Noel was born on November 6th. She got her name because she was the only kitten her mother had that was born with fur as white as Christmas snow. Her mother told her that she was lucky to have the birthday she did because it meant that Noel and her brothers and sisters would be ready to find homes of their own by Christmas time. Christmas time was the easiest time of year for kittens to find homes because they made wonderful Christmas presents. Noel played with her brothers and sisters and got bigger, like they did, as the weeks went by. One day snow looked outside and there was stuff the same color as her fur all over the ground. Curious about what it was Noel wiggled through the door her mother used to go outside. She wanted to explore but didn’t realize how far she had wandered from home. She got lost and confused and cold. Noel mewled for her mother and looked forlornly at the humans who walked past her in a steady stream. When she stopped to try some food she found sitting out she heard a low hiss from behind her.
“What do you think you’re doing” Hissed a big tom cat. “That is my food twerp so buzz off”
“But I found it and finders keepers” little Noel said puffing out her fur to look big and scary.
“Listen fuzzy” The tom sneered. “You’re a bit small to be making threats but since you’re just a dumb kid and you amuse me I won’t kill you” Suddenly a human opened the door next to them and kicked the tom away.
“Grumpy old fur ball” the human said. “Come here little one” it picked Noel up and carried her inside the warm building which Noel was grateful for. She smelled fresh milk and something baking in an oven. Noel purred and nuzzled up against the human’s chest. It put her down on a big blanket and picked up a phone. “Hello” it said. “I’ve just found a kitten.” There was a pause. “About six weeks old female eating my cat’s food so she’s weaned can you take her” another pause. “Oh come on. It’s almost Christmas she’ll be adopted in no time” it smiled and scratched Noel’s ears. “Great then see you in a few minutes” it said. Noel was picked up soon after and carried away by some women in uniforms. They took her to a big brick building and put her in a room with some other kittens and left. She didn’t see those women again after that. She spent her time playing with her new friends and sometimes humans would come in and play with them.
“Why are we here” Noel asked one of the older kittens one day.
“We are going to be adopted and have new families” the other kitten said happily. Suddenly the door opened and two humans came in.
“Christmas is in a week so I want to pick one out now and let it get used to me before I give it to my wife” Said a man walking in with the lady who fed Noel and her friends every day.
“I think I know the perfect Christmas kitty” said the lady. “This one wandered up in front of the bakery down town about two weeks ago”
“Great I’ll take her” The man said scooping Noel up. He took her home and they became great friends. He gave her warm milk when it was cold and stroked her fur all the time. On Christmas morning he woke up very early and came into the room he had been hiding Noel in. He was wearing odd green clothes and wearing a necklace with tags like the ones on Noel’s collar.
“Well little Noel” he said. “Let’s get you ready to meet your mommy” The man tied a big bow around Noel’s neck and left her under the tree. He stood up after putting her in a big basket and grabbed a big duffel bag by the door with a tag on it that said ‘Sergeant Joshua Wilk: U.S. Army’ before walking out the door. On the bow he had left around the kitten’s neck was a note in his handwriting that read.
My name is Noel my new daddy says you are my mommy I like cuddles and curtains so please keep an eye on me while he is in Iraq. He says he won’t be home when you find me because he has to leave first thing in the morning before you wake up.
