A Still Photo with

By JOAN HARDING
“Leo, look what came in the mail!”
Kitty handed a Christmas-themed flyer to her husband.
“Wow. I can’t believe Santa agreed to do this again!” Leo said with a chuckle.
The prior year, Kitty had decided their holiday card would be more memorable with a snapshot of Santa and Buddy the Cat. Buddy’s “Photo with Santa” turned out to be memorable, but not the way Kitty had anticipated. Santa’s firm grip was the only thing that kept Buddy from bolting for the exit. Even so, he was a bit blurry from squirming. The cat’s body language and “I’m Outta Here” expression never graced a card or frame.
With that experience in mind, Kitty carefully considered the temperament of their other cats for this year’s photo opportunity.
“I suppose our resident ferals are out.”
On cue, Butterscotch, Abie and Squeaky went tearing through the kitchen and into the living room. A row over a stuffed mouse ensued.
“Lila and Lenny are pretty laid back,” Leo noted of their county shelter adoptees.
“They’re only that way until you try to pick them up,” Kitty reminded him. “Both mother and son are affectionate, but simply aren’t ‘lap cats.’ They would make Buddy look positively cooperative.”
“How about Mommy Cat?” Leo suggested with a mischievous grin. “She would certainly liven things up at the photo shoot!”
“Santa needs to be intact to make deliveries on Christmas Eve,” Kitty replied with a wink.
Kitty and Leo mulled over the rest of their resident felines. There wasn’t one suitable candidate for a pic with the big, jolly guy.
“Even if you could get them on Santa’s lap, they won’t sit still,” Leo concluded. “We’d best resign ourselves to another photo-free greeting card.”
“Maybe. Maybe not,” Kitty said thoughtfully. “It’s not conventional, but I’ve got an idea.”
Leo decided not to ask.
The following week, Leo came home after a long day at work. He set down his briefcase, greeted his wife and then went to check the mail that Kitty always left on the kitchen table. Leo perused the bills and circulars, and eventually picked up a catalog on the bottom. Beneath it was a 5 by 7 color glossy. Kitty watched for his reaction.
Leo shook his head and laughed.
Cradled in Santa’s arm was a very still, very stuffed toy cat.
Harding writes from North Cape May