Dropping his sack , he stood silently studying the small stocking hung on the mantle. First he pulled a pair of spectacles from thin air and then reaching into his sack brought up an electronic tablet. Turning it on and typing something, he waited a few seconds and then said, "Ah yes, Miss Annabelle Snowballinsky-Igmieukowski lives her and she would like a teddy mouse with pink sparkly dress."
Snapping his claws, a small stuffed mouse with movable arms and legs appeared and flew into the stocking. Then tapping his claw against his cheek, he thought to himself out loud, "Ah yes the pink sparkly dress." Suddenly the mouse was wearing a dress.
"And she'll need a nightgown and a snowsuit and a dress that's not too fancy," he cataloged as he reached into his sack and stuffed the items into the stocking which grew larger as each one was added to it. Oh yes and pair of ice skates and a special from Santa candy cane. He smiled as he added the last few things to the stocking. And then standing back he looked it over and declared it perfect.
"Isn't he supposed to say, ho, ho, ho or something," Squig whispered, breaking Santa's concentration.
He twirled around and stared into four pairs of awe struck eyes. He frowned a little, concentrating on Trixie as if there was something about her that worried him. And then smiling, proclaimed, "Little Trixie Catotsky, I finally found you after all these years. I do believe that you wanted a pale blue sparkling bird with a real feather tail. He turned and dug deep into his sack, routed around a bit and held out exactly what she had asked for. "You moved on Christmas Eve and I couldn't find you, but here is your kitten heart's desire."
Trixie took the stuffed bird and cradled it against her chest for a minute and then sighing, handed it back to Santa. "There's a homeless kitten who lives near me, I think this would really make her Christmas special. She has lost so much, please give it to her."
"Now Trixie, Santa knows all about little Candy, and has something special for her already, including the ingredients for a wonderful Christmas dinner. This bird is yours and I want you to have it.
Squig's head was about to explode as he watched the touching scene in front of him. "What am I," he squawked," the only cat on the planet Santa had nothing for. If you can find the homeless, why in the hell couldn't you find me?"
Santa spun around and giving Squig a decided stink eye declared. "Little Squiggles Igmieukowski I do believe on Christmas morning you found three little mice who when you placed them together all squeaked and ran in different directions."
"Yes, but Dweezil gave me.." he stopped as everyone in the room turned to stare at Dweezil.
"It wasn't fair, " he proclaimed in righteous indignation. "You were getting a Santa gift and I wasn't ."
"Because, " Santa said emphatically, "You received your teddy mouse the year before." And staring him straight in the eye, why did you let Squig believe that you gave him those mice instead of me?
Dweezil deflated like a balloon, and said, quietly, "because I wanted him to like me."
For the first time, Squig saw the vulnerability that was underneath all of Dweezil's bombast and bossiness and said as he through his arms around him. "Like you, Dweeze, I loved you. I was an only kitten and suddenly I had this wonderful big brother who played with me and watched out for me and even let me snuggle up when I was afraid. How could you possibly think I didn't like you."
Santa sighed deeply and said, "Well I can't have a kitten thinking I neglected him, "What would you like, Squiggles? What is your heart's desire?"
Squig paused, and looked at his family and girlfriend and thought about the little lady upstairs and how excited she was going to be this morning when she woke up and saw that teddy mouse, and smiling, said, "Not a thing, Santa. I already have my heart's desire. It's all right here around me."
"Well, if you will excuse me, it's getting late and I have places to go and stockings to fill." Santa boomed heartily and then laying a finger aside of his nose, he winked at them all and up the chimney he rose. And they heard him exclaim as he rode out of sight,
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.
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