The Tale of the Christmas Mouse

Do animals really speak and make peace on Christmas? My 2012 Christmas story.

The Tale of the Christmas Mouse  

Not all of the house’s inhabitants looked forward to the coming holiday for the gray tiger cat could not get a good day’s snooze with the constant commotion running up to Christmas. Normally throughout the year, she curled up on the back of the sofa with only the old clock chiming to disturb her sleep, but the sounds, sights, and smells of Christmas kept her awake. The family bustled about with presents, goodies, and visitors that promised  a special visit from Santa Claus. Decorations and lights festooned the windows and mantles. Baked cookies and delicacies were sampled and sweet peppermint canes abounded. The children dreamt and giggled in zeal and the parents, though busy in their preparations, recalled fond memories of Christmases past.

One day as the cat dozed in an unusually blissful silent house, the door flew open and the children burst forth followed by mother and father dragging an evergreen tree. With much hullabaloo, the family set up the tree, but to everyone’s surprise, including the cat, a tiny brown dormouse shot out from the tree and ran across the floor. The mother shrieked, the children screamed, and the father yelled. The cat hesitated due to the ruckus, but she instinctively launched off the sofa in pursuit of the mouse. In response to what they imagined came next, the family’s voices rose up again. Much to everyone’s relief, except for the cat, she only snagged the mouse’s tail, which slipped free of her deadly claws. The mouse scurried off elsewhere into the house’s heart.

Tired and embarrassed by her failure, the cat retreated to a not-so-comfortable but quieter spot under a bed. However, her peacefulness did not last long. Despite the echoes of Christmas activity, she detected the tiny pitter-patter of the mouse scurrying along the woodwork to sneak behind a dresser. The cat stretched and yawned, extending her claws in readiness of a renewed attack. She watched  as the mouse squeezed under the closet door to disappear from view. The cat resumed its snooze until another shriek was let loose by a child.

Days passed and as Christmas approached, the cat ventured out despite the noise, mayhem, and disturbances. On quieter days, she curled up under the decorated tree comforted by its outdoor scent. Even with it decorated, she gazed up through the branches imagining birds perching ready for the snatching, but the only birds are motionless ornaments. One night after a day when the preparations in the house had reached a climax and since gone quiet, the cat slumbered beneath the tree amidst the colorfully wrapped presents.

When a bell tinkled, she detected the mouse above amongst the Christmas ornaments. As the tiny mouse made its way from branch to branch, he froze upon spotting the cat below licking its long, greedy whiskers. As the cat eyed its quarry and got to her feet, the old clock chimed twelve. With that, the mouse jumped down to the lowest branch, and the cat retracted her claws.

The mouse spoke in a tiny gentle voice. “I know it is in your nature to hunt me, my feline friend but on this special night, I feel it is but one safe time for me.”

“Indeed, mouse. Normally, I must pursue your kind, but tonight, the urge has passed,” the cat purringly replied. “And so, I feel it is safe for you to come down without a fear of harm.”

The mouse jumped down and inched toward the cat. In those few special seconds, they touched noses in peace. Together they laid down under the Christmas tree.

“A special night most surely, my tiny fleet friend,” the cat said. “I suggest a shared friendship for all animal kind and to those larger occupants of this house.”

“I agree pal and with you I celebrate this single night free from fear and distress to happily breathe free in peace.”

 Merry Christmas!

 

(For past Christmas stories online, check out: Neal N.Y. at WritersCafe.com.) yrreM samtsirhC!