“Mommy, you look
so pretty.”
Ruthie stood in
front of Mommy, rubbing her hands over Mommy’s pretty dress. It was fancy, with
tiny blinky pieces and ruffles all over it.
I lay on the back
of the couch and watched them. Ruthie told me Mommy and Daddy were going out
for a work party at an expensive restaurant.
“Thank you,
sweetie.” Mommy smiled. “Doesn’t Daddy look pretty too?”
“Mommy, he looks
handsome.” Ruthie giggled and ran over to give Daddy a hug. Daddy didn’t have a
pretty dress like Mommy, but he did have a collar around his neck with a rope
hanging down, and Ruthie told him that was nice. I wondered if Mommy was going
to hold on to the rope and lead him around, like they did with a leash on Bruce
when they took him out for a walk.
“You have a good
time with Jake,” Daddy said. He picked Ruthie up and gave her a squeeze. “And
be good.”
Ruthie gave Daddy
a smacky kiss on his cheek. “Mmm, you smell nice.”
“I used some of
Mommy’s perfume.” Daddy grinned. “Do you like it?”
“Oh, Daddy.”
Ruthie bopped Daddy on his nose. “You’re silly. I know that’s your shaving
stuff.”
“Mmm hmmm. Very
funny,” Mommy said. “Let’s go. Where’s Jake?”
“I’m coming, slow
but sure.” Jake bumped down the stairs with his crutches. “Thanks, you guys,
for letting Ruthie stay home to take care of me.”
Ruthie giggled and
ran to Jake. “Oh, Jake, you’re goofy. You’re taking care of me.”
“Oh yeah. I
remember now.” He tapped her foot with one of his crutches. “Have fun, you
guys. Eat a lot and burp really loud.”
“Jaaaaake,” Ruthie
said, shaking her head.
After Mommy and
Daddy left, Ruthie laid some pillows on the rug in front of the fireplace.
“Okay, Jake, sit down. I’ll go pop the popcorn. Mommy showed me how.”
“Sounds good,
bug.” Jake lowered himself down onto the pillows, and when he was settled, he
picked me up. “Come here, Millie. You can sit here with me. Do you want some
popcorn?”
“No, no, no,”
Ruthie called from the kitchen. “Millie can’t have any popcorn. Mommy said it
might make her choke.”
“Really?” Jake
rubbed my face, and I purred. “Maybe you shouldn’t have any either, bug. Maybe
it’ll make you choke. I better eat it all.”
“Ha ha ha,” Ruthie
said.
She came and
snuggled down next to Jake. I sniffed and raised my head. I’d seen popcorn
before. It smelled yummy. I stood up and leaned my head over the bowl,
sniffing.
“No no, Millie,”
Ruthie said. “Jake, you take the popcorn and give me Millie.”
“Nah, she’s okay.”
Jake turned me over on his lap and rubbed my belly.
“Meow.” I tried to
sound grouchy. Mama said we should always act like we don’t like this, but I
loved it. I purred louder and rubbed my face on his hand.
Jake and Ruthie
ate popcorn. It sounded crunchy.
“Jake, will you
read to me?”
“Why don’t you
read to me?” He tugged on her hair.
“Not tonight.
Please, Jake, read me the story about the night before Christmas.”
I liked listening
to stories, but I didn’t hear much of this one. As soon as he said something
about a mouse, my mind wandered. Mama had told me about mice, and how cats
chased them. That sounded like fun. We didn’t have a mouse in our house, but I
wanted to meet one.
“Jake?” Ruthie set
the popcorn bowl down, picked me up, and sat on Jake’s lap.
He hugged us.
“What, bug?”
“Do you know some
kids think Christmas is all about Santa Claus instead of Jesus?”
“Yeah, I know
that.”
“Mommy says I
shouldn’t argue with them about it, but isn’t that funny? Santa’s fun, but
Christmas is all about Jesus.”
“Yeah. That’s what
Daddy and my mom used to tell me too. Don’t argue with kids. It is okay to tell
them about Jesus, though.”
“Yeah.” Ruthie
rubbed my nose, then turned her face to look up at Jake. “Jake?”
“Mmm?”
“I’m sorry you
don’t get to see your mommy this Christmas.”
“Me, too.” Jake
rubbed Ruthie’s hair.
Ruthie picked me
up and buried her face in my tummy. She looked up at Jake again. “I’m glad
you’re going to be here with me, though. I love you.”
Jake squeezed us.
“I love you too, Bug.”
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