The Cat Who Wanted to be a Reindeer

On a snowy night, in the sleepy town of Winterville, Sam lay upon the windowsill staring out at the falling snowflakes and wishing he was flying amongst them. It was his dream for as long as he could remember. Alas, his dream could not be fulfilled because Sam was a common, ordinary housecat.

Still, he watched the night sky, whiskers twitching and eyes twinkling, and he dreamed of being a special creature that could fly. Not any ordinary bird, but a magical creature; a reindeer! Yes, Sam the housecat dreamed of being a reindeer.

The other housecats in residence made fun of his dream for they thought it ridiculous. “Can you imagine” Sophie said, “being anything other than a cat?” Sophie was the queen of the household cats, being the oldest at seven years of age. “Honestly, who would want to be anything else? After all, everyone knows that being a cat is the greatest accomplishment one could achieve”. Sophie is a tortoiseshell cat. She is mostly black with highlights of orange and beige streaking her shiny coat. She is the smallest in size but has the loudest yowl and that, plus her regal air and her age, is what makes her the queen of the group.

Emmaline, the second tortoiseshell, is of Russian descent. She reigns as the plush Princess of the house. Emmaline considers herself above all the petty nonsense of the other cats and usually spends her days sleeping, eating and looking quite bored. Occasionally, she will throw her two cents into the conversation, especially if it means making fun of Sam’s dream of being a reindeer.

“There is no other creature greater than a cat” she said in her thick Russian accent. “I can’t believe the boy wants to be a reindeer. Bah! That is what I say. Silly reindeer idea makes Emmie laugh. Can you imagine having great, pointy horns on your head?” And with that last comment said, Emmaline rolled her plush self right off the couch where she lay, laughing great belly laughs.

Sam hung his head low and sighed. He is quite a handsome pussycat. He is white with gray patches on his back and a gray mask over his big, green eyes. His legs and tail are gray and white striped like the finest pinstriped trousers and his feet are pure white. He is a tubby tabby and the apple of his Mother’s eye. Mother had adopted all of them at early ages and had given them so much love and marvelous toys to play with. They lacked for nothing and should all have been happy and content. But Sam still dreamed of being a reindeer and of flying in the night sky.

Moose-Edward, the youngest of the housecats, was still settling into his new home but he looked up to Sam like a protective, big brother. Moose-Edward is an orange tabby with gold eyes. His long tail hooked round at the tip and looked like a puffy ball on the end. He’s always full of energy and loves to play. As the baby of the feline foursome, he could only offer up a single question to all of the chatter.

“What’s a reindeer Sam?” he asked in wide-eyed wonder and conveniently forgetting he already knew the answer but wanting to make Sam happy.

Sam, always ready to talk about his favorite subject, sat up and put one paw around Moose-Edward’s shoulders and began to explain.

“You see, Moose-Edward, there are magical reindeer in the woods beyond this house. These reindeer live a wonderful life of freedom and they play fun reindeer games almost the whole year ‘round except during Christmas. It’s during Christmas that the reindeer get to help Santa Claus deliver toys and presents to all the good girls and boys in the world. All year long they practice their flying so they can be ready come Christmas Eve to help Santa”.

“Wow” said little Moose-Edward. “Can I be a reindeer too, Sam? Can I? Can I please?” He was prancing around excitedly and trying to flap his front paws like a birds wings.

“Look Sophie, he has infected the other boy with his nonsense” said Emmaline. “Useless boys…always wanting to be something they are not. Reindeer! Hah! They are clumsy creatures that cannot even lift their back legs behind their heads.” Emmaline tried to demonstrate but lost her balance and fell off the couch yet again, clutching her great, furry belly. She landed with a thump and a groan. “Oh!”

Queen Sophie leapt onto the kitchen table and turned to look down on them. “Sam, you must not tell such ridiculous tales to young Moose-Edward. You should both be proud to be exactly what you are and not waste your time wishing to be something or someone else. You are cats! Cats have a long and noble history throughout the ages. Cats were worshipped by the ancient Egyptians. Cats helped build the pyramids. It was a cat that rid Ireland of its problem with mice. It was a cat that helped end the Spanish Inquisition. It was another cat that made the crossing from England to the New World and gave us independence from the arrogant English AristoCats. Tomcat Edison invented the telephone and Benjamin Franklin's cat, Nigel, invented electricity. Cats have been important in history for as long as history has been in the making. There is no nobler beast than a cat. I will hear no more of this reindeer nonsense.”

