Dolce's Story Chair - Jingles and the Furry Helpers (pt 3)

Dad: Dolce!
Dolce: Yes Dad?
Dad: Are you ready for your friends?
Dolce: Yes. I got the milk, the cookies, and some greens already to go.
Baci: I broughts the fev-ver toys!!
Dolce: Baci, This is a story chair not a play chair!
Baci: No fev-vers?
Dad: Baci, you can bring your fev-vers but you have to wait until after the story to play with them. Okay?
Baci: OKAY!!!!
Dad: Dolce, you can let your friends know that I am ready to start the next part of the story.
Dolce: EVERYBODY!!!DAD IS READY TO START THE STORY!!!
Dad: Dolce, Dolce, Dolce.
Dolce: Dad, Dad, Dad.


Jingles and the Furry Helpers
Part 3: A Christmas Cat’s Work is Never Done

Jingles sat on top of Santa’s desk and stared intently at the tiny gold scroll. Jingles had asked Santa to take out for him as the final deadline for this year’s Christmas production run was quickly approaching. All year, Santa had been gently reminding Jingles that sooner or later he would have to look at the names on the scroll. Jingles had hesitantly agreed but had found one reason after another to avoid actually having to touch the scroll.
Jingles had been using the design and development of the Feathered Ball toy to postpone the reading of the scroll. Santa had accepted that for the months of January, February and March, but in April, Santa had begun pressuring Jingles to update his Lists. Jingles then used the Spring Training of the reindeer as another excuse not to read the scroll and then it was the Summer Machine Maintenance. Now with only a week before Christmas and toy production reaching its final run, Santa had picked Jingles up from the house he shared with Taylor Tailorson and had placed Jingles on his desk with the firm command that he was not to leave the office until he had read the scroll.
Jingles swallowed hard and tenativley reached his paw towards the scroll. He had almost touched it when he quickly pulled his paw back. Jingles sat for a short while and then once again reached out towards the scroll. His paw hovered a hair’s breath over the scroll. As much as Jingles knew he needed to do this, he was afraid of what might happen.
A large bang in the room next to Santa’s office startled Jingles and he accidently placed his paw on the scroll.
The scroll suddenly unraveled and the names of hundred of cats and kittens appeared in gold script on the parchment. Jingles saw each cat and kitten appear in his memories and for each one, he felt the hollowness that the loss of a dear friend brings.
“Bonnie Underfoot, Kelly, Tiki…” Jingles mouthed the names as they flowed across the parchment, “Cloud Chaser, Pixie, Captain Nels LaPurr, Mu Shue Pooh King, Texas, Jerry Lee, Skeeter, Dandelion, Pepper, Pandora…”
The names flowed and flowed over the parchment.
Jingles was so entangled in the river of departed cats and kittens that he did not see Santa standing in the doorway holding a large thickly bound book. The scroll finally finished unraveling. Jingles sat and stared at the scroll. He lovingly placed his paw on the parchment. Santa crossed the room and gave Jingles a reassuring scratch behind his left ear. He was still holding the large book under his left arm.
“I hope I didn’t startle you too bad, Jingles.” Santa apologized. “This book was a little higher than I thought.”
“Thank you, Santa.” Jingles said softly. “I don’t think I could have found the strength to do that on my own.”
“Jingles.” Santa set the book down on the desk and collapsed into his chair. “I had the same problem my first year as Santa. I left my scroll on the desk untouched right up to the last minute. Mrs. Claus actually had to hide it in my boot in order to trick me into touching it. Sammy and the other Elfs in the Loading Dock were very unhappy that they had to unload a lot of presents. See that one there.”
Santa pointed to a small wrapped box on the top shelf of a bookcase. The paper had faded and the bow was no longer full and large.
“That is the first gift they unloaded from the sleigh that Christmas Eve.” Santa said, “It was for a little girl. I almost delivered it, because I was as scared as you were. I keep it to remind me of what I have been chosen to do and that I must bear all of the responsibilities of that chosen task.”
“I think I understand.” Jingles said as he hopped off the desk onto Santa’s lap. “Does it ever get easier?”
“No it doesn’t.” Santa replied as he stroked Jingles’ fur. “But you know what. I think having someone here who understands what the scrolls mean just might make it easier to bear.”
Jingles purred in agreement. Now that he had dealt with the issue of the scroll, Jingles tried to focus on the task at hand, for in one week he would be riding with Santa on his sleigh and delivering toys to all the cats and kittens.

