Snowbell in Santa’s Village

A fluffy white cat watched the bustling activity from her favourite perch on a rail in front of the Kitchen. Her thick white fur kept her warm in spite of the snow that covered Santa’s Village. Snowbell loved her independence and delicately turned her nose up at cats who lived in warm cabins with elves and dwarfs. She liked her freedom to do exactly as she pleased.

The giant Christmas tree in the centre of the square flashed coloured lights, and the elves were beside themselves with excitement as they hung decorations from its branches. The cheerful jingle of sleigh bells filled the air as fuzzy ponies trotted past pulling sleighs loaded with presents and ribbons.

Of course, as a cat, Snowbell was above such hustle and bustle, but it was great fun to watch on a frosty afternoon. Her contribution to the Christmas season was to wear a collar of holly leaves and berries.

As a pile of snow slid from the roof onto the wooden railing beside her, Snowbell stepped delicately to the side. Her beautiful white fur collected mini snowballs easily, but if she emitted a piteous meow, someone would carry her across the street.

A chickadee fluttered nearby, looked startled to see Snowbell, and shot away to a safe distance. Snowbell watched it, but birds were impossible to catch with all the soft snow around. She sniffed the air again. Besides, it was almost time for her supper. She licked her lips and listened for the squeak of the back door. The cook always saved something for her.

“Hi, Snowbell!” Elvin, the flying elf, stomped snow from his boots. “Are you hungry?” Elvin had curly black hair, big slanted green eyes, and a merry grin. Freckled cheeks were flushed from the cold even though he wore a jacket and fur-lined cap.

Snowbell arched her back as Elvin patted her, scratched under her chin the way she liked, then gave her a final pat before going into the Kitchen. Snowbell’s mouth watered at the enticing scents that wafted to her nose.

As the door closed behind Elvin, Snowbell looked for the clearest path to the back door where her supper would soon be ready. After a filling meal and watching the merrymaking, she’d make her way to the stables where ponies, reindeer, and other animals gathered for the night. She’d made friends with Silver, a friendly sled dog, who didn’t mind sharing his amazing fur coat on frosty winter nights.

Sometimes Snowbell thought about getting adopted by one of the elf or dwarf children so she could sleep in front of a warm fire in the evenings, but so far, the stable was warm enough, and the other animals were friendly. Besides, she loved the freedom to do as she pleased.

Her ears flicked at a faint squeak. The back door! She was late! With long bounds, she sprinted towards the back of the Kitchen where she cleared a deep drift to land on the porch. Sparing a glance for the lady dwarf who gave her a friendly hello, she inhaled the delicious aroma of warm stew. Wonderful!

Five minutes later she gave a final lick to the empty bowl, a satisfied sigh, and turned to trot back to the village square. Christmas music had started. Tonight, there would be dancing, cookies, and hot chocolate. She didn’t dance and personally didn’t care for sweets, but it was all fun to watch.

She leaped back onto her favourite railing from which she could see everything. A grey spotted pony draped with garlands of holly trotted past pulling a bright red sleigh which left tracks in the snow and the cheerful tinkle of bells. The dwarf driving the pony sang Jingle Bells at the top of his lungs and tossed candy canes to youngsters who scrambled to pick them up, their happy squeals adding to the fun.

One of the elf children named Bella was seated on the edge of the boardwalk by herself. Wondering why she didn’t join the others, Snowbell watched her. Bella had recently come from a village to the south, and she didn’t seem unhappy. Curious as cats are, Snowbell jumped from the rail and trotted over.

“Hello, Snowbell,” said Bella, giving her a pat. “What beautiful blue eyes you have!”

Snowbell couldn’t help preening. In the village, only Santa, Mrs. Claus, Silver, and Snowbell had blue eyes. Still wondering why her new companion didn’t join in the fun, Snowbell waited. Meanwhile, she was getting a wonderful backrub. She purred, which made the girl giggle.

A boy elf ran up and handed the girl a candy cane. “Here you go, Bella. I got one for you.”

“Thanks, Mica.” Bella took the candy and put it in her pocket. “I’ll see you in the Kitchen when I’ve finished painting.”

“Okay!” Mica waved and trotted away to join a game of tag being played around the Christmas tree.

Snowbell wondered what the little girl could possibly be painting. Perhaps toys? Yes, that was probably it. She was learning to paint toys. She seemed young for such a responsibility though.

Bella got to her feet. “I’ll see you later, Snowbell.”

