It was around seven-thirty in the morning and Mia was sitting on the kitty tower looking out the window. She was watching the various birds flying in and out of the tree in the front yard. Dukee casually walked up to the side table and jumped up onto it.
“Good morning,” Dukee said as he walked to the end.
“Good morning,” Mia looked up at him.
“Are you feeling better this morning?” Dukee asked and sat down.
“Yes I am and I’m so excited,” Mia said.
“You’re excited? How come?” Dukee looked at her.
“I’m excited because I want to see what’s in the pretty box over there with my name on it,” Mia said as she stepped onto the window sill.
Dukee looked towards the Christmas tree on the coffee table, “oh, that’s from me and Auntie.”
“Do you know what’s inside of it?” Mia asked.
“No, I just know that it’s from us,” Dukee looked out the window.
Mia walked over to the box and sniffed it. Even though she has sniffed it quite a few times already, she did it again, “I smell something familiar but I’m not sure what it is.”
“Well, you have to wait until Christmas Eve at the earliest,” Dukee said as he watched a squirrel run up the tree.
“I know,” Mia turned around. “Your present is around here somewhere but I’m not sure where Mom put it.”
“Yeah, I think Auntie has one for me too hidden somewhere. I think I can smell it when I go in my room,” Dukee licked the hair on his side.
“Why do we get extra things around this time of year?” Mia climbed up into the tunnel part of the kitty tower.
“Well, from what I understand, humans celebrate the birth of Jesus this month. And by giving gifts to the ones they love represents giving gifts to Jesus on his birthday,” Dukee explained.
“Well, who is Jesus?” Mia looked at Dukee and asked.
“You haven’t seen the story on the TV?” Dukee looked at her.
“No,” Mia said.
“Oh, well, Jesus is the son of God and the mother Mary and was born on Christmas morning. God made sure that as Jesus grew up that he would try and save the people of the world by teaching them God's good word,” Dukee said.
“But why is this so important?” Mia asked.
“Well, from what I understand, some of the people that God created became bad people. So, by having Jesus born as a human, God was hoping that he could get them to change their ways,” Dukee looked at Mia.
“Did it work? Did the people change their bad ways?” Mia asked.
“Not everyone. And then Jesus even died for everyone, but that’s another story,” Dukee said.
“Wow, Mom and Auntie don’t seem like bad people,” Mia said.
“No, not all humans are bad. But that’s probably why they celebrate Jesus's birth every year too, to be thankful,” Dukee said.
“Wow, so we don’t get presents just because, we get them because there is a meaning behind them, huh? Mia asked.
“Yep, an important meaning too,” Dukee licked the top of his front paw.
Mia looked out the window and watched as a red cardinal flew down to the grass. It hopped around a minute or two and then flew off. Dukee watched as a neighbor from down the street walked her two dogs toward them. It was a cool and cloudy morning outside but all was well in the house. Mom was done with all her Christmas baking now, they think. But otherwise, they are looking forward to spending Christmas with the family. Dukee and Mia want to thank you all for reading their story this year, as well as wish you all a Very Merry Christmas.
Please join me again for more of: Two Cats And A House.