Giblet’s First Christmas

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A Giblet & Belle Story

Author’s note,

As many of you know, we lost Giblet this Fall.  He was with us for 14+ years and left us much too quickly.  This story was written in the summer when Giblet was still putting up with two-a-day insulin shots and special dietary food.  Giblet knew when it was time for his shot and would sit still and be allowed to be poked. Perhaps, he knew that these shots were helping him

Giblet actually did come to us the day before Thanksgiving, rail-thin, when our daughter was about three and Mac was a baby.  I portray him as a grouch, but he loved the children and often slept with Alex.  The following story is not intended to be sad. Instead, it is a celebration of love and giving at this time of year; The mutual love that a dear pet and their family share for one another, and the giving of home to a creature in need.

 

So without further ramblings from me, please enjoy Giblet’s First Christmas.

 

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It was Christmas Eve, and the house was a beehive of activity. The Christmas Tree was up and decorated in anticipation of the big day tomorrow. This was the first Christmas that both Person-Kittens were old enough to really understand the holiday, so they took it upon themselves to make sure every square inch of the house had some decoration for Santa.

Including the cats…

After the Person-kittens showed off Joel to their mother, complete with a pointy elf hat, green jacket, and red-striped knickers, she smiled and commented how nice he looked and then proceeded to help return Joel to normal. Joel, of course, took the whole situation with his usual mellow cattitude.

Joel Grey was the family’s Russian Blue and a favorite of the children because he was exceptionally laid back and didn’t mind the kids trying to dress him up as an elf. Joel sat down and proceeded to groom his fur while the kids ran off to decorate the dog before they had to go to bed.

“Enjoying yourself, Joel?” Mittens asked with a smile as she and Mckayla walked into the living room and sat in front of the Christmas tree.

“Yeah, I am,” the Russian Blue responded, with his thick West Virginia accent. “Them kids don’t mean no harm, and I like makin em happy.”

“You’re a good cat Joel,” Mckayla commented. She was the senior cat of the clowder at seventeen years old. Everyone, cats and people, looked up and respected her.

“Have you talked to Giblet today?” Mittens asked, getting to the reason for this impromptu meeting.

“No, he was on his blanket upstairs when last I seen him.”

“Has he talked to you today?” Mckayla followed up.

“No. Still quiet as a church mouse, but he’s lookin better. I think he has put on some weight over the last four weeks, and he’s groomin himself some more than before,” Joel observed.

“That little cat has a lot of walls up, an he jus won’t let us in,” Joel summarized.

“Well, we all know why. Giblet’s been a stray since he was born,” McKayla meowed. “He doesn’t want to get too comfortable to anyplace and have to move.” The other two cats nodded in agreement.

“Ahn he done lost his brother, to boot,” Joel added.

“Well, it’s been over a cat month since he joined us. So I think I will go upstairs and invite him down here to see the Christmas tree,” Mittens said, reaching a decision.

McKayla and Joel watched Mittens walk off. Even though Mckayla was the senior cat, all the cats acknowledged that Mittens ran the show. After all, very few cats in the world were Protectors, and fewer still were as accomplished in the field as Mittens.

Mittens walked into the Master Bedroom where Giblet had been staying since the family found him, sick and half-starved in the yard the day before Thanksgiving. Giblet’s brother, who was with him that day, had passed over the rainbow bridge.

The pain of that loss would be with Giblet for the rest of his life, Mittens knew from experience.

The Woman and Man Persons had scooped up the sick, bone-thin kitten and took him to the vet. When they finally brought him home, they set up a cat bed in their room to administer the medicine he needed throughout the day. Finally, after a solid month of ministering, he looked better, still thin, but better.

“Hello, Giblet,” Mitten’s purred. “How are you feeling?”

The skinny tabby-kitten did not respond. Giblet kept staring off into space. Then, after what seemed like a full minute, he turned and looked at Mittens.  He spoke his usual one-word response, “Fine.”

“I want you to come downstairs and see the Christmas tree. It is all decorated for Christmas tomorrow.”

