A Christmas Eve Tail with Himself and a Maltese

I couldn't sleep. May have been my lack of exercise yesterday. Or, watching Herself and AuntJ's attempts to put together the new computer ... I donno! But I couldn't sleep, which is remarkable in and of itself.

So, I jumped down from my bed ... don't ask how ... and walked into the Living Room where ... there ... I found ... HIM!. I knew instantly who he was ... NOBODY else would wear that outfit, although I did see a dog walking around with a similar outfit just the other day. He was looking around for what was left for him to eat ... but I don't think Herself thought he would stop by 14A this year and didn't leave milk and cookies or even a glass of water. I noticed he was making note of that against Herself's name in his book ... ah oh!

"Oh! Mystical!" he said. "Glad to see you! Of course, you can't tell anyone that you saw me here. HO HO HO! That's funny. You can't tell anyone ... you're a dog!." His tummy bounced around as he laughed. "Haven't seen you since I got notice that you were here living in New York City as a little pup. You haven't grown much ... not like me, huh?"

I asked him how many gifts he leaves for my group ... dogs. "Oh! lots. Every year I get letters from their owners asking for lots of things for their dogs and yes, cats, too. Can't forget them. Although when I come across a cat on my travels on Christmas Eve, they usual look at me from the top of a piece of furniture with not much interest. I wink at them as I leave and sometimes ... just sometimes ... they purr a note of appreciation. But very little talk."

Tell me Santa, I asked, which one of us do you prefer? Dogs or cats?

"Oh! listen Mystical, I love all of God's four legged creatures a whole bunch, although I must admit, I have a soft spot for my reindeers.

I know what a good dog you've been all year and I want you to know that that I've noticed and have a star next to your name in my book here." And then, he turned the book around for me to see the great big gold star right there next to the name "Mystical, the New York Dog".

Wow! I licked his hand and said "Oh gosh, Santa, thanks a whole lot for showing me".

"Now, said Santa, I have to be off to my other stops, but I suggest you don't tell anyone that I have given you a gold star ... that, he said, would be boasting. I've noticed that you have a very good opinion of yourself ... must come from all that loving you get ... makes you feel omnipotent."

"Huh??? Omni-what???" I tilted my head back and forth ... which is what I do when I really don't know what you are talking about. Santa uses such big words ... doesn't he realize I'm a dog?
You would think he could talk dog to me ... being Santa and all.

"Humility! That's what I think you should show this next year. Otherwise, Mystical, you're almost perfect." He put his finger besides his nose, and laughed HO, HO, HO, Merry Christmas to you.

He gathered his big black bag, swung it over his shoulder, turned and gave me a wink and walked out the front door (no fireplace you see). I heard him clump up the stairs to the roof where his sled and Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and my fav. Rudolf were waiting.

I ran to the window and put my paws up on the windowsill and listened ... and then, yes, I heard him say as he drove out of sight, "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night."

I went back to bed with visions of fuji apples dancing in my head and contemplating the joys of gold stars next to my name.

Merry Christmas to all of you. And a wonderful New Year filled with treats, pats, tummy rubs and lots of love and companionship.

And a special happy New Year to my friends on the 14th floor, both 2 and 4-legged ones.

"HO HO WOOF, WOOF."