That Furball Puppy and Me

by Carol Wallace

  Paper crinkled. There were whispers, then a grinding sound. Grrr …

  Someone giggled.

  “Josh is going to love this one,” someone else whispered.

  I couldn’t tell who was talking. I couldn’t see anyone there when I looked under the door. I wondered if it was the Santa that everyone was talking about. Who is Santa?

  And where were we going to put him? The house was full enough already. There were too many people. There was too much stuff! A cat couldn’t walk for all the mess in the house.

  CHAPTER 5

  Morning sounds came from the kitchen. I peeked under the door. Feet shuffled past my view. The smell of coffee came to my nose.

  “It looks like the kids got tons of stuff from Santa,” Daddy said.

  “Yeah, what a mess!” Girl’s feet as big as Mama’s moved to the table. “I hope we can find room for all these things in the van!”

  “Let me out!” I reached my paw under the door. I grabbed the wood and gave it a good shake.

  “Heather, will you please let Gray out? I don’t think he can make any bigger mess than what we already have here.”

  The door opened. The girl with the Mama-size feet reached down and swooped me up.

  “Hey, Gray, you put up with a lot yesterday. What a good kitty you are!”

  I stretched my neck trying to look around the room and see what had happened last night. I rubbed my face against the big girl’s cheek. While I was there, I peeked over her shoulder and into the living room.

  “Okay, kitty, you can go.” The girl set me on the floor.

  I walked toward where the big tree stood, tall and beautiful. The papers that I had played with last night were missing. Ribbons and bows were gone, too! Under the tree new boxes covered with colorful wrapping were spread out on the floor.

  Stepping carefully, I moved closer to the tree. Three tiny girls in beautiful dresses sat under a branch. A little car and clothes were strewn out on the floor. I walked up cautiously. I looked the little girls directly in the eyes. They stared straight ahead. I rubbed against them. They didn’t budge. I sniffed the little car. It didn’t budge, either.

  Curling up under the tree, I watched the movements above. The lights on the limbs twinkled. I put my chin on my paws and studied all the wiggly things.

  “Heather, why didn’t you wake me?” A kid as big as Daddy walked to the table. He leaned down and kissed the big girl.

  “Since you were up so late last night, I thought you needed the sleep.”

  “I think the kids are awake. I heard a lot of whispering in the girls’ room. Josh was getting dressed, but I told him to stay put until everyone was ready in here.”

  “I’ll get Paul and Dana up, before we let the kids loose.” Mama walked to the hall and disappeared toward the bedrooms.

  Squeals of happiness suddenly filled the house. Two big kids staggered down the hall. Excited voices shouted toward the living room.

  “Everybody’s up, now. We’re ready to come out! Let us out!” The Grandkids were yelling as loud as they could.

  “Who woke them up?” the big boy people growled. “I’ve got to have some coffee before they come in!”

  “You’d better hurry. Josh has been awake for a long time!”

  Mama handed Dana and Paul mugs of coffee.

  I scooted farther back under the tree. The Grandkids would be after me very soon.

  Noises grew louder from the bedroom. Squeals and giggles, then whines of despair. (The sound was weird—more like play whines than really unhappy.) I wasn’t sure what would happen next, but I was hidden where they couldn’t get their hands on me.

  In a few minutes the big boy, called Carl, finally walked to the hallway.

  “Okay, Josh, bring Kensey, Jenny, and Katie in! Everybody’s ready!”

  The rest of the family was standing near the kitchen.

  As soon as the Grandkids stepped into the living room flashes of light lit up everything. I turned my head to see where it came from. Mama and Daddy were holding boxes in front of their faces. I was looking right at Mama when her light flashed. It was so bright it made me blink. When I opened my eyes, all I could see was a blue dot. It went away quickly. I decided to watch the Grandkids instead of the light boxes.

  The Grandkids stood still for a few minutes, then yells and squeals filled the air. Each one of them ran to a pile of things under the tree. Nobody seemed to notice me.

