.  She was on the other side of the door, so were his sisters and his aunts and uncles.  He could hear them all.  He began meowing, talking to his mother. 

            She told him the big person had let them inside as it was getting to cold outside for them and that they had food and water and they were fine.  She asked how he was doing and told him, “Tippy you have a new family now.  They love you and you must forget about us.  We will be all right.”

            “But I want to see you and talk to you.  I want to play with my sisters and Uncle Freddie.”

            “It can’t be.  You have been chosen to be the Christmas kitten and you will live with the new family now.”

            “What is a Christmas kitten?” he asked.

            His mother told him, “Every year when the cold and snow comes, it also brings Christmas, a time of celebration of our creator’s son’s birth.  Sometimes when there are kittens at that time, it is hard for me to keep you all warm and safe and so I make sure that one of you will be a Christmas kitten and find a nice warm home.”

            “But why did you pick me?”  Tippy was almost ready to cry as he wanted to see his mother and be with her so much.

            “I didn’t.  I left but I could see all of you.  I didn’t know which one would come out to look for me when I didn’t return and then I saw you come out and I knew you would be the one.”

            “You saw me and you heard me but you didn’t come get me.”  Tippy just couldn’t understand how his mother would abandon him that way.  “Don’t you love me anymore?”

            “I love you very much just as I love your sisters but I had to give one of you up and I couldn’t decide.  I had to let one of you decide that you were going to become the special kitty.  So you need to love your new family and they will love you back.  I will never forget you.”

            Tippy stood there feeling sad.  He loved his mother and his family but he was also fond of the children and the big person.  He would miss his mother and sisters a lot but if his mother said it was okay, then he would stay here and he would be good.  “Good bye Mother.  I love you.”

            “I love you too.  I’ll be watching you and you can see me when I come up on the porch but we won’t be together anymore.”

            Tippy slept that night dreaming of his mother and sisters but also of his new family.  He woke the next morning and greeted the children and the big person with purrs and rubbing against their legs to let them know he loved them.

            The children were delighted that Tippy had accepted them and now they had their Christmas kitty.

Copyright © 2010