Jingles woke to find his Christmas gear all nicely pressed and laid out in the stool inside his room. It was Christmas Eve and Jingles could sense the excitement that permeated every nook and cranny of the North Pole. Jingles quickly got dressed into his Red Velvet Vest and his White furr trimmed Hat. He went into the kitchen to greet Taylor, but the elf was already gone to work. Jingle saw a note pinned to the tablecloth next to a large steaming bowl of cream and a large plate of catnip cookies.
“Eat Up, Jingles.” Taylor had written. “You will need your strength. We can’t have a repeat of last year. “
Jingles remembered how he had almost failed to deliver the toys. He read the rest of Taylor’s note.”
“P.S. I have put a bag of Catnip Energy cookies in your left pocket. In case you get hungry. If I don’t see you at the Ceremony, have a good trip.”
Jingles patted his left pocket and felt the bag of cookies Taylor had prepared for him.
“Thanks, Taylor.” Jingles said to his friend who had already gone off to work.

Jingles gave his cap a bit of an adjustment and then he started off for the Main Square where Santa’s sleigh stood loaded and ready for its yearly trip around the world. Jingles was happy that this year he would be able to ride up front with Santa instead of having to sneak into the makeshift cubbyhole Sammy Sleighmaster had made for him. Not this year. This year Jingles would climb into the sleigh with Santa and get to watch all the Elf bands and listen to the Elf choirs as the entire population of the North Pole gave Santa his big send off.
As he walked towards the Main Square, Jingles was greeted with a “Merry Christmas” from every Elf he met. Jingles heart swelled with each and every greeting. The hollowness from last week was finally starting to subside.


Soon Jingles was entering into the Main Square of the North Pole. He could see, in the centre of the Square, Santa’s fully loaded sleigh. The eight reindeer were nervously pawing at the cobblestones as they were being hitched into their harnesses Jingles saw Santa talking with Sammy Sleighmaster. Sammy was taking Santa through his Pre-flight checklist.

“Hello, Sammy” Jingles said happily as he hopped up onto the seat of the Sleigh. “Are you ready Santa?”
“Merry Christmas, Jingles” Sammy replied, and then he added with a wink, “I think you will like the view a lot better up there.”
“Hello, Jingles.” Santa smiled, “Yes I am already to go.”
“Now Santa. “Sammy warned, “I want you to keep a close eye on those new Gum Drop Diodes. They were giving us a little bit of grief when they warmed up. I don’t think you should have any problems, but watch them closely once you finish dealing with the houses in the Southern Hemisphere.”
“Will do, Sammy.” Santa replied. “And Sammy…”
“Yes, Santa?” Sammy said.
“Merry Christmas.” Santa smiled and gave out a jolly laugh.
Sammy smilled and laughed right back.
“And a very Merry Christmas to you, Santa.” Sammy nodded to Jingles who eagerly paced on the front seat of the sleigh.

Sammy stepped back from the edge of the sleigh. He waved his hand to an elf nearby who struck a large silver bell. A quiet hush fell over the square. The only sound to be heard was the snuffling and excited breathing of the reindeer. Jingles could feel his heart pound in his chest. As he heard Santa call out to his reindeer, Jingles found himself mouthing their names along with him.

“On Dasher, On Dancer, On Prancer and Vixen!” Santa called out to his magical reindeer. “On Comet, On Cupid, On Donner and Blitzen!”

With the name of his last reindeer echoing across the quiet Main Square, the reindeer began their pull against their harness and slowly the sleigh moved forward. Faster and Faster the sleigh began to move and then suddenly it lifted from the cobblestone pavement and Santa’s sleigh began its rapid rise into the clear crisp Christmas Eve sky. A thunderous cheer erupted from all the elfs as caps and toques were tossed joyously into the air.


To be continued...