Deciding to see what Bella was up to, Snowbell trotted along behind. She leaped delicately from footprint to footprint trying to avoid snowballs in her fur until they came to a bright green cabin. Bella seemed surprised that Snowbell had followed her, but she held the door open.

This was curious, thought Snowbell as she trotted into the warm kitchen. If Bella was painting toys, why had she come home instead of to the workshop?

Bella’s mother was winding a long scarf around her neck and pulling on green mittens. She told Bella she was going to the wool shop, and that there was a bowl of pudding on the table. Snowbell waited with some impatience as the child finished the pudding then after setting the bowl in the sink, went to a door at the back of the room. Still curious, Snowbell slipped inside before the door closed.

Much to Snowbell’s surprise, there were paintings all over the room. Hung from walls and stacked in piles, there were paintings of elves decorating trees, ponies pulling sleighs, and children playing in the snow. There was even one of Santa stepping into his sleigh on Christmas Eve.

Snowbell stared. How could such a little girl do such wonderful work? She wandered around the room staring at everything as Bella picked up a paintbrush and resumed work on a painting of a Christmas tree.

Deciding this was a nice warm place to spend the evening, Snowbell bounded to a deep windowsill padded with a cushion. As late afternoon sunlight shone through the glass onto her fur, she curled into a ball and promptly fell asleep.

Over the next few days Snowbell returned to the cabin to watch Bella work, but one day Bella wouldn’t let Snowbell see her new painting. Feeling a little put out, Snowbell returned to her spot by the window and decided a nap would do her good. She didn’t care that much about a painting, after all!

A few days later Santa arrived. Snowbell hadn’t been fast enough to get through the door to the painting room, so she’d had to be content with curling up in front of the fireplace in the living room to wait for them to come out.

When Santa emerged, he said, “Thank you, Bella. They’re all beautiful, but I’d like the latest one to hang in our cabin. Mrs. Claus will love it! Mind you,” he whispered, leaning down, “don’t tell her. It’s a secret!”

Bella put a finger to her lips. “I won’t say anything Santa, and I’ll wrap it for you.”

Hm, thought Snowbell watching from her spot by the fire. What were they up to? What was the new painting about? Bella kept it covered with a cloth these days. Ah, well, she purred. It was snowing, and the fire was warm . . .z z z z z.

Three days before Christmas when there was just enough time to enjoy a party, Santa gathered everyone to watch his yearly presentation to Mrs. Claus. The tables of the Kitchen were pushed to the walls to leave room for dancing and performances.

Since the room was filled to bursting, Snowbell leaped from a chair to a high window from which she could see everything and enjoy the music and noisy conversations. Elves and dwarfs sure did love to have fun, she thought. Normally she’d be in the stables by now, but her curiosity had gotten the better of her. What was it that Bella had painted for Santa? She settled down to await the unveiling.

After hot chocolate and cookies, Santa led Mrs. Claus to the centre of the room, and everyone gathered around. The painting was on an easel draped with a green cloth and tied with a bright red bow. Santa thanked Mrs. Claus for her help over the year and invited her to open the present.

Rosy cheeks dimpled as Mrs. Claus untied the bow carefully then pulled the cloth off the easel with a flourish. Her eyes and cheeks rounded with surprise. “My goodness!” she exclaimed. “That is so beautiful, Santa! Whoever painted it?”

Bella came shyly to stand next to Santa who placed a hand on her shoulder. “A wonderful young artist and her family moved to the village recently,” he said. “Bella painted it.”

As Mrs. Claus was exclaiming over the painting and thanking Bella, Snowbell stared at the painting with wide eyes. It was of a fluffy white cat wearing a collar of holly leaves and berries. It was seated on a cushion in a bay window next to a wonderfully decorated Christmas tree, the lights of which coloured the cat’s fur. Traces of gold from a warm fire reflected from the cat’s back and ears – and the regal cat had blue eyes which looked a lot like Snowbell’s.

People were looking up at her. “There she is,” said Bella, pointing. “She’s so beautiful, I had to paint her. She looks just like Christmas!” Everyone agreed. “I’d love it if Snowbell would live with me,” she added wistfully.

Snowbell thought about her friends in the stables. She loved spending time with them, but as she gazed down at Bella, she realized something. She realized she liked curling up in front of Bella’s fireplace, and she liked watching the busy street from her warm spot on the window cushion – and she loved watching Bella paint.

That day Snowbell moved from the stables to Bella’s warm cabin. She still had her freedom to roam the village or to visit her animal friends whenever she wanted, but she was happy with her new home and new friend.

The End