STICKS AND THE CHRISTMAS KITTEN (standard:adventure, 1387 words)
Author: Rosie Jay	Added: Sep 26 2006	Views/Reads: 3328/2182	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Savvy young Freddie Ferguson recounts an accidental episode on Christmas Eve involving his best friend, Sticks and a stray kitten. Poignantly told, with humor.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story


It felt weird--Sticks standing in one spot for a change and Ma getting
all misty-eyed. 

Then Sticks asked, straight-out.  “Mrs. Ferguson, can I ask a favor? 
Being Christmas Eve and all, I’m going to the grocery store for my mom 
before it closes.  Can I leave the kitten here for a few minutes?  I 
won’t be long.  I’d sure like to find out if he belongs to someone, 
that’s all.” 

When Ma agreed he handed me the kitten and slipped out. 

For a minute, everything was swell.  Then Buddy got wind of things.  He
tromped in the room, sniffed at the kitten and started whimpering. 

That’s when things got nuts.  The kitten got scared, jumped from my arms
and ran to safety behind our Christmas tree in the corner.  Buddy 
started the chase and the tree was tipping from all the commotion. 

But Ma, she caught it in time.  “Quick,” she yelled, “open the back door
and let Buddy out!” 

So I did—only the kitten got there first!  In a flash he was out the
door and into the night.  Ma and me, we stood there helpless while 
Buddy was still hyped-up, whining like crazy in the backyard. 

Gosh, I felt bad, but Ma felt awful.  Sticks’ tender side really got to
her.  “Oh, Freddie, how will we ever tell him?” she kept saying. 

It was tough.  When he got back, he just stood there, listening while we
explained, the smile slowly draining off his face.  “It’s okay,” he 
finally said.  “I’m sure the kitten will find a home.” 

When he left, he didn’t even hop the shrubs. 

Christmas Eve or not, what just happened was a real downer.  Ma and me,
we both agreed that it was a really nice thing Sticks wanted to do—and 
we just blew it for him. 

On Christmas morning though, Ma tried to put the incident behind her,
and after church we exchanged presents.  I got a brand new sweater and 
scarf.  I’d been saving up, so I gave her those fluffy blue slippers 
she’d been eyeing at Dorson’s Cut Rate.  Then, since Mrs. Pentoli was 
coming for dinner, Ma got busy in the kitchen.  When Sticks showed up 
unexpectedly at two-o’clock, she was surprised and very happy, this 
time herself letting him in. 

“I can only stay a minute,” he told Ma, “but I wanted to give you this.”
He handed her a small present.  Inside were two nice hankies with 
purple flowers on the edges.  “My mother sewed on the flowers,” he said 
proudly. 

Ma was lost for words.  She went over and hugged him.  She wasn’t
smiling though, and Sticks knew what was bothering her. 

“Please don’t feel bad, Mrs. Ferguson,” he said.  “The kitten wasn’t
mine to begin with, and accidents happen.  I know that better than 
anybody.  I’m real sorry for running into you the other day.” 

Poor Ma.  She about caved in but the knock at the door saved her.  It
was Mrs. Pentoli and she couldn’t have picked a better time to show up. 
When I opened the door she was standing there—holding that kitten! 

“I found this sweet little fellow on my porch this morning,” she
explained, real happy-like, “so I took him in and gave him some nice 
warm milk.  Then he made himself comfy on my foot stool.” 

Ma smiled and then thought quick, rushing Buddy out the back door—and
Sticks?  Well, his eyes were bugging out. 

“Is this kitten yours?” Mrs. Pentoli asked, noticing. 

“No ma’m, I found him last night and asked around, but nobody seems to
own him.” 

“Ooh, I’d just love to own him myself, but I don’t get out much, you
see...Goodness, he’d need food...and an occasional vet visit—“ 

Sticks jumped right in.  “If you want, I’d be real happy to do that for
you, ma’m.”  Now he was grinning full-bloom. 

“Really, son?  What is your name?  I’ve seen you with Freddie.” 

“Uh...just call me Sticks, ma’m, like Freddie does.” 

“Why, thank you, Sticks!  But, oh, I couldn’t pay you--just offer a nice
lunch now and then.  Freddie could come, too.  Would you like that?” 

“Yes, ma’m.  I’d like that a lot!”  He was looking even taller now, if
that’s possible. 

As he was leaving Ma hugged him again and gave him one of her nice baked
nut loaves.  “Yes!” she yelled, when she saw him hopping those shrubs. 

Later, when I heard her humming while she was setting the table, I got
to thinking...With Sticks around, Mrs. Pentoli better hide the 
breakable stuff! 

The day turned out great, Christmas dinner was great, and Mrs. Pentoli’s
awesome dessert was really great.  Then, after she left—happy to get 
home to her new kitten—Ma and I were sipping some hot chocolate, just 
watching the tree lights sparkle. 

“It was a lovely day,” Ma declared, yawning.  Her feet were propped and
she was admiring her new slippers. 

“Yep,” I answered.  Then I had a thought.  “I wonder what Sticks got for
Christmas?” 

Ma had this nice quick reply.  “Something wonderful, Freddie, and it
didn’t come wrapped with a bow.” 

It took me a few seconds, but then I knew what she meant. 


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