text: You creep shivering down the sidewalk, mewing piteously at a door you can smell food behind once before getting yelled at, and then finally into a narrow gap between two unfamiliar buildings. Another, much larger cat hisses at you from atop a crate and you cringe away. Your fur is soaking wet, and while this filthy alleyway offers a little shelter from the rain, there's no place to get warm. You crouch miserably beside a dumpster to shelter from the biting wind, feeling the cold from the concrete seep in through the aching pads of your feet.
  
  Suddenly, you hear voices.
  
  Some human boys enter the alley, looking around furtively and talking in whispers. Seeming satisfied that they're alone, they put white sticks in their mouth and set them on fire. It is confusing and weird and fills the air with thick, bad-smelling smoke that itches your throat.
  
  They haven't seen you yet but surely will in a moment, and you notice the other, older cat that was here rapidly slinking away. These humans are about half the size of normal ones so you don't feel as threatened, but then again, they seem to move more quickly than the big ones, and humans are always unpredictable.
  
  > Maybe they are nice?
  The boys laugh about something and jostle each other and one of them takes a couple of steps backwards and steps on the end of your tail!
  
  You let out a little yowl and run a few steps clear of the boys before sitting down and eying them reproachfully. They seem amused and make more noises at each other, then after a moment or two seem to lose interest in you. Relaxing now that you know you won't be harassed, you become engrossed in licking yourself, trying to clean the muddy water from your fur.
  
  While you're twisted around in a complicated way trying to reach an especially challenging spot, a hand suddenly touches you on the back. You tense and twist around to stare up with wide green eyes at the boy looming over you, half in mind to run, but he speaks to you in a calming voice and runs his hand down your back. It feels nice as he keeps petting you, and you start to purr.
  
  Then the boy reaches down with his other hand and picks you up. You start feeling nervous again and let your claws out, squirming in his grasp, but he keeps talking to you soothingly and it's so warm when he tucks you into his jacket that you calm down again quickly.
  
  One of the other boys says something and the one holding you replies, reaching down to stroke your head again. Something strange happens then. It feels like a spark jumping through his hand and running through you, and it's like the jolt lifts a fog from your brain and suddenly you discover you can understand the words that he and the others are saying.
  
  "What d'ya mean you're gonna keep it?" one of his friends is asking him. "That's retarded. It probably has rabies."
  
  "Well I didn't mean for me. I'm going to give it to my little cousin for Christmas. She wanted a cat."
  
  The third boy speaks up. "I thought it was your sister that was whining about wanting a cat?"
  
  "They both do. But my sister can't have one because my mom is allergic."
  
  "Here cuz, here's a diseased stray I found by a dumpster. Merry Christmas!"
  
  "Shut up, she'll like it. And look, I give it to my cousin and she thinks I'm awesome and it also means my sister can play with it whenever we're over there. Look, I don't think you guys are appreciating how smooth I'm being here. Anyway, I like cats."
  
  "Only crazy old ladies like cats."
  
  "Please dude, your mom has cats and she's not that old, and she's only crazy about my--"
  
  You stop paying attention at that point, trying to process all you've heard. You've never heard of 'Christmas' and you don't know what 'cousins' are but it seems you're being taken to live with humans. You've seen the cats the humans keep as pets staring at you from windows and porches, and managed to steal some of the dry pellets that are put out for them now and then. They always seem so fat and smug. But you wouldn't mind at all living in a warm house and being fed every day. In fact in sounds like Heaven to you right now.
  
  > go home with the boy.
  At first you aren't sure you made a good decision because the boy locks you in a closet all night and the next day, and tells you to hush and then turns music up loud whenever you meow to be let out.
  
  There are lots of clothes in the closet, and more of the white sticks he likes to burn as well as some pungent dried leaves and a glass bottle of some kind of amber liquid. None of these things are any good to play with however and you get quite restless and bored, although you can't complain too much because it's nice and warm and he gives you lots of food and fresh water. You also use a litter box for the first time ever, so that's exciting.
  
