Advent Calendar Day 4

Fiendish kitty-cat planning evil

Today we have something utterly unique (and kind of adorable, frankly) on the blog.

As you know (assuming you read the post for Day 1) I've invited fans and friends to contribute to this year's blog. The only criteria is that the posts must be related to my stories or characters. We've had a couple of contributions already and I hope we get many more!

Haldis writes fanfiction about Mr. Pinkerton, the crime-solving cat from Kit Holmes' Amelia Butterwith series (tell me if this is confusing) :-D and she's (Haldis, not Miss Butterwith) has gifted us with a holiday story about Mr. Pinkerton.

Or in her own words: Just friends around the Christmas tree....and in the Christmas tree. I hope you like it and can use it and that it is mostly grammatically correct. Just remember it was written by a cat.

Here is a Christmas Adventure featuring my good friends Miss Butterwith and Inspector Appleby as well as Geoffrey and Kit who were introduced in my Adventure Mr. Pinkerton and The Kit. We wish you all Peace and Joy this Holiday season filled with plenty of cream and catnip. Mr. Pinkerton.

Mr. Pinkerton and the Christmas Tree

Mr. Pinkerton watched from the window as Inspector Appleby and Geoffrey approached the cottage he shared with Miss Butterwith. Both men were bundled up against the cold and instead of a scarf around his neck, Geoffrey had a large ginger kitten draped across his shoulders. It was a good thing Geoffrey had broad shoulders because Kit was going to be a very large cat when he reached his full growth.

                “Meow! Meow!” called out Mr. Pinkerton to Miss Butterwith, letting her know that they had visitors.

                “I’m coming Mr. Pinkerton,’ answered Miss Butterwith just as a knock sounded from the door.

                “Happy Christmas,” said Inspector Appleby and Geoffrey together. “We brought you this,” said Inspector Appleby, holding out a beautiful Christmas cactus in full bloom.

                “Oh, bless!” said Miss Butterwith, taking the plant. “Please come in. I made wassail for the carolers, but there is plenty to share.” Miss Butterwith reached up and scratched the Kit behind his ear. “And for you little Kit, I have fresh cream.”

                Geoffrey put the now purring Kit on the floor and he promptly took off like a furry ginger rocket towards the kitchen. 

Fiendish kitty-cat worn out from busy day of doing evil

                “Kit!” called Inspector Appleby. “Bloody hell! Oh, beg pardon, Miss Butterwith. “

                “Don’t worry about it Inspector, Mr. Pinkerton will keep an eye on Kit,” Mr. Pinkerton heard Miss Butterwith say as he hurried after Kit.

                Kit came tearing back down the hall, past Mr. Pinkerton, and on into the sitting room. Mr. Pinkerton entered the room just in time to see Kit reach the very top of the beautifully decorated Christmas tree standing regally in the corner.  The tree began to sway, with Kit hanging on for dear life….and over went the tree, nearly landing on Mr. Pinkerton, while Kit scurried under the nearest arm chair.

                Miss Butterwith, Inspector Appleby, and Geoffrey hurried into the room.

                “Oh, dear,” said Miss Butterwith. ” What have we here?” To Mr. Pinkerton, it appeared as if she was trying not to laugh.

                “Kit!” bellowed Inspector Appleby at the same time Geoffrey said, “Oh no! I am so sorry Miss Butterwith! I’ll put it right; fix it, just like you had it. Better…not that yours wasn’t—“

                “Geoffrey, dear,” interrupted Miss Butterwith, laying a hand on Geoffrey’s arm. “It’s ok. Kit is young, still just a kitten. I believe I had to redecorate the tree four times my very first Christmas with Mr. Pinkerton.” Mr. Pinkerton was not sure whether this was correct; he could only remember climbing the tree twice until he realized it was extremely unstable. Now he contented himself with batting the ornaments on the lower branches.

                “I’m still going to fix it,” said Geoffrey.

                “We’re going to fix it,” corrected Inspector Appleby.

                “We’re going to fix it,” agreed Geoffrey.

                “Well then,” said Miss Butterwith. “I’ll bring us all some wassail to make the task more pleasant.”

                Inspector Appleby and Geoffrey lifted and secured the tree while Miss Butterwith brought out cups of steaming wassail. The three of them worked together straightening out the decorations and replacing ornaments that had fallen, all the while sharing stories of past Christmases and even some of the cases that Miss Butterwith and Mr. Pinkerton had assisted in with Inspector Appleby. A more subdued Kit came out of hiding to help in the decorating by retrieving ornaments that had rolled under the furniture.

                “It’s beautiful,” said Miss Butterwith when they were finished. “A toast,” she said, first pouring a little cream into bowls for Mr. Pinkerton and Kit, and then raising her own cup. “To good friends.”

                “To good friends,” said Inspector Appleby and Geoffrey together.

                “Meow,” said Mr. Pinkerton, by himself because Kit was already drinking his cream.

                “Do you hear that?” asked Geoffrey.

                “The carolers,” said Miss Butterwith moving to the window.

                Inspector Appleby turned to Geoffrey and lightly touched his cup to Geoffrey’s.

                “Happy Christmas, Geoffrey,” said Inspector Appleby softly.

                “Happy Christmas, Andrew,” returned Geoffrey just as quietly.

                “Ah, bless,” whispered Miss Butterwith, having turned back around, smiling fondly on the pair.

                Ah bless indeed, thought Mr. Pinkerton as he curled up under the tree, next to a sleeping Kit, listening to the peaceful sound of Silent Night.