Maddie the Christmas Mouse, part 2

So, if you remember like I do, last Christmas, Maddie wanted a cookie and some milk…. she did everything she could in her power to get to that table of glorious goodies, despite flying around on an airplane, and begging Santa not to hurt her. You probably even remember Maddie sitting on his shoulder enjoying the cookie and milk she was determined to enjoy, right? Well…. A year has passed, and she’s at it again. This time, there is a new addition to the family. Meet Jack, the family housecat. All he liked to do was sleep, play with his ball of yarn, and purr as he gently walked around everyone…. at least, this is what he did WHILE everyone was present! But when the house was quiet, it was a totally different story. Nicholas was now 10 years old, and was able to make cookies on his own without his mother’s help. Maddie sat in her usual spot, dancing and singing Christmas songs, if you can believe that. Her favorite song was “Jingle Bells.” Please don’t ask me why. I’m just the storyteller! Anyway, time flew by, and once again, midnight approached rather quickly. As Nicholas went to bed to be tucked in, Maddie went to hide behind the family portrait until the coast was clear. “I can smell the aroma again!” she said. “Nothing can stop me this year! No airplane, no presents (although the wrapping paper was pretty), and not even Santa himself will stop me, because I was smart enough to add a little letter to the one the family sent him in July. Gosh, I’m such a smart mouse!” When the fire burned out, and the house was dark and quiet, Maddie walked from behind the portrait, and could spot the goodies on the table below. Only this time, there was more than cookies and milk. Next to that plate, was another one…. with delicious, warm, rice crispy treats. The sight alone captured Maddie’s heart…. and her nose! She looked around to see if it was clear to take her leap. As she slid down the recliner, she landed in the seat, and there…. laid…. Jack!!! Frightened beyond measure, Maddie tried to tip toe past the big cat in order to get to the table, but there’s an old saying: expect the worse, hope for the best. Jack took a deep breath and blew Maddie off of the recliner, to the floor. “No cookies for you, silly mouse. Go back and eat your cheese,” Jack shouted. “When you can actually MOVE faster, and not lazily sit there eating food all day and being a fat feline, then come talk to me about what I eat,” Maddie replied. “Oh yeah?” Jack didn’t take kindly to that remark, and he leaped from the chair, in an attempt to chase her. Typical cat and mouse chase, right? Maddie ran as fast as she could, but Jack was on her trail. “So much for the lazy cat comments….” She thought. “You WON’T get away from me this time, Maddie!” Jack yelled. Out of the living room, and into the kitchen, the two ran. Maddie jumped as quickly as she could to reach the refrigerator door, used all of her might, and kicked the door hard enough to send it flying into Jack’s face. Hiding inside the fridge, she then proceeds to laugh… until she felt a rumble from within. Jack was literally shaking the refrigerator! Moments later, Maddie fell off of the top shelf, and into a huge bowl of Jell-o. “That’s a good look for you. Silly and embarrassing,” he exclaimed. Maddie was not going down without a fight. Cleaning herself up, she escapes the bowl, opens the fridge, and takes off. Thinking the coast was clear, she heads for the table again…. only this time, Jack leaps from the kitchen counter to stop her in her tracks. “Give up!” he said. “Those cookies are NOT for you!” Now, what time do you think it was as all of this was taking place? The bell tolled twelve times, and Maddie began to panic. “You crazy cat!” she yelled. “Now I’ll never get to the delicious cookies.” She then kicks the container, but it tumbles over and the dough lands on the two of them. “I’ve never known a mouse to eat cookies,” Jack thought. “Alright, fine. I’ll let you go to the cookies, but you’ve GOT to save the milk for me.” Puzzled, Maddie began to think…. “Okay, how about this. When Santa….” THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! “Holy smokes, he’s here! He’s here! If he sees this mess, he won’t leave anything for anybody! Jack, you’ve got to help me! Please?” Knowing that he wanted warm milk, Jack agreed to help Maddie clean the kitchen up, but time wasn’t on their side. Just as they completed cleaning up the mess they made, IN WALKED SANTA!! “Hmmmm…. What do we have here? Maddie, are you up to your old tricks again?” Santa asked. Before she could explain herself, Jack stepped up and said, “Santa, the fault is mine. I saw that she was going for the cookies and I was going to wait until you arrived to ask you for some milk. I was only thinking of myself. I was being selfish and we both made a mess of things.” Santa only laughs. “Okay, you two. Follow me.” Moments later, Santa had the treats, and the cookies, and the milk on the table next to him. Below his feet, were his two friends. Jack was snuggled on the rug, enjoying his warm milk, and on his furry back was Maddie enjoying her warm chocolate cookie. “So, was it worth it, second time around, Maddie?” Jack asked. “You bet!” she replied.

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