  Later he takes you out and sets you down on the floor. Everywhere you look there is bright paper and ribbons, as well as some enticingly mysterious empty boxes. Despite it being clearly visible that they are empty, you wonder what might be inside.
  
  > jump in the boxes
  You stalk your way up to one of the empty boxes and leap inside of it. Surprise! The box is completely empty!
  
  But...what if...there's something outside of it? You spend a little while alternating between crouching down, tail twitching furiously, and springing up suddenly to poke your head over the top and bat your claws at some invisible foe.
  
  Then you repeat the process in another box.
  
  The boy meanwhile has finished whatever game he was playing with the paper and ribbon and is painstakingly poking holes in one box in particular. Finally tiring of the empty box game, you walk over to watch him, curiously.
  
  He picks you up and puts you inside the box with the air holes, placing a lid on top.
  
  This is a new game you're unsure of, and for awhile you're interested in the light coming in through the little holes, but you soon get drowsy in the cozy box and fall asleep despite the sense you're being moved around quite a bit and once, placed in a car.
  
  > Christmas Day
  You hear voices and laughter and you are becoming quite restless in your box. Rearing up on your hind legs, you bump at the lid until you manage to open in a crack, then peek out. This is a strange place full of humans and everything smells different, and you lay your ears back on your head in fright. One of the voices is familiar however and you spot your human boy standing near some others, so that's all right.
  
  You nudge a little more of the lid aside so that your head is poked out of the box and watch them. They don't seem to notice you, because your box is hidden among other boxes and all of them are nestled beneath a green tree covered in lights and brightly covered toys. You see one of the toys, a red ball, hanging quite close to you and stare at it in fascination, noting that you can see your reflection. Reaching out with a paw, you bat at it and are delighted when it falls off the tree and is lost among the boxes.
  
  Wriggling the rest of the way out of the box, you start your stealthy way up the trunk of the tree in search of more of the marvelous toys. You've only climbed a short ways however when you realize you're not alone. Some little feathered creature is sitting on a limb, nestled up against the trunk and half obscured by a string of lights. It's about the size of a bird, and with the wings you don't know what else it could be. Your mouth begins to water and you flex your claws, tail and back end wiggling of their own accord as you get ready to pounce!
  
  "Don't even think about it, kitty," the creature says, sounding amused and not a bit afraid.
  
  You stop, disappointed and uncertain now. Birds are not supposed to talk the way humans do. But pawing the cord with the lights out of the way, you get a better look at your intended prey and see that the creature is indeed quite human-like. It appears in fact to be a tiny woman in a shiny gold dress, with a pair of white, feathery wings.
  
  "You're not a bird," you say reproachfully, as if she did that on purpose.
  
  You're surprised when she turns out to understand you. "No, I'm not," she says with a bell-like laugh. "I'm a Christmas angel. Every year when an angel ornament gets set on top of the tree, a real one like me comes to watch over the family. Anyway, my name is Miracle, and you are?"
  
  "I...I guess I don't have a name," you admit after thinking about it a moment. "But what's Christmas?" you ask. "My boy was saying something about that too."
  
  "Oh dear. That's quite sad. But Christmas...well, this is what it looks like," she waves an arm around at the green tree with the lights and all the bright boxes. "Or at least this is the way a great many humans like for it to look. But more importantly, is what it feels like." The angel indicates the family nearby and as you watch, you are struck by a feeling of belonging, togetherness, peace, and joy that radiates from them.
  
  "Why, Christmas is wonderful!" you exclaim.
  
  "Indeed. And it's all because of the First Christmas," the angel explains, pointing out past the shelter of the tree again, this time at something you hadn't noticed before. On a table was a kind of open wooden building, small enough to be just the right size for you. Inside it were painted ceramic figures of a mother and father and a tiny baby, and others that were animals, though not any kind you had seen before. There were other humans too all dressed in robes, and watching over them was a winged figurine that looked similar to Miracle. The whole scene reminded you of the way you felt looking our at the human family here in this room.
  
