• A small collection of log cabins sits huddled in the middle of an icy plain, multi-coloured lights decorate the buildings along with holly and fir. The beautiful cabins are all set around a central square in the middle of which is a large heavily decorated Christmas tree, on the top of the tree is a glistening star that shines brightly.

    The square is bustling with activity as small elves dressed in red and green rush back and forth. The elves are carrying wrapped boxes of all shapes and sizes containing toys of every kind imaginable. One elf with a tall pointed green hat on the end a large gold bell is tied looks down at a large gold pocket watch handing from a chain on his red waist coat, he tuts looking at the time and starts walking around inspecting the packages nodding and then ticking off boxes on a large clipboard under his arm. The elf then looks around the square then checking his watch once more he turns and walks into a large barn.

    As the elf walks through the barn he passes reindeer with large antlers wearing red leather collars, clustered with tiny gold bells that jingle when the deer move. On the doors of the reindeer’s pens, plaques with the names Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph. At the last stall the elf puts his clip board under one arm and reaches up to pet the sparkling red nose of the reindeer that’s head comes down to meet him, chuckling the elf strokes the reindeer speaking softly.
    “Hello Rudolph old boy, where’s the boss?”
    Rudolph raises his head and gestures with his antlers toward s a large gold and red sleigh in which sits a jolly red suited man.

    The elf walks up to him clipboard in hand, “Santa?”
    Santa looks at the elf, “Hello skip how are we doing?”
    Skip looks up at Santa then down to his clip board leafing through the pages “well all the presents are wrapped and the new sleigh is ready.”
    Santa looked down at the old sleigh and sighs, “so many more children, and so many more unusual gifts. Gone are the days children wanted toys with imagination, carved with love and care.”
    Skip places his hand on Santa’s “I know how you feel, gone are the days we would be carving wood into fine gifts. Now the carvers are wrapping presents, but as the times change so must we.” Santa chuckles “well skip you certainly put a fine point on things” Santa gets up and out of the sleigh and stands next to Skip, he glances down looking at Skips open pocket watch “My is that the time! Well I guess I better get home. Mrs Claus must have dinner ready by now.” Skip and Santa walk out of the barn together and go their separate ways in the square.

    On the edge of the square sits Santa’s house, a large ornately carved log cabin lit up by the warm fire blazing within. By the fire on a large rug lays a border collie and curled up next to the collie is a grey cat. The door opens and Santa walks in. As Santa turns the Border collie launches himself at the jolly old man tail wagging madly. Santa chuckles patting the dogs head “Good to see you to Pip, and you Holly now what’s my wife cooking?” Pip the collie walks toward s the kitchen and woofs. Santa pats Pip and heads into the kitchen. Pip woofs at the cat Holly who stretches, yawns and reluctantly walks to the kitchen followed by Pip.

    In the kitchen a white haired old woman in a red dress and white fur rimmed robe reaches into the oven and pulls out a large golden turkey, this she puts on the table which is covered in bowls of vegetables, stuffing and roasts. Santa walks up to his wife and kisses her oh her pretty red cheek “this looks delicious.”
    Mrs Claus smiles “How’s work is everything nearly ready?”
    Santa sits down at the table and wipes and reaches down to stroke Pip that places a paw on Santa’s knee “Skip has everything under control, the reindeer are happy and well fed and the new larger sleigh is getting its last coats of polish.”
    Mrs Claus taps Santa’s hand which is offering the begging dog some turkey “I have done dinner for them. You just carve the rest of that turkey and Ill get theirs.”
    Santa looks down at the dog that is licking his lips after finishing the tidbit of turkey “Pip it seems you have gotten me into some trouble.” Pip sneezes and lays down placing his head between his paws in mock sorrow Holly the cat sits watching as Mrs Claus places two red bowls one with ‘Pip’ written on the other ‘Holly’ on the floor. The bowls are full of the most delicious looking meat and vegetables which Pip and Holly immediately begin eating. Mrs and Mr Claus sit and eat there dinner discussing the toy factory and all the other preparations for Christmas Eve.

    It doesn’t take long till everyone is full and as stuffed as a Christmas turkey and after cleaning up Mr and Mrs Claus sit in front of the fire on rocking chairs in the living room. Mrs Claus rocks back and forth on a rocking chair knitting and long brightly coloured scarf and Mr Claus sits carving a small piece of wood.
    The Border collie Pip lies snoring with his paws wrapped around a large bone and the black cat Holly licks and preens herself then jumps up onto Santa’s lap. Santa stokes Holly’s shinnying black fur and Pip aware he is missing out walks over to Mrs Claus who puts down her knitting and scratches behind the soppy Border Collies ears sending his tail wagging so quickly it even shakes his furry bottom. Mrs Claus smooths the fur on the dogs back and Pip stretches in front of the fire yawning his mouth wide open earning him an amused look from the relaxed cat. Mrs Claus looks at the town half asleep pets and to Mr Claus who is also struggling to stay awake.

    Mrs Claus stands up placing her knitting on a small side table “come along its time we all went to bed.” Pip and Holly run and jump on to two small pet beds in the corner of the living room under a large shelf on top of which old leather bound books sit. The beds are the perfect size for Pip and Holly with large comfortable cushions of red velvet from the shelf a red curtail hangs and it is this Mrs Claus starts to pull around them. Pip whines and wags his tail licking his nose while staring adoring up at Mrs Claus who strokes his head softly “ho don’t do the thing with the eyes.” Her voice begs the dog pays no heed and flutters his eyelashes looking absolutely adoring at Mrs Claus who laughs “oh you little scamp okay but just one chapter.” Pip snorts and looks up expectantly as Mrs Claus sits on a chair and starts reading tales of pirates and knights of old times. Its not long before the soothing tones of her voice are drown out by a large snore from the deeply sleeping pair Mrs Claus gives them both a kiss on the head and whispers goodnight before going to her room closing the large oak door behind her.

    The noise of the door closing disturbs the collie that wakes up with a start Holly opens one bleary eye and looks at Pip “They only shut the door. Anyone would think they had shut on your tail the way you woke up like that.”
    The cat’s voice is purr like and is soothing but this doesn’t work on Pip whose eyes are wide and bright as he speaks “I have just had a thought who gives to us pets? The humans have Santa but what about us wheres our Yule time reward for good behaviour?”
    Holly sits up and moves the curtain with her paw and points at the bone “I believe you were laying on it.”
    Pip snorts jumping of the bed through the opening “this is serious I am talking about the total lack of a pet Santa”
    Holly stretches her fur shining in the fires light as she walks up to the dog “ What do you want a Santa paws?”
    The dogs face lights up and barks tail wagging “Santa Paws! That’s perfect we need a Santa Paws!”
    Holly shushes the excited collie “and just who do you think will be your Santa Paws? I mean the only pet it could be is you. After all your Santa’s dog” the cat looks around perhaps hoping to find someone to calm the noisy dog who was keeping her awake.
    Pip lowers his head his tail and ears dropping “ but how could I be Santa Paws I can’t slow down time to deliver to the worlds pets, I don’t have a sleigh and I don’t have someone to make gifts.”
    Holly flicks her tail and looks at the dog pointing a paw at him “no you can’t do and don’t have any of those things now stop being silly and go to sleep. Do you really think you can change what has been Christmas tradition for centuries just to suit you? Now sleep.” Pips entire body drops his eyes lose all there sparkle and he climbs into bed and lays awake listening to the cat’s contented snore.