Kittens in Christmas trees

Santa had it from the base of his boots to the tip of his Santa hat. He had gotten infinite lists from grouchy people wanting the craziest things for Christmas, some wanted nothing special except for a new couch (of course! something small...yes, the old couch is fine, but what is wrong with a new one?), some wanted the world to turn in the opposite direction to see what would happen, some decided Santa wasn't real so they would wrap whatever unused item they could find in the house for their spouse in a plastic bag and call it a gift. Some people scoffed at the gifts they thought they'd get, and some people wanted nothing because they had already gotten everything the moment the desire sank in. Needless to say, most of these people were on the naughty list! Oh what Santa would write to them if he could, "Dear Sally, I'd love a change of attitude from you this year!  I've been good and jolly all year so kind of think I deserve to ask for for you to be grateful and less controlling and critical in exchange for that TV you think you need. Best regards, Santa"

Santa covered his ears, slowly took off his glasses, changed his clothes and under the cover of darkness went to the therapist in the North Pole. It was a gnome who had somehow gotten misplaced there as an elf. As Santa sat and poured out his woes for all the lack of gratitude the therapist gnome listened quietly and occasionally asked Santa how that made him feel? "Well, not very jolly. Some people were horribly naughty... while others weren't naughty enough and sat like growing Christmas moss most of the year. They should have asked me to help them be a little more naughty!" The gnome fully understood, so he said. Secretly, he too would like to be a little more naughty and do something wild like go to the South Pole.

Back at the Santa Lodge rolled William and Harry. They were determined to burst out of Santa's bag of toys and bring gratitude and joy back under Christmas trees. They had seen Santa's slide show of smug faces from people opening gifts they didn't care for, and another slide showing minivans full of last years gifts getting hauled to places called "Goodwill". 

The kittens found a hole in the bag and darted out, as soon as both were out they didn't know quite what to do, so they chased their tails for a bit before realizing the mission at hand was still waiting. Off they dashed to the reindeer, pouncing on their backs and digging their little claws in. The reindeer bucked and jumped in pain and took off flying out of the North Pole and towards Maryland. Out the kittens landed on a roof and scampered down it. Once they had landed in a heap at the bottom they shook their little heads, smacked each other a bit and then in a daze discovered the one glimmer beautiful thing that Santa said needed  to be filled with gratitude and joy: the Christmas Tree. 

For the last week, the kittens have been on a daily reconnaissance mission to restore energy, gratitude and joy in the Christmas tree. Some of the artificial tree has been digested, and subsequently exploded out of one of the kittens (William....) The tree has been kicked, climbed, shaking like as if in a 9 magnitude earthquake. They have loved the lights, adored batting the pretty balls, and admired the tree in its evergreen splendor in ways no human in this house could even if we tried to. 

Special Operation Jolly Christmas tree

"Harry, what do you say we climb this thing?"

"I found the entrance to the most marvelous tree on earth!"

"This tree comes with a bedspread and rat sewn on the base?! Way to go, humans!"

"I will dangle from you with my bare claws, you beautiful shiny thingy!"

Where did the kitten go?

Bringing the Merry to Christmas! 

"I am redecorating this tree!"

"Duck! I see a DUCK!"

"Never mind me, I'm just looking to tackle that angel on the top of this tree.."

"Table for two, please."

"We'll take a seat on the loft, thanks."

William's expression when Harry told him he named the tree Meghan Sparkle...

"Can we please rename the tree Kate Tinselton?"

"This is not real cat, it doesn't even smell like fun or catnip."

"I'll help you sweep up the mess we made... I actually meant to break your grandmas favorite Christmas bulb. Come on, it was hideous and you know it."

Santa came right away to the kittens stocking

And filled it with little fish

Santa had a good time laughing deep loud belly laughs as he watched the kittens bring unbridled joy and gratitude for the tree. The residents of the house thought the house was haunted and hid in bed. Maybe the ghost had Covid. In the end, Santa decided every house should get kittens for Christmas!

Such dear little things