  "It's so peaceful," you say.
  
  "That little baby there was a gift from Heaven to all humans everywhere. And their pets! Only by remembering the First Christmas and that the true meaning of Christmas is giving and having love for others can such peace remain. Which is why I'm glad you're here, little kitty. There are wicked creatures about, nasty little goblins called grunches that want to destroy everyone's happiness, and you can help to guard the family against them during the times when I'm not able to be here. Although it may be dangerous for you, if keep love and faith in your heart at all times you will be much stronger."
  
  > Yes! You'll do it! You was rescued from being cold and hungry and alone and now you want to help others too.
  After making this declaration you leap proudly and fiercely out of the tree and into the midst of the family you've sworn to protect, puffing out your chest.
  
  "What the heck? How'd that cat get in here?"
  
  "Ooh a kitty! Mommy I love kitties!"
  
  "I'm--achoo!--allergic to--achoo!--cats!"
  
  "We don't even have a cat. Did it sneak in somehow? Hon, put that thing outside."
  
  Sadly deflated that their elation doesn't seem to match yours, you go over to your boy and rear up to put your paws on his leg, staring up at him with a pitiful expression while he fumbles through an explanation.
  
  "Jeff, what were you thinking?" his mother groans. "Oh gosh, I'm sorry Sal," she tells the other woman. "Jeff, you can't just...just dump an animal off on someone without asking first. Someone has to care for it and clean up after it, and vets aren't cheap."
  
  "The kitty is for me? I love the kitty! Thank you Jeffy!" a little girl exclaims, bouncing over and grabbing you up to hug you tightly."
  
  The woman rubs her forehead and groans again, and so do you, though more in an oxygen-deprived way. "Sal, Robert, I'll take the cat when we go and we'll...find some place to take it, I don't know. I don't know what gets into this boy's head."
  
  "That's not fair, mom! You wouldn't let Maddi and me have a cat, you can't tell Lexy she can't have one either!" Your boy sounds angry now.
  
  The little girl, Lexy you suppose, is scratching your ears and back soothingly, but you're distracted from both this and the unfolding drama surrounding your fate by an alarming sight. Creeping along on the back of the couch is a hideous little creature carrying a sack slung over one shoulder. It wears a green felt cap and vest, and black tights, and its face is brown and shriveled up like a rotten apple. When it sees you staring at it it puts a finger to its lips in an exaggerated hushing gesture, then gives a wicked grin, revealing a row of razor teeth.
  
  Strangely, no one else seems to notice it, although you have a feeling this is one of grunches Miracle told you about. You squirm in Lexy's grasp, trying to jump down and go chase it off, but the little girl only squeezes you tighter, and you don't want to scratch her.
  
  The grunch looks all around at the family with a crafty expression, practically exuding malice, then reaches into his sack. Pulling out something clasped in his fist, he winds up to throw in an exaggerated manner and then with a loud cackle, lets fly a handful of tiny coal-black darts!
  
  > The darts hit the other little girl, Maddi.
  Your boy's little sister Maddi, sitting at the foot of the couch, suddenly begins to cry. "Why does Lexy get a kitty when I wanted one?" You watch in alarm as she turns bright red and begins working herself up into a proper fit, scrunching her face and screaming and sobbing with tears and snot pouring down her cheeks and chin. The grunch meanwhile falls backwards onto the back of the couch, clutching its belly and laughing uproariously until tears of mirth streak down its own face.
  
  "Maddi, you know we couldn't have one because of mom! But if Lexy keeps the cat she'll let you play with it anytime you want."
  
  "Oh so was that the...the...achoo!...motive at work?" his mother asks with disgusted sigh, wiping reddening eyes on her sleeve and sneezing again before turning to the others. Everyone seems either distressed or amused by the crying fit, but she mostly looks annoyed. "Sal, Robert, Maddi needs a nap and so I guess we should open presents and call it a night soon. We'll take the cat, don't worry. I'll put it in the car for now and we'll find somewhere to go with it in the morning."
  