  I was safe in my spot for a long time. The Grandkids ripped open presents and tore boxes. They looked at each gift carefully then set it in a pile beside them. Then they turned to open another box. The house was a mess again.

  “Breakfast is ready,” Mama called.

  The living room was suddenly empty. I ventured from my hiding spot. I carefully worked my way toward the kitchen. Callie had left me plenty of tender cat food in the bowl.

  “I think there is one more present that Santa left.” Carl got up from the table and headed for the front door. “I am sure there is one more gift out here!”

  When Carl came back inside, he was carrying a big box with holes in it. He pushed the empty boxes and paper away from under the tree and set it down as the family came back into the living room.

  “Look, Mama. It’s for you!”

  I stood near the kitchen door. Sounds of scratching came from the box. This was a bad sign.

  Mama frowned at the box just like I did. A whining sound came from inside, then more scratching. Mama tilted her head to the side. I felt my tail puff—just a little—but I didn’t know why. My ears wiggled when I turned to look at it.

  Mama reached for the big red bow. Before she touched it, the box began to wiggle.

  “Yap, yap!” the box said.

  My tail fuzzed up even bigger as a strange, shrill sound came from the wiggling box.

  If I thought the Grandkids were bad, they were nothing compared to this … Mama’s present.

  CHAPTER 6

  The Grandkids squealed. The big kids all moved toward the box. It wiggled. Then it bounced. Then it almost tipped over.

  “Yap, yap!” the box said.

  “Look, Mama! Look what Santa brought you!”

  Mama leaned over and peered into the box. Then she turned to Daddy.

  “Oh my gosh! A puppy!” Mama smiled. Then she got this sort of helpless look on her face. She smiled again, then frowned. “Is it a puppy or a big rat? What is he?”

  Did she say rat? I jumped to the back of the couch.

  Mama knelt down and pulled something from the box. The children and Grandkids pressed closer.

  “We knew how much you missed Muffy. Santa brought you a new puppy.”

  “But what is it?”

  “It’s a Scottish terrier,” Carl said.

  Mama frowned. “I didn’t know they were white. The ones I’ve seen are black. Are you sure it isn’t a big rat?” Mama smiled as she held the squirming, fuzzy beast up for a better look.

  “We’re sure!” The big kids all spoke at once.

  It was the first time I got a good look at it. It was white and fuzzy and as ugly as could be. It had this long pink tongue that kept flopping out of its mouth when it tried to lick Mama’s hand. And the back end of the thing kept wiggling so hard, I thought it might shake apart. (At least, I think it was the back end. Mostly the thing was just fuzz and fluff. It was hard to tell the front from the back.)

  “Isn’t he cute!” Heather sat down next to Mama. Dana moved nearer. I jumped to the top of the big wooden chest near the kitchen door. I needed a better view, out of reach of this big rat!

  Curling my tail around me, I licked my paws and washed my face. I kept one eye on the fuzzy, wiggly, little beast below me.

  The Grandkids were laughing and petting it, all at the same time. Each one pushed to get closer.

  It was hard to see what this animal really looked like with all the family gathered around it.

  “Okay, kids, it’s time to give Grandmother a chance to hold her puppy by herself
. Go get your stuff and leave them alone for just a little while.” Carl scooted the Grandkids toward the bedroom doors. He kind of held his arms out and waved them—like Daddy did when he was herding cows in the big lot behind the barn.

  “Go play with your toys. The playroom will be a good place. Give your grandmother just a while.”

  “Awww gee, Dad! He’s so cute.” Josh looked up at Carl. “Can I take him outside when Grandma gets through playing with him?”

  “Sure, son, but later!” He jabbed a sharp finger toward the bedroom. “Now, scat. Take the girls and go play for a while.”

  “Okay! Come on, Kensey! Jenny and Katie get her hands.” The Grandkids bounced toward the hallway.

  I didn’t like the looks of the thing on Mama’s lap. It was horrible! The animal was covered with shaggy white fur. Even its eyes were hidden by the long fuzz. Its short legs shook in the air as Mama gave it a nice tummy rub. It was disgusting. I could use a good rub, but instead, the beast got one.

