The Christmas Mouse – A Middle Grade Short Story by Celeste Teylar

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, two cats were trying to catch a mouse. One was Benny who was dressed in black and white fur with a mask across his face. The other was CeCe, Benny’s tabby sister. Both cats ran throughout the living room only to be outwitted by a Christmas mouse.

Crash! Benny ran into a wall. Boom! CeCe hit the kitty condo and knocked it down. The Christmas mouse ran towards a corner on the other side of living room. He huffed and puffed as he leaned against the wall. Benny and CeCe jumped onto the windowsill to take a break from chasing that darn Christmas mouse. They looked outside and watched the white snow fall gently to the ground; the green grass was carpeted with snow. The night sky was lit up with twinkling stars and a big glowing moon. Benny and CeCe watched the night unfold in silence.

Jingling sounds from outside startled Benny and CeCe. They jumped onto the wooden floor and didn’t notice the Christmas mouse standing next to them. Benny jumped onto the windowsill again and looked outside. His eyes widen as he saw a strange sight swooping down from the night sky. Thump! Benny jumped from the windowsill knocking over CeCe and the Christmas mouse.

Benny and CeCe walked slowly towards the fireplace to inspect the noise coming from it. Their ears flicked from side to side, and they ran behind a chair to hide. Suddenly, a plump man tumbled down the chimney and landed on the wooden floor. His eyes were the bluest blue, and his cheeks were a rosy hue. He was dressed in a red suit trimmed in white; his red cap had white trim too and a fuzzy white ball dangling from it. He carried a red sack that was filled to the top. The jolly ol’ fellow walked to a table, placed his red sack on the floor, and sat down. He picked up a note and read it with glee – he let out a big laugh that shook the Christmas tree. He drank from a glass filled with warm milk and crunched on paw print cookies as fast as he could. Benny and CeCe peered out from behind the chair to have a look. The jolly ol’ fellow got up from the table, picked up his red sack, and walked towards the fireplace. He took out catnip, cat toys, and cat treats and stuffed them into the stockings hanging on the fireplace mantle.

The Christmas mouse ran towards the jolly ol’ fellow, Benny and CeCe followed in hot pursuit. The jolly ol’ fellow turned around and looked at Benny and CeCe.

“What’s this?” he said. The jolly ol’ fellow scratched his head.

Benny and CeCe stopped in their tracks.

“I can’t believe two good cats would chase a Christmas mouse,” the jolly ol’ fellow said.

The Christmas mouse ran and crawled up the leg of the jolly ol’ fellow stopping before he got to the top of his head. He looked at his face and sniffed him.

“HoHoHoHoHo! That tickles. What a handsome Christmas mouse you are?” said the jolly ol’ fellow. He patted the Christmas mouse on the head and gave him a wink before placing him on the floor next to Benny and CeCe who looked at each other.

The jolly ol’ fellow knelt down to face Benny, CeCe, and the Christmas mouse.

“I think all three of you make the finest of friends. Benny and CeCe, I know two good cats like you would never harm a Christmas mouse,” said the jolly ol’ fellow.

Benny and CeCe shook their heads ‘yes’ in agreement and patted the Christmas mouse on the back.

“I almost forgot the gift I have for you,” said the jolly ol’ fellow to the Christmas mouse. He got up, walked to his red sack, and pulled out a big block of Swiss cheese wrapped in a red bow.

“Here you are,” said the jolly ol’ fellow as he handed the Christmas mouse the big block of Swiss cheese. The Christmas mouse tumbled backward, and the cheese landing on top of him. He wiggled out from under it and leaned towards the big block of Swiss cheese and took in a deep breath. “Ahhh, said” the Christmas mouse.

Benny and CeCe stood still.

“Well, I must be off. I have more houses to visit on this chilly night. Benny, CeCe, and Christmas mouse, I wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Remember, friends come in all shapes and sizes, colors and races too, even a Christmas mouse is just like me and you,” said the jolly ol’ fellow.

With a twinkle in his eyes and a wiggle of his nose, he went up the chimney without singeing his clothes. The Christmas mouse jumped onto Benny’s back; he and CeCe ran and jumped onto the windowsill. Pounding came from the roof, and the wind began to howl. A magical sight appeared before Benny, CeCe, and the Christmas mouse. It was the jolly ol’ fellow in a sleigh, pulled by eight reindeer. He looked towards the window where Benny, CeCe, and the Christmas mouse sat.

“Merry Christmas to All and Have a Good Night!” shouted the jolly ol’ fellow.

Within a blink of an eye the jolly ol’ fellow disappeared into the night sky. Benny, CeCe, and the Christmas mouse were dazed and could not move. The mouse whispered into Benny’s ear and the cat jumped to the floor, CeCe followed him. The Christmas mouse slid down Benny’s back; he and CeCe jumped up and knocked down their stockings from the fireplace mantle. They got their toys while the Christmas mouse unwrapped his big block of Swiss cheese. Something amazing happened that night. The two cats and Christmas mouse were no longer enemies. They became friends who would share many a laugh thanks to that jolly ol’ fellow who made everything right on that one Christmas night.