  She comes over and tries to take you from Lexy's hands as she speaks. Lexy takes a step back, squeezing you tighter in protest and you wince, hearing your ribs creak. "Lexy dear, let Auntie Maria see the kitty," the older woman coaxes. She smells strongly of perfume and don't like her one bit. She manages to wrest you away and then sneezes hard, right in your face! With a loud, indignant meow you claw at her--just a tiny bit--and then break free of her grasp, racing across the room and then onto the back of the couch to pounce on the dastardly grunch.
  
  It dashes away right before you land, almost faster than your eyes can follow, and you hear it laughing at you from atop a window sill. Eyes narrowed and ears laid back, you fling yourself after it, getting halfway tangled up in the blinds before you realize that it's gone again.
  
  Mocking laughter floats in again from...somewhere, and you leap atop the high table next to the figurines of the people and the animals Miracle pointed out to you earlier.
  
  "Has that cat gone nuts? It's going to break something!" you hear someone say, but ignore them, tuning out the still crying little girl as well as you stare all around with wide eyes, hissing and growling a little as you try to catch sight of the grunch again.
  
  As if on cue you hear Miracle's voice from within the tree. "Little kitty, remember the true meaning of Christmas! Remember that that little child is the key to everything, and with him will be stronger than a thousand grunches!"
  
  But what does she want you to do, exactly? Before you can puzzle it out, you spot the grunch again. He jumps up on the coffee table and waves at you, before eying the nearby humans who still remain oblivious to his presence and reaching into his sack again.
  
  > attack him with the tiny figurine.
  The baby is the key? Brilliant! It must be magic! Reaching your paw into the dollhouse like structure, you deftly hook the little figurine out of the manger and sling it hard at the grunch. It sails through the air in a perfect arc and smacks the nasty little creature hard between the eyes!
  
  "That...wasn't quite what I meant," Miracle says, having climbed out on a limb now for a better view.
  
  The grunch lets out a loud squeal of terror and pain, dissolving into black smoke. The figurine falls onto the hard surface of the table and then bounces onto the floor out of sight.
  
  "But...it, ah...it seems to have worked!" she adds, sounding surprised and relieved. "Thank you, little kitty! You have kept the Christmas spirit alive in this house!"
  
  "That's Nana's nativity scene!" the two human women yell in unison.
  
  "It's an antique!"
  
  "Did that cat just break it?"
  
  Everyone scrambles for the tiny ceramic baby and breathes a sigh of relief when it proves to be unscathed. The baby is returned to the manger and you are placed firmly back in your box. With the help of the air holes, you can still and eavesdrop on most of what's going on. Aside from defeating the grunch, your actions seem to have provided an icebreaker of sorts and everyone soon calms down and returns to normal, talking and laughing as before while they pass presents around.
  
  Lexy is sound asleep and unable to protest by the time your boy and his mother and sister leave, taking you with them. In the morning you are dropped off at a place with lots of other cats. It's frightening at first, but you share a big cage with a few other kittens so that the older cats are kept away from you and are able to play and snuggle together once you all get over your shyness. Still, you're not very happy with being stuck here. Although it's far better than being out on the street and hungry all the time in the cold and the wet, it still seems unfair and hurtful to be unappreciated by the very people you saved, whether they realized it or not.
  
  Sometimes a family comes and takes a kitten away, and sometimes a new one is added. One day, one of the people who cleans your cage approaches with a mom and dad and two little girls. Right away, the girls' eyes are on you. You're taken out of the cage and passed back and forth, cradled in their arms like a baby.
  
  "So that's the one, I take it?" the mom asks, amused. "Sure you don't want to look around some more?"
  
  "Oh no, this one is perfect!" says the older. "Look how fluffy and sweet she is!"
  
  "I love her so much!" exclaims the younger. "This is the kitty I always wanted!"
  
  And with that you are taken to a new home with a new family. It's everything you always dreamed of and more. And though you're a full grown cat by the time the next Christmas rolls around, Miracle still pays you a visit when the angel is placed atop this family's tree as well.