Her home had an open stairway which her Humans used to gain entry to the second floor; but bonnie allowed her Humans to use the stairs even though she knew the stairway was hers. They were part of her playground. The landing was her lookout point. It was her last line of defense from imagined monsters.

At the top of the stairs, overlooking the front of the house, was a large round window. This window was where Bonnie watched her outside world. Here she would sit and watch the children play. She would watch Air Machines fly high up in the blue sky and she would watch her Human Mommy and Daddy go and come from work. Bonnie could see the whole world from this window.

Exiting her home from the back of the house was her very own door. Through this door Bonnie could enter the outside world. Just outside her door there was a large pine tree. It was as high as the house. Bonnie had tried, often, to climb this tree. She would only get about halfway up. She would always become scared and would have to climb back down.

But outside had other wonderful things. She enjoyed sitting in the rays of the warm sun and the soft breezes tickled her hair, but she enjoyed most of all rolling in the patches of dirt.

Her Human Mommy always said, “Oh, Bonnie, please don’t roll in the dirt!” but Bonnie knew her Human Mommy was only scolding lightly and she also knew her Human Mommy was aware of how much she liked to roll in the dirt, so she was allowed to continue to do so.

Bonnie was not afraid of outside. She knew the way well. When she had first ventured out she had carefully noted fences, plants and trees and with each outing she ventured further until she knew her entire property.

There was another reason Bonnie was not afraid of outside. Her Human Mommy and Daddy had provided her with a beautiful red heart pendant which hung from her bright red collar. On her heart pendant was engraved her name and telephone number. If she ever became lost or afraid she knew she could find a kindly policeman, in a blue uniform, to call her Human Mommy.

Bonnie had never experienced Christmas. Oh, Christmases had came before, but she had been too little to notice. She knew nothing about Christmas trees, decorations, presents or Santa Clause.

She was, therefore, surprised when her Humans brought a tree into the house. At first Bonnie thought the tree was for her and she was confused. She already had the stairs, you see, and the tree outside. But this tree was not for here.

Her Humans gently scolded when she tried to climb this tree. Her Human Mommy said, “Bonnie, this tree is our Christmas Tree. This is where Santa will leave our presents. It’s a bonny tree and it’s going to be a bonny Christmas. The Christmas tree is not for you to climb.”

Her Humans placed beautiful lights on the tree along with cheerful colored balls and bows. The tree contained, what Bonnie thought, was a mass of wonderful toys, but none for her.

As the days passed Bonnie would lie on the landing and gaze at the tree and think how delightful it would be to bat at the glittering balls. The bows, she secretly found, would untie and easily stretch across the living room. They would form a long ribbon with which she could play. But Human Mommy found the ribbon and scolded. “No, No, Bonnie. This is our bonny Christmas Tree. You will learn soon what it is for, but you mustn’t play with the tree.”

The tree, itself, smelled so good. The branches could be chewed and were far enough apart for her to climb all the way to the top. What fun it would be to hide within the needles and jump out at her Humans as they walked by! But her Human Mommy, again said, “ No Bonnie dearest, you may not play with the Christmas Tree. Just have patience. Santa will come soon and he will bring you wonderful things and put them under our bonny tree.”

Bonnie wasn’t sure she would like that. She didn’t like strangers. Human Mommy has said she should never trust strangers, but, “Not Santa,” her Human Mommy had said, “ Santa is the one stranger you can trust.”

One bright night, while her Human Mommy and Daddy were fast asleep, Bonnie became very restless. She just could not go to sleep. She had a feeling something was going to happen this very night. Maybe this was the night Human Mommy had talked about.

Bonnie left her warm bed, beside her Human Mommy, and quietly padded to the large round window. Outside the street was quiet. Bonnie looked up and down the block but nothing moved. Then from out of the night came the sound of bells!

Bonnie had heard bells before. Church bells, door bells, even once a cow bell but never bells like this. These bells tinkled and they were coming from the sky. Then when she looked up she saw the strangest Air Machine ever. This Air Machine had animals attached...Funny looking animals... with long branches on their heads. And in the Air Machine itself was a strange looking man.

Bonnie was very scared. But instead of running for her Human Mommy she dashed instead to her door. Finding herself outside, her little heart pounding, she spied the tall pine tree and scrambled up, up, up, all the way to the top.

It only took one look down to realize what she had done. She would never be able to climb back down. She was stuck her in the uppermost limb of the tree.

Hiding as best as possible, she watched as the Air Machine turned the corner of her house and headed straight for her! Bonnie was trembling when the Air Machine came to a stop directly in front of her.

The strange man was dressed in a bright red suit. The same color as her collar and tag. And he laughed gently. “Don’t be afraid, Bonnie, I’m Santa. The man your Human Mommy told you about.” And in saying that, Santa lifted Bonnie into the Air Machine and the strange animals pulled them to the top of her roof.

Bonnie didn’t know Santa could speak all languages, even cat, and could also understand her thoughts. “Those strange looking animals are called raindeer, Bonnie”, he said “and what looks like branches to you are called antlers. They pull my Air Machine, which is called a sleigh.” And with that he lifted Bonnie in one hand and a bulging backpack in the other and then jumped lightly down the fireplace.

Bonnie was too amazed to be scared. She watched quietly as Santa emptied his backpack, placing many pretty packages under their tree. “So that’s what the tree is for”, thought Bonnie, “Gee, I will never be able to climb a Christmas tree all the way to the top. I will never be able to chew on the needles or untie the bows”.

“Oh yes, you will”, said Santa as he pulled a small decorated tree from his backpack. The tree was covered with bows and balls. Just like the big Christmas tree. “This Bonnie, is all for you”.

Bonnie was so happy she bounded up the stairs and pounced on her Human Mommy. “Wake up Mommy. Wake up”. she meowed, “It’s a bonny Christmas day.”

“No it isn’t, Bonnie darling,” said her Human Mommy, “It’s a bonny Bonnie Christmas day.”