|
1
Christmas Waltz Eve
────────
It
was another cold winter day in Cat Felicity. The sun shadows had begun to
crawl away like a wounded beast. Christmas lights on tree houses lit up as
gleaming colors draped the nearby frosted twigs and jagged icicles.
It was the eve of the
Christmas Waltz: Cat Felicity’s winter festival.
Petupians have celebrated winters for thousands of years. They believed
happiness and joyous festivals could ward off the cold, misery and even
death — and in the north, the penguins celebrated winter festivals every
day. But in Cat Felicity, it
was eerily quiet.
Ms. Tova,
the interior designing cat was proud of her work as usual.
She and her kitty crew
had worked extremely hard for
weeks decorating the Catorian interiors of the Bradberry Hall. The walls
were glazed in glittering crystal; hollies and pine cones engraved on white
pillars; sterling tinsels and baby mistletoes adorned ceiling arches, and
erected in the center of the dance floor was the loveliest white Christmas
tree one could imagine and just about touched the dome windows.
“Mayor Wibs,”
said Ms. Tova, hiding her grin. “I’m dying to hear what you think.”
“Astonishing!” The mayor of Cat Felicity replied. “Ms. Tova your
designing skills are second to none,” the familiar frown on his face
softened. “Now go on home and get a good night’s rest.”
“You heard
the Mayor,” echoed
Ms. Tova. “Tomorrow’s the big day, so scoot on home kitties. Scoot,
scoot!”
The
kitties quickly tidied up and scampered behind Ms. Tova.
Mayor
Wibs was finally alone. He strutted to the center of the dance floor drawing
a deep breath. “What a marvellous tree. Such a shame if cats don’t come
again.” Tears welled up in Mayor Wibs’ eyes as he gazed beyond the ceiling.
“My love
this might very well be our last Christmas Waltz…”
|