A Christmas Story

 

Story told by Ning

I was stopping by the village one morning when Milo came running up.

"Ning!  Am I glad I caught you!  Hey, do you want to join us for Christmas carolling?"

Frankly, I've never sung a carol before in my life, all I hear nowadays is disco music at the club.

"Sorry, Milo," I said laughing.  "I can't sing!"

"Neither can I," he replied.  "Just join in the fun.  So far I've got three or four cats to join us, the rest are young boys from the church.  Oh, don't be a spoil sport!  It's better than going to your club and getting drunk!"

He kept on persuading me and finally I relented.  

"Ok, ok, but don't be surprised if I sing out of tune!"  I warned.

He slapped me on my back, gave me the place and time to meet and ran off.  I must say I'm beginning to like this young cat, he's always so cheerful and full of energy.  Well it would mean giving up an evening at the club but I suppose he's right.  Besides at this time of the year, the club's always full with noisy tomcats and their girlfriends drinking and smoking and turning the place upsidedown.

So a few evenings before Christmas, we gathered outside a shop in the village - four cats, six young boys.  The leader, a boy of about 15 by the name of Jeremy, said we would be visiting five houses and told us to behave ourselves. "No drinking allowed, guys," he said, looking at me.  Hey, who said anything about drinking? I felt rather annoyed that he should pinpoint me.  Milo saw the look on my face and quickly whispered in my ear, "Don't worry what he says, he just doesn't want us to get into trouble."  

The first house we went to was occupied by a family of five.  They were very nice and gave us little presents of cake and candy.  The other families we visited were  nice and generous too and we all received small gifts.  I must say everyone sang very well including the cats, I never knew they could meow Christmas carols! As for me, most of the time I just closed and opened my mouth.  That's the best thing you can do when you can only croak!

Then just before we went to the last house, Jeremy said, "Guys, as you may remember, the last house is where our old friend, Mr. Grumpy lives.  So be nice to him, ok?"

Milo explained to me that this "Mr. Grumpy" is an old man who lives alone.  He is in his 90's and most of the time he keeps to himself.  Every year, when the group comes, he would get very angry and yell at them to go away.

"Then why do you keep visiting him?"  I asked.

Milo smiled.  "He's really a very lonely man but is too proud to admit it.  He always puts on a show of being angry but we know he really appreciates our singing, so we don't want to miss him out."

So there we were outside Mr Grumpy's house.  Jeremy knocked on the door and after some time, it slowly creaked open.

"Merry Christmas, Sir!" we all sang together.  Then Jeremy started to sing softly "Silent Night".  The old man stood there listening quietly. We were surprised that he didn't yell at us, instead he opened his door wider and beckoned us to enter.

Inside we were even more surprised to see that a long table had been laid out with cake, jelly, fruits and all kinds of goodies.  The old man gestured to us to help ourselves, then went to sit in a corner.  Jeremy felt it would not be appropriate if we started gorging ourselves, so we sang more carols instead.  All this time, the old man didn't say anything but just sat there listening  to us sing.

Finally, as it was getting late, we said our thanks and bid him goodnight.  Once outside everyone couldn't restrain themselves and discussed the sudden change in the old man.  It was the first time in years that he had actually invited the group into his house and prepared a feast.  Quite honestly I was too tired to bother and was relieved when Jeremy called it a night.

The next morning I was awakened by Milo who was shouting for me outside my hideout. 

"Alright, alright, I'm coming," I grumbled wondering what was so urgent.

"Ning, the old man ... Mr Grumpy ... they found him dead in his house early this morning..."

"What?  But he was ok last night when we saw him!"

Milo's tone dropped.  "The coroner .. he said the old man died around 6 yesterday evening..."

"Impossible!" I argued.  "He was still alive when we saw him around 8!"

Milo's eyes widened.  "That was what I told the coroner but he didn't believe me."

For a moment, both of us could not speak.  I don't normally scare easily but this time I felt the hair on my back stand up.

"Ning, do you think we saw his g..ghost?" whispered Milo, eyes round like saucers.

I didn't have the answer to that but I told Milo quite firmly that I would not be joining him in the next carol singing session.  Goodness knows what may happen next - it's safer to get drunk at the club!

The following evening, just as I was getting ready to go to the club, Milo suddenly appeared at my doorstep.

"Ning, we're going carolling again in 15 minutes, you can make it if you hurry!"

"Milo, I already told you I'm not joining you guys again," I said, exasperated.  But he wouldn't take "No" for an answer; he grabbed me and dragged me off with him despite my protests

Well, we visited another few families, sang and as usual  were rewarded with cake and candy.  After we finished the last house, and since it was still early, around 8 p.m. or so, Jeremy suggested we go to a nearby park to relax.

It was a nice evening, a light breeze was blowing and a pale moon was floating serenely in the sky, half hidden by clouds.  Strangely I forgot about going to the club.  It was so calm and peaceful there and as I sat with my friends, my heart suddenly swelled with an indescribable feeling of love and joy for just being with them.  I had never felt like this before.

Then one of the boys started strumming his guitar and they began singing softly...Noel 🎵 Noel....soon a small crowd gathered.  They hummed along with the music, some sang.  Some were amazed cats could sing.

Then suddenly Milo gripped my shoulder.  

"Ning .... under that lamp post, do you see what I see?"

I looked but didn't see anything unusual.  Just a man standing under it.

"Ning, look again ...that man, it's Mr. Grumpy!"

"What?" I looked again. Just then the clouds parted and  moonlight bathed the whole park.

"OMG, it is him," I gasped.

As we stared at him in awe, the old man smiled, then vanished into thin air.

"Oh wow, wait till I tell Jeremy," whispered Milo.  

Later we heard that Mr Grumpy had before his death donated all his savings to the local church with the condition that they carry on carol singing every Christmas.

This is one Christmas I shall remember for a long time.

Ning