Christmas Magic

The cat sat in the snowy road, oblivious to the cold. The snow slowly drifted down, covering his soft fur. Still, he didn't move. In the distance, the sound of sleigh bells could be heard. It was Christmas Eve and magic filled the air.

The cat watched the ground, as a small trail appeared in the road. It didn't travel in a straight line, but rather zigged and zagged across the snow. Yawning, the cat stretched, and then stalked along the path, sneaking up on the creature who seemed unaware of the felines presence.

"You're late," the cat hissed.

"Ahhh!" A tiny mouse jumped into the air, startled by the sudden appearance of the cat. "Maxamillion," the mouse squeaked, "Why do you insist on always giving me a heart attack?"

"Why do you always insist on being afraid of me, Lenny?"

"I'm not afraid if you, but you aren't like other cats either."

"I'm just like other cats. Pointy ears, tail, fur ... Sharp teeth for eating mice." Max leered at the mouse, showing off his teeth.

"Knock it off," Lenny said, pushing the cat away with a tiny paw.  "We don't have long. Santa will be here soon."

"Well there wouldn't be such a rush if you weren't late."

"You try walking through the snow when you're only 2 inches. I couldn't even see where I was going."

"I guess I should just be glad you made it. I haven't seen Jack anywhere."

"He's not coming."

"What do you mean he's not coming? This was his idea!"

"Yeah, that's Jack," Lenny said, "full of big ideas, but no carry through. He decided to stay behind with the kid ... Just in case things don't work out."

"Meaning he doesn't think we can do it. You know, one night a year that Christmas magic let's us talk, and yet he doubts that we can pull off a little thing like this."

"Well, I have to admit, I have my doubts. We are after all, planning to highjack Santa's sleigh."

"Not highjack," Max mewled. "Borrow."

"Forcefully." Lenny said.

"Persuasively. And for a good cause."

That good cause was just down the road, in the company of Jack, a very persuasive, yet timid Saint Bernard. A little girl that all three animals loved with all their hearts. For a moment, Max wondered about the wisdom of what they were about to try and do, but then he thought of that little girl and pictured her face, and he knew he would move the world for her, if he could. 

The sound of sleigh bells were closer and Max and Lenny hurried and hid behind a tree. The snow, which was already shining bright, began to glow brighter, until the air was almost luminescent. In the sky, a sleigh being pulled by 8 reindeer appeared and the two animals realizes a failure in their plan. Neither one of them could fly.

The sled flew overhead, and Max stared in awe at the sight of the jolly man in the seat. What's more, the man was watching Max, a smile on his face and a gleeful Ho Ho Ho booming from his mouth.  Santa pulled on the reins and the reindeer circled the cat and mouse before landing the sled on the ground.

"Max, Lenny," Santa said, greeting them, "I was hoping I'd see you tonight."

"You know us?" Lenny squeaked.

"Of course I know you," Santa laughed. "I know everything about you, and Jack, and how you take care of little Anna."

"Then you know why we are here," Max said, feeling the disappointment spread through him. He knew it had been hopeless. Jack was right to doubt their success.

"No, he was not right," Santa said, startling the cat.

"You know what we planned to do?" Max asked. He felt a little ashamed, but not too ashamed. He loved that little girl and would still try to move the world for her, if he could, just to make her happy.

"Yes," Santa said.

"So you'll let us borrow your sleigh?" Lenny asked.

"Nooo." Santa said, with  a twinkle in his eye. "But I will give you a ride back to the house. It's cold out here and there is a little girl who is going to be missing you when she sees that you are gone."

"She doesn't need us," Max said. "She needs her mom, and her mom is on the other side of the world right now. That's why we need your sled, so we can bring her home."

"You don't need my sleigh for that," Santa said, "Just a little Christmas magic and a little faith. Now hop on in and away we go."

The two animals climbed into the sleigh, but they were both afraid to hope. Anna's mom was supposed to be home for Christmas, but her plane had been grounded because of the snow. There was no way she'd be home in time.

Santa's sleigh rose into the air and flew toward Anna's house. The house should have been dark. Anna and her father should be asleep. But the house was lit up. As they got closer, they could hear Jack barking with joy. Even better, Max's sharp ears caught the sound of laughter. It sounded like Anna.

"What is going on?" Lenny asked.

Then through the window, they saw Anna's mom. She was home.

"How?" Max wondered.

"Christmas magic, cat," one of the reindeer said. And then the sleigh landed on the ground and Santa ushered the cat and mouse out of the sled.  The two said their goodbyes, both filled with wonder, and then rushes through the flap on the door so they could join the festivities.

 Everyone was so happy, hugging each other, saying Merry Christmas, singing songs and listening to Anna's mom explain how she manages to find a plane to bring her home. Everyone was so caught up in her story about a strange man who offered her, and the other military men and women on leave a ride in his private jet, and how that jet seemed to be able to move at a strangely fast speed, that no one noticed as Santa put presents under the tree before taking off for the next house on his list... No one that is except for Jack, who was too timid to even say hi.