The Christmas Gift

The Christmas Gift

Yes, sadly, it’s true. Christmas is over. The Christmas decorations are packed away, the Christmas trees are faded memories, and the holiday season is behind us. But in my house, Christmas lives on because of one tiny Christmas Gift. It’s not a gift that someone gave me. It’s more like a little Christmas miracle that appeared out of the blue a few days before Christmas.

Let me start at the beginning- that’s always the best place to start.

It was a week before Christmas and there were no sounds in the house, when suddenly from the garage door came a squeaking – like a mouse. I searched the garage for wild creatures that sometimes come looking for food in winter. But I saw nothing – yet I could still hear the little squeaking sounds coming from somewhere in the garage. Try as I might, I could find not a single critter in the garage – I could only hear its faint squeaking.

Frustrated at not being able to find the source of the tiny squeaks, I went to bed and thought no more of it as I drifted off into sleep.

The next morning arrived quickly as next mornings too often do. I had almost forgotten the little squeaks in the garage. I opened the door that leads from the house to the garage. Three steps lead from the house to the garage floor, and as I looked down at the foot of those stairs I saw a tiny little kitten – shivering in the cold. It was a pitiful, heart-wrenching sight. A tiny kitten barely old enough to be separated from its mother – was now cowering and shivering in the cold in my garage.  And little did I know then, what a wonderful Christmas gift she would turn out to be.

I guess I should tell you that I love animals. And I have been lucky enough to have had two amazing feline friends. One was a male tabby named Cody and the other was a sweet calico named Millie.  Cody died 18 years ago and Millie left this world in the spring of 2018.

I lost two great friends and while I toyed with getting another cat, I decided not to and that’s how it’s been since Millie died almost 6 years ago.

But that squeaky little shivering critter in my garage tugged at my heartstrings. I got a towel, wrapped her little shivering body in the towel, and held her close to me to help warm her.

She was a cold, frightened, filthy feline who got separated from or lost her mother. She couldn’t have been more than six weeks old. I took her into the family room – which can be closed off from the rest of the house – and made her a makeshift bed out of an old tattered blanket.  I gave her some milk and bought some kitten food – but my intention was not to keep her. I intended to rescue her and take her to the animal shelter; I never intended to keep her.

But, she intended to keep me.

I called the animal shelter to see if they would take this tiny, scared cat, and find a good home for her. They were very abrupt in telling me they were full and were not taking any animals. Period. End of story.

So, now I’m stuck with a timid, dirty, stinky little kitten and I’m desperately looking for a home for her – any home but my home. One of my granddaughters lives nearby and I asked if she wanted a little kitten.  She loves animals and she immediately drove over to see the little kitten. She cuddled the little kitten – and said “She stinks!. Then after petting the kitten, she said she’d love to have her but she didn’t think her dog (a HUGE dog) would like that very much. The dog would probably eat her in one quick bite. But she said would stop over often to see the kitten.

I’m striking out trying to give this kitten away. The next thing I know I’m at the store buying a litter box, litter, cat food, cat toys – everything a cat owner needs… but I still don’t think I want his kitten.

The first ten days she spent hiding under a chair – and having accidents all over that I had to clean up.  I was literally at my wit’s end. But she was so helpless and so tiny I had no choice.

I cleaned her up as best I could with “Poof” and a washcloth. I was as kind to her as one can be with all her accidents and hiding away under a chair.  After she ate and after she napped I picked her up and put her in the litter box. She still had accidents… she knows the difference now between “GOOD GIRL GO POTTY” and “BAD GIRL! BAD, BAD, GIRL” – I think more than the words it is the tone of voice.

I asked my granddaughter to name her – and she named her “Truffle”. I can’t say I’m a big fan of that name, but you know – if you have a granddaughter you know. After a while, the name, Truffle, stuck and I alternate between calling her Truffle and “Stinky”.

After four weeks, she has managed to weasel her way into my heart. When I leave the room, she waits for me at the door. She follows me around like I’m her best friend. She has finally gotten the hang of using the litter box and she has finally started playing with her toys like a happy, healthy. kitten.

I didn’t want another cat, but this Christmas someone or something had other plans for me. The Christmas Gift I will always remember most came from no one I know. This Christmas Gift came into my life like magic.  And in four short weeks, this Christmas Gift looks up at me with her bright eyes and melts my heart.

Truffle is the Christmas Gift I’ll never forget – I’m quite sure of that!

Truffle – The Christmas Cat