The number of times that Giblet had left the bedroom could be counted on one paw. And, as far as anyone knew, he had never ventured downstairs.

After another minute, Giblet doubled his usual response to one word and one contraction; “What’s Christmas?”

Christmas is a people holiday that is celebrated in this house.  It brings families and friends together and, It’s a time of giving and joy.  The holiday is for Children primarily. However, older people seem to like it too,” Mittens waited for a beat and then added,  “I would really like you to come down and see the tree.”

Mittens had a knack for making the most benign suggestion sound compulsory; it was part of what made her such a good leader and Protector.

Giblet thought about ignoring the request. However, he decided to relent because he did not feel like arguing, and the quicker this was over with, the faster he could return to his blanket. The skinny tomcat got up, stretched, and followed Mittens out of the room. Along the way, the Protector talked to him.

“We are all glad you are here with us, and you are looking a lot better,” Mittens waited for a response; however, she could sense that none was going to be forthcoming. “I know there is a void in your spirit where your brother once was, and that will never leave you. Although, with time, the loss you have will soften,” Mittens said with sympathy.

“I’ll never forget my brother,” he replied, sounding offended that she could think such a thing.

“And you shouldn’t forget him. Your brother will be a part of you forever. Eventually, however, you will be able to look at the loss—and remember the better times—not the bad ones.”

They arrived at the big tree in the living room. Mckayla and Joel nodded to them as they approached the great tree that was the centerpiece of the family’s celebration. Its multi-colored lights twinkled and reflected off the glass ornaments, making pretty patterns on the walls and ceiling.

The room’s coziness was amplified by the remnants of a fire crackling in the fireplace. And outside, Giblet could see snow coming down through the front windows.

It will be cold outside tonight for cats without homes, Joel thought to himself, remembering his own time as a stray.

“What are all those packages for?” Giblet asked after a few cat minutes, looking under the tree.

“Those are gifts. Family and friends give them to each other this time of year and acknowledge the connection people have with each other.  People try to find something that has meaning for another person and find a gift to represent that connection.  Christmas morning is when the gifts are opened,” Mittens explained.

Giblet continued to stare at the tree with layered vision. The other cats were quiet and respectful, gentle with their new friend.

“Giblet, there’s a present under the tree for you,” Joel said in a soft purr. “I’m sure it would be okay to open it now.”

Mittens went under the edge of the tree and pushed a small, brightly colored box towards the kitten. “Go on, open it,” she purred to him. The other two cats both looked on with encouragement.

“I don’t want it,” Giblet responded.

“I happen to know it’s for you,” Mittens insisted.

“It’s rude to turn down a gift,” Mckayla added.

Giblet looked at the box and back at the other cats. Sighing deeply, he began opening the gift with his front paws but without any enthusiasm. When the ribbon was off, the lid popped open. He looked inside and saw a bright silver tag with his name. Under his name was the address of this People’s house. Confused, he looked up questioningly to the three cats watching him.

“The Woman-Person got that for you, and the two People-Kittens helped wrap it and put it in the box,” McKayla said.

“That there is your tag, so’s everyone knows where you live,” Joel added.

“This is your forever home now, Giblet,” Mittens assured him, her eyes shining. “We are your forever family. You will never be a stray again.”

Giblet reached in and patted the silver tag with his paw, then looked at the cats watching him.

“You mean it? I won’t have to leave this house?”

“No, you won’t have to leave,” Mittens confirmed. “Ever,” McKayla stressed.

 

He tipped the box over and began pushing the little tag around on the floor with his paws. Then, after a cat minute, and for the first time since they knew him, Giblet began a low soft purr, his eyes welling up with tears.

Giblet’s new family gathered around him, and each took a turn licking his head as he held his new tag between his paws.

After a while, they all settled down to look at the Christmas tree, bathed in the warmth and belonging of family.

This was Giblet’s first Christmas, and it was the best Christmas ever.

 

 

 

*To my cat and friend Giblet Paws Cat.  Forever in my heart.