Good morning.

Here’s a piece from Trish Hubschman you don’t want to miss.

It looks like Henry is writing again.

Hi All, I’m posting my latest Henry story below. Henry’s my dog. He’s narrating. It’s called “ Jingle Bell Dog.”

Jingle Bell Dog

By Trish Hubschman

Henry

I’m going to a Christmas party with Mom and Dad and I’m going to meet Santa Claus. How cool is that? I’m going to sit on his lap and tell him what I want for Christmas. I never did that before and I’m not sure I know what to do. I mean, I don’t know what I want for Christmas. I have to think about it. Hm, well, there’s really nothing I want, nothing that Santa can make in his toy shop. I miss the girl dog next door, Kenzie. We were good friends for nearly a year. We didn’t go to each other’s houses much. Her human Mom was sick all summer. But I saw Kenzie in her backyard and we talked a lot. Then one day, she disappeared. Mom and Dad were very upset. She and Dad didn’t talk about it much, but I did find out some stuff from listening in when they didn’t realize it. The lady couldn’t take care of Kenzie anymore, so she sent her to live with some friends in a place called Florida. I wish Kenzie would come back, for a visit at least. That’s what I want for Christmas, a visit from my friend, but I can’t ask Santa that. Can I?

On the day of the party, I got in the backseat of the folks’ new Jeep Compass. Mom was already back here. I like to sit on her lap when we’re in the car, so I can look out the window. I’m short and need to stand on her lap. She put her arms around me. “I hope Santa doesn’t mistake you for Rudolph,” she teased. ‘You’ve got a reindeer’s pointy ears.” She laughed, so did Dad. I sniffed indignantly.

“He doesn’t have the red nose though,” Dad said. They both laughed.

Leave my nose alone, I wanted to protest.

Dad pulled out of the driveway. We drove to the party place and went in. I was on Santa’s lap a short while later.

“Tell Santa what you want for Christmas, little fella,” Santa said, juggling me on one knee. I almost fell off.

Okay, here goes, I told myself, opening my mouth. I had this all planned out. But nothing came out. Heck, the cat must have gotten my tongue. “Um, are you going to understand me if I talk?” I asked him. No sense wasting my breath if he didn’t.

Santa smiled and patted my back. “of course, I will. I’m Santra. I can speak every language around the globe and communicate with anyone, including animals,” he replied.

That was good. I told him about Kenzie, the dog next door who moved to Florida without her human Mom. “I miss her. I don’t know how she is and I want her to come for a visit.”

“That’s fair,” he said. “Hm, let me think. Yes, yes, Kenzie, I see her, very pretty dog. She’s doing very well. She’s in a nice, loving home with children and two other dogs to play with.”

I narrowed my eyes. “How do you know that? Have you been to Florida? Have you seen her?”

He shook his head. “Florida’s too hot for me, lad. I’m from the North Pole. I have associates in Florida. They handle the Equator zones.”

Okay, that made sense. “And they say Kenzie’s doing good?” I asked. “Does she miss me? Can she come for a visit?”

Santa shook his head. “I‘m sure she does miss you, lad, but I don’t know if she’s coming for a visit. We’ll have to wait and see.”

I got off Santa’s lap. I was depressed. “That’s okay,” I murmured.

“Hey, cheer up, little fella,” Santa said. “You never know what magic Santa can conjure up. Always remember the Miracle of Christmas.”

Dad and I went back to our table and the party went on.

“Should we invite our next door neighbor to Christmas breakfast?” Mom asked on the way home. “She was always so lovely to us, well, before she sent her dog away.” Mom’s tone was dry.

“I don’t think so,” Dad replied. “We don’t have anything in common with her anymore.”

Mom licked her lips. “I know, but I feel sad for her. She’s all alone and has to feel super lonely.”

Dad shrugged

. . .

Christmas morning

I spent last night trying to figure out the Miracle of Christmas thing. What the heck is that anyway? I don’t see any miracles here. I told Santa something really deep and now I felt silly. Christmas was going to be like Thanksgiving, a lot of eating and sleeping. I was okay WITH that.

I jumped on the bed at my usual time of five a.m. Mom was on her side sound asleep. I xlimbed onto her hip, but she wouldn’t wake up. She groaned. I got off her amd went to Dad. He was on his back. I climbed onto his chest and plopped down. he woke up and pet and kissed me.

“Go back to sleep, boy,” he said and I did.

We all go up two hours later. I raced to the back door. I had to go out to do my business. I held it in long enough if you ask me.

“I want my coffee,” Mom said grumpily.

“He has to go out first,” Dad protested.

He had that right.

Dad and I went back in the house a few minutes later. We were both really happy. I ran around in circles. Yeah, I did a poop, but something even more exciting happened.

“Take a shower and get dressed right after breakfast,” Dad told Mom. “Henry and I have a surprise for you.”:

Mom looked at him sleepy-eyed. “Tell me that after I’ve had my coffee.”

. . .

Two hours later

The doorbell rang. I was so excited about this, I was afraid I might pee and I don’t do that in the house.

The three of us went to the door. Dad pushed Mom’S wheelchair and I trotted alongside. “This is ridiculous,” Mom said. “What is going on here. What aren’t you two telling me.”

“You’ll see,” Dad said, opening the door. Our next door neighbor, Susan, stood there. She had a leash in her hand. A beautiful, sleek black Labrador was on it.

Moms stared wide-eyed as Dad opened the storm door. “Oh my God, Kenzie is that you?”

I was dancing around.

“My friends from Florida came up to spend Christmas with me,” Susan said. “They brought Kenzie with them for a visit. Kevin said it would be okay if I left her with you for a few hours so we could go to church, then my son’s house.”

Kenzie had jumped onto Mon’s lap and was giving her kisses. “That’s fine,” Mom said, laughing.

“Kenzie, get down,” Susan ordered. Kenzie did and Susan unsnapped her leash. Me and my buddy went racing down the hall to the back of the house.

“I think that’s the Miracle of Christmas,” Mom said. “Thank you, Susan, and Merry Christmas.”

“And thank you, Santa,” Dad said, closing the door.

“Which one. The one in the north pole or his associates in Florida?” Mom said and they both laughed.

Trish Hubschman, author of the Tracy Gayle mystery series

at https://www.dldbooks.com/hubschman/

About Patty L. Fletcher

Updated November 2024

Patty L. Fletcher is a woman of passion and exploration.

She studies the art of manifestation and is a seeker of knowledge and the wisdom to know what to do with it when it’s learned.

To learn more visit: https://pattysworlds.com/