  I jumped down from the chest, then walked over and rubbed against the door.

  “Mee … ow! I need some fresh air.”

  “Will somebody let that cat out?” Daddy called from the kitchen.

  When the door opened, I slid out as quickly as I could. Cold air shook my whiskers as I stepped to the end of the porch. There was no sunshine. Just another cold and dreary day.

  There was this strange white covering all over the ground. I frowned. When I stepped off the porch it went crunch under my paws. I yanked my foot back and looked. I touched it with my tongue. The white stuff was cold but tasted just like rainwater. Whatever the stuff was, it wasn’t bad—just cold.

  I checked all of my favorite spots. The apple tree. The woodpile. The holly bushes. I even peeked into the barn. Three rats were in a corner eating grain. Nora, the big rat, glared up at me. Okay … time to go back in with my people. At the front of the house I jumped to the ledge under the window.

  “Meee … ow! I need in! It’s cold out here. Me … ow!” I could see the little furball asleep on Mama’s lap. That should be me—all warm and cozy!

  I jumped down and scratched on the door. When it opened, I dashed in and ran for the bedroom. Like usual, Callie was asleep on the pillow.

  “Hey, Callie! Wake up! There is a new animal in the house. It’s on Mama! She likes it. I don’t! What are we going to do?”

  Callie opened one eye. “Relax, Gray. It’s only a puppy. They needed a dog to protect the yard. Muffy used to watch for coyotes, but she’s gone now! They’ll put it outside later.” She sighed and nestled her cheek into the pillow. “Puppies are kind of pesky, but right now, you’re safe up here. He’s too short to jump up this high! Chill out! Curl up! Take a nap!”

  Callie wasn’t any help at all. A wiggly, fuzzy, yapping furball puppy was in my Mama’s lap and Callie wanted me to take a nap!

  The day was filled with excitement and happiness. Smiles and laughter were everywhere. Only, I wasn’t happy. I didn’t know why. There was this strange feeling inside of me every time I looked at the little furball. It made my tail flip. I didn’t like it. When they finally put the dog out in the yard, I felt a lot better. That part was wonderful! It was almost like it hadn’t come here in the first place.

  When it got dark, the excitement seemed to get all mixed up with sadness. The kids and the Grandkids began to pack up their stuff. They said that they had to leave in the morning so that they could get back to work. The living room was piled with boxes and suitcases.

  I tried to stay on the back of the couches and chairs when someone let the puppy in the house. The thing made this terrible yapping sound. He waggled his back end and scampered all over the place. It was safer up high. When the house settled down, Mama put towels in a big box and set it on the back porch. Then the puppy was put out for the night … they stuck me in the playroom.

  Clicking sounds hit against the window. I jumped on the windowsill to look out. The birdfeeder swayed in the breeze. Small pieces of white hit against the window. I watched as it began to cover the ground.

  “Yap, yap,” the puppy yelled. “Help me! It’s cold out here! Let me in!”

  The yapping went on for a long time. I heard him begging to come into the house. I hopped down and peeked through the crack.

  Mama finally went to the door.

  “Hey, pup. It’s okay. Just stay in the box. We have lots of towels and blankets in there. Settle down. You’re okay.”

  “Yap, yap. I miss my mother. She was so soft and warm. Let me in.”

  Mama closed the door gently. As I peeked through the opening, I could still see her house shoes. Daddy’s bare feet moved near.

  “Are you going to leave him outside?”

  “I don’t know. I really don’t think we need a house dog. We have Gray. He comes and goes, but old Callie might be a problem. She is used to being left alone. The puppy would be all over her. I don’t know what to do.”

  “Yap, yap! It’s really cold out here. I need my warm mother! Let me in!” The yapping sound kept going and going.

  The Mama and Daddy opened the door. Mama picked up the ball of fluff.

  “He’s shaking!” Mama pouted and snuggled the furball close. “Look, it’s snowing out there. No wonder he’s cold. The towels can’t keep the dampness away from him.”

