Quote:
Advertised around town on available bulletins, a carolling group has been requesting volunteers to join them. There doesn't seem to be any catches--it's just a fun little opportunity to spread some Holiday cheer while making some new friends! Of course, you don't have to if you don't want to--maybe, instead, you're the sort to chase carolers off your doorstep?
He’d heard them down the street before they’d even come close to his home.
One ear twitched as the lyrics of Joy to the World began to echo faintly in the night air, a chorus of cheerful voices ringing out, well, joyfully, despite being somewhat out of tune.
Yawning, the large feline stretched his front paws out, popping the stiff muscles of his back. His tail swished back and forth as he struggled to wake up, green eyes adjusting to the darkness of the house. Rob was out drinking or working late or whatever it was that he was doing so late in the evening - Bob’s food bowl was still full, so the Maine Coon could hardly care about his master’s lack of presence. It was the first year without a Christmas tree or any semblance of a decoration, but the realization brought little sorrow to the cat. Well, save for the extra exercise he’d sometimes get by climbing the sparkling, twinkling tree full of bright lights and dangling baubles or the presents of tuna and toys he’d happily accept on Christmas morning. Even so, if he had the itch to tree climb or decoration destroy, he knew it was a simple trot downtown to visit one of the many stores that displayed their holiday cheer for all to see, like some festive corporate competition.
So instead, Bob sat in the dark of the house, save for the porch’s light that trickled through the front window. It was on an automatic timer, supposedly to make it look more occupied or whatnot. Maybe it was that porch light that summoned the carolers to approach closer to his yard, maybe they just made a habit out of visiting every house and singing a song, regardless of whether the home was inhabited or not.
Hopping up on the sink, he pushed gently on the cracked window, mindful to avoid nudging the fake potted plant that sat happily, not even needing the sunlight it was set out for. Paws settled on white snow with a soft crunch, Bob’s nose wrinkling at the fact he was faced with sudden and inevitable wetness that the snow brought on. Doing his best to ignore the feeling, he descended from the windowsill and onto the ground below, padding his way down the side of the house and onto the front lawn.
Ahead of him, the carolers were taking their position in front of his and Rob’s home, their sheet music barely blocking out the wisps of warm breath leaving their mouths. They giggled and talked as they adjusted their positions, filing into a single line.
“Meow.”
Bob greeted the six singers with as much enthusiasm as he could muster on such a cold evening. Only one woman seemed to acknowledge him, eyes glancing down in his direction before returning to her sheet music as they began their rendition of Carol of the Bells. Not deterred, he moved forward to nuzzle against the woman’s legs, in the hopes of receiving at least a few neck scritches or, if he was lucky, maybe even a piece of candy. Usually it was the kiddos that attempted to feed him, but he wasn’t opposed to having some decent back scratches from the adult singers.
And yet he received absolutely nothing.
Moving to the next person, he persistently began to rub against the singer. This person, however, used his foot to gently shove the feline away, echoing the sentiment with a wave of his hand under the sheet music.
Well.
Suddenly the out of tune chorus became even more obnoxious than they'd initially been perceived to be.
If these bozos think they can just trample my yard without paying their due, they’ve got another thing coming to them, he thought, a mischievous gleam in his eye as he took his leave of their presence, returning to the side of the house. A swift knob turn later and the abandoned sprinkler system turned on, showering the singers with freezing water. All six were quick to run off the lawn, shrieking into the night as the ginger cat cackled in the shadows.