Sam looked down and away afraid Sophie would see the shame in his eyes. Moose-Edward lay down and placed a comforting paw on Sam. He knew how much this dream meant to Sam for Sam would tell him every night a new and wonderful bedtime story about being a reindeer and flying around the world.

They all wandered off to their cat beds and settled in for the night. It was the eve of Christmas Eve and while Sophie smacked her lips in her sleep, Emmaline snored like a buzz saw, muttering orders in her Russian accent and young Moose-Edward slipped off into the easy sleep of youngsters, Sam looked out the window at the moonlight shining on the snowy fields and let out the longest sigh.

A star in the sky grew brighter and brighter and Sam stared in awe. It’s a wishing star! Wishing stars were rare indeed and Sam wasted no time in making his wish upon it.

“Dearest star, so big and bright, grant me my hearts wish tonight. I wish to be a reindeer and fly around the world with Santa Claus”. Sam closed his eyes as tight as he could and wished with all his heart. When he opened his eyes, the star winked three times and then grew dimmer. Nothing happened. It was silent in the house except for the sound of lips smacking, snoring and muttered Russian words. Sam ambled off to sleep on his mother’s lap feeling a familiar sadness envelope him because he knew he would never get to fulfill his dream. Mother rubbed his belly and scratched his ears and he fell into a deep sleep.

The next day, the cats all went outside and played in the snow. Sophie dug tunnels and pounced on wet leaves. Emmaline rolled around creating snow angel cats while squealing “Woohoo” and Moose-Edward chased the winter birds and laughed as he leapt high in the air trying to catch one.

“Did you see me Sam?” he asked. “Did you see how high I jumped?”

Sam stood at the edge of the woods and looked back over his shoulder at Moose-Edward. “You look great kid” he said. Then, when everyone went back to what they were doing and no longer looked his way, Sam ventured off into the woods alone. He had decided to search for the reindeer himself and if he found Santa too, then he would show him that he is a reindeer in his heart and ask to come along for the flight around the world this night.

Knowing that he didn’t look like a reindeer, Sam searched the ground along the way for a branch that looked like antlers. He found a good one and so tied it to his head with his jingle bell collar.

“Now I look just like a reindeer” he said. Feeling quite pleased with his effort, Sam continued on, holding his head full of antlers high.

Sam encountered many creatures along the way. A great snowy owl lighted on a branch while he drank cool water from a stream and asked “Good heavens. What are you-hoot?”

Sam looked up from under his branch antlers and proudly said “Why, I’m a reindeer”.

Mr. Owl hooted and laughed so much that snow fell off the tree branch he sat upon. “A reindeer, you say? Why, you are the smallest, furriest reindeer ever have I seen. I don’t believe I have seen a reindeer before with whiskers and a tail”.

Sam lifted his chin and with great pride, walked away to continue his search for the reindeer. He nearly fell into a rabbit hole and was shaking the snow from his fur when the rabbit himself poked his head out and fussed at him.

“You there” said the rabbit, “What gives with sending snow down into my home?”

“I’m so sorry Mr. Rabbit” said Sam, “I’m on my way to find the other reindeer so I can fly around the world with them tonight”.

“What? Other reindeer? But dear boy, you’re a cat!” The rabbit looked puzzled.

Sam stamped his paw in the snow, indignant. “I’m NOT a cat. I’m a REINDEER”.

The rabbit, feeling as if the poor, deluded cat might be a bit loopy, shook his head in agreement. His ears flopped back and forth as he stated, “Well of course you are. Why, I can tell by those magnificent antlers of yours that are most certainly a reindeer.”

His feelings still smarting, Sam bid Mr. Rabbit a good day and walked further into the woods. It was starting to get dark and he was feeling hungry and just a little frightened.

