On Christmas morning, Anna's father wrapped a Christmas tinsel streamer around the cat's tail. He was quite pleased with himself. Anna and the cat, however, were not amused.

The cat was at first indignant, but got free of the streamer in less than 5 seconds, and then played with it for about 10 minutes. Anna thought the cat quite tolerant.

All day long Anna's father kept telling people about the "Christmas tail" episode and the cat's Christmas tail. He kept cracking up as if what he was saying was funny. Anna attributed this to an as-yet-not-fully-identified character flaw.

Anna believed her father had an unfortunate addiction to punning. She thought to herself "This is not punny! -- Oh, no it's catching or hereditary or something." She wondered "Why is he so pleased with himself. He rarely, if ever, comes up with an original pun." She thought "Tale-tail, my foot -- there I go again. Hm, maybe Luv can help. Luv is much too dignified to pun; even though, he is, of course, a punny unbearable bear."

So that night she went to bed early with the specific intent of talking to Luv about punning and her father's annoying addiction. As she lay there reflecting on the wonderful day she'd had, words that were a variation on "The Night Before Christmas" ran (or did they trot?) through her mind:

   Twas the night after Christmas
   and all through the house 
   not a creature was stirring 
   not even a mouse

   -- especially not a mouse
   since the cat was wide awake
   and ready to pounce.

   The stockings were no longer hung
   by the chimney with care 
   because, you see, St. Nicholas
   had already been there.

   ...

Soon she drifted off to sleep, and it wasn't long before she found herself in that familiar garden she'd visited so many times before. And there was Luv walking toward her waving with one hand and holding something shinny in the other hand.

"Hi Luv" she said, and he replied in kind. The next thing she knew she was opening a present from Luv. She had discordant thoughts as she opened the present such as "This is so fun" and "Oh, no, I didn't bring anything for Luv".

The present was some kind of a hat. It was covered with bright beads and little mirrors and teeny tiny flashing lights.

"Oh, Luv, you shouldn't have" she said. But Luv would have none of her doubts. He said "Well, put it on, already", and she did.

When she woke up her father's punning and absurd sense of humor no longer bothered her. Somehow, she had attained the equanimity of the cat.

THE END