  Daddy’s toe pointed toward where I was watching from under the door.

  “How about the playroom? Gray will leave him alone. We can put papers down and bring the box of towels inside for him to snuggle. I read that a ticking clock will comfort puppies. It’s supposed to remind them of their mother’s heartbeat, or something like that.” Daddy’s feet moved away, toward the hall.

  The door swung open. If that ugly beast was going to be in here—I wasn’t. I tried to slide past the foot that Mama put in my face. “Get back, Gray!”

  When I couldn’t get out, I ran to the couch. I hopped on the back, then onto the window ledge. The ball of fluff ran after me.

  “Yap, yap! I want to play.” He stood on two back legs. His front legs wiggled and shook my couch. “Let me up! I want to play!”

  Mama stood for a long time watching. She picked the puppy up in her arms and snuggled him. Then she put him in the box.

  He didn’t stay.

  She caught him and put him in the box once more. He hopped out again. When she put him back the last time, she got a big cushion from the couch and put it on the box as a lid.

  “Settle down, pup. The whole house is going to be up if you don’t get quiet!”

  The door shut. I was trapped. The dog whined and whined. He bounced against the box. It rocked back and forth. The cushion wobbled, then fell off. Wiggling and squirming, the white ball of fluff tumbled out of the box. Then …

  He came straight for me.

  This was the night I moved to a new level in the house. Up!

  CHAPTER 7

  I stayed on the back of the couch most of the night. I didn’t get a bit of sleep. Every time I so much as thought about dozing off, the puppy would bounce against the bottom of the furniture. He shook my couch and tried to get his short front paws up to the seat. He scratched against the bottom cushion. He chased his tail and yapped.

  “Yap, yap, play with me!” he cried.

  I tried to ignore him. Maybe he would go away. At least maybe he would go to sleep.

  “Yap, yap, I miss my mother. I miss my brothers and sisters.”

  I curled up on the back of the couch and watched out of one eye. The puppy didn’t give up. Finally he perked his ears and went to the door.

  “Yap, yap! Let me out! I want to play.”

  The puppy jumped up against the door. Clawing at the wood, he continued yapping. Callie had warned me about scratching on the door. But I didn’t tell the little white ball of fur. Instead, I decided to watch and see what would happen if the puppy kept it up.

  It was just a few minutes before the door flew open. Daddy stood over the small pup. He slapped a newspaper against the p
alm of his hand.

  It didn’t scare the puppy—not one little bit. He jumped up against Daddy’s leg. Daddy smacked the newspaper again. The white furball just bounced all over the place. Daddy reached down and lifted him up so he could look him square in the eye.

  “Listen, dog. We’ve got to get some rest here. Settle down and go to sleep.” He put the beast back into the box and replaced the cushion over the top.

  The puppy must have been pretty tired. He soon settled down into the towels at the bottom of the box.

  I fell asleep, listening to the clicking of the white stuff against the window.

  Before it even got light, sounds began coming from the living room. I crept past the box full of puppy. I peeked under the door. A whole bunch of feet were scurrying around. I reached my paw under and pulled at the wood. Feet shuffled nearer.

  Mama opened the door and scooped me up. She shut the door quietly.

  “Are you trying to wake up the puppy?” Mama glared me in the eye. The next thing I knew I was out on the front porch.

  Quickly I took care of my business and hurried back to wait for someone to let me in.

  I hopped up on the window ledge and looked inside. People moved around. They bumped into one another, smiled, talked, then scurried about some more.

  Suddenly the door opened. I tried to sneak in. A foot pushed me back outside. I jumped on the rocker and fluffed my fur to keep warm.

  Carl and Paul carried boxes and suitcases to the driveway. They made lots of trips back and forth. Just as the sky began to brighten, Dana and Heather bundled the Grandkids up in coats, hats, and gloves. Then they brought things that had been in the boxes under the tree and stuffed armloads of toys and presents into their pudgy little hands. At last the whole group headed down the sidewalk. Mama and Daddy followed them out. I hopped down and walked to the end of the yard, where I could see what was going on.