I know I’ll find the other reindeer, he thought to himself. His resolve was strong but his paws were wet and cold and his tummy was feeling hollow from lack of food. Still, he plodded on deeper into the woods.

By nightfall, Sam still had not found the other reindeer. The moon shone bright and the woods had become a scary place to be when you were all alone. Shadows took on shapes of frightening monsters and unknown sounds gave him quite a start! Big tears welled in Sam’s eyes as fought to be strong and not give in to his fears that he was lost and would not only never find the other reindeer, but would never again find his way back home.

He found a hollow log and climbed inside. He pulled dry leaves around him, curled his paws under his body and tried to stay warm and not think of how hungry and alone he was. With his branch antlers weighing heavy on his weary head, Sam fell into an exhausted sleep.

A very bright light woke Sam and coaxed his eyes open. He cautiously poked his head out of the end of the log and stared in surprise at what his eyes beheld. Santa Claus stood beside his great sleigh which was being pulled by nine magical reindeer.

“Well, it’s about time you woke Sam. I’ve been looking for you everywhere. The wishing star delivered your wish to me and I understand you wish to be one of my reindeer and fly around the world tonight”. Santa smiled and reached down to pick Sam up in his arms.

Sam was speechless. It was Santa Claus! He wasn’t a myth like everyone said; and the reindeer were real. They all turned their heads and greeted Sam one by one.

“It’s a honor to meet you Sam” said Blitzen. “Yes, yes, truly a pleasure for you to join us” said Dasher. Dancer, Prancer and Vixen all gave their “Here, here’s” while Comet, Cupid and Donder bowed their heads in greeting. It was their leader, Rudolf who nuzzled his nose to Sam’s and then he sneezed and his great nose glowed bright red.
Everyone laughed.

“You’ll be riding in the sleigh with me Sam”. Sam could only nod his head in agreement, so great was his excitement.

“We’d best get started so we can make sure to visit every home. Climb aboard”.

Sam jumped in, antlers wobbling on his head and his jingle bell collar jingling, and settled next to Santa Claus. He couldn’t stop smiling. It was the darndest sight to see a cat grin ear to ear.

The night was purely magical. It was a dream come true for Sam. He helped Santa Claus deliver toys and presents to all the good boys and girls around the world. He flew high in the sky in Santa’s sleigh and the world looked so small from such heights. He glimpsed the pyramids built by ancient Egyptian cats. He saw the roads going out of Ireland where a cat with great talent drove all the mice away. He flew over chimneytops in England and waved at the chimney sweep cats.

During all this wonder and joy, however, Sam began to miss his home. He missed Sophie taking care of them all. He missed Emmaline’s nutty comments and seeing her laugh and fall off the couch. He missed Moose-Edward and wished he could have been here to see for himself that reindeer not only exist but they can truly fly. Mostly, he missed the warm and comfortable lap of his Mother who would scratch his ears and rub his belly. He began to feel sad even though he was living his dream of being a reindeer, flying around the world and helping Santa.

When all the toys had been delivered, Santa Claus turned to Sam and asked him what he wanted for Christmas.

“You’ve been a good cat Sam. What can Santa give you for Christmas?”

Sam replied from his heart of hearts. “Santa, I’d like to go home”

Santa smiled to himself and patted Sam on his antlered head. “Sam, that’s the most wonderful gift of all”.

With a flick of the reins and a "Ho ho ho, Santa gave the command to fly Sam home. Laying his sleepy head on Santa’s lap, Sam drifted off into sleep. When he woke, he was lying on his Mother’s lap and she was scratching his ears. Had it all been a wild and crazy dream?

Sophie was batting a toy mouse back and forth with Moose-Edward and Emmaline was rolling around with a ball of yarn, meowing in her Russian accent. Everyone was happy. Everything was as it should be and Sam…well, Sam was happy to just be a cat again.

Far off and into the night sky, a red sleigh being pulled by nine magical reindeer flew over the rooftops and a jolly laugh could be heard tinkling among the jingle of the sleigh bells.

"Merry Christmas Sam the cat-reindeer! Merry Christmas!"

The End

See Sam: The cat Who Inspired this Story..
http://www.xomba.com/meet_samu