The three children happily grabbed the candy canes and went off to watch the Garfield Christmas Special, which was playing on the VCR.

Bill and Lucy retreated to the kitchen, where Bill stirred his chowder and Lucy slumped at the table, sipping her wine.

“Patches is out by the road. She must have gotten hit.”

“Shit, what a crummy Christmas present.”

“I don’t know how I’m going to tell the kids.”

“Don’t look at me,” said Bill. “That’s your department. I’ll handle the graveyard patrol.”

“Maybe we can find a little Christmas kitten. They’d like that,” said Lucy, sitting up straighter.

Later that evening, after the family had eaten their chowder supper and trimmed the tree, Lucy supervised the Saturday night baths while Bill went out to bury the cat. It was a clear, starry night and not too cold. He picked a spot near the compost heap and began digging. The ground wasn’t frozen yet, and his shovel went into the loamy soil easily. As he worked he couldn’t help thinking that if an occasional dead cat was the worst thing he and Lucy had to face, they were pretty lucky.

But when he picked up the dead animal to place it in the small grave, he noticed a bit of cord around its neck. He turned on his flashlight in order to get a better look, and he saw that the cat had definitely been strangled with the cord. He dropped the cat into the grave and began shoveling the earth back as quickly as he could. As he replaced the shovel in the toolshed, he tried to think who would do a thing like that. He wondered if Toby had had a fight with someone at school. He couldn’t imagine an adult strangling a cat. Not an emotionally healthy one, anyway. Entering the house, he shook off the sense of unease he’d felt outside. From what he could hear, Lucy had her hands full in the bathroom.

She had put both girls in the tub together and was trying to convince Sara that washing her hair every now and then was really necessary.

“What do you mean we can’t stay up and watch the Peanuts Christmas Special?” interrupted Elizabeth.

“It’s too late. Daddy will tape it and you can watch it tomorrow.”

“I want to see it tonight.”

“Me too.”

“Well, you need your sleep tonight. Tomorrow you’re in the Christmas pageant.” Lucy’s knees were beginning to get sore, and her leg muscles ached from leaning across the tub. “Let’s get finished up here.”

Toby appeared in the doorway, causing Elizabeth to scream and grab for the shower curtain.

“Relax, Elizabeth. I don’t think he’s interested in your little pink shrimp body. What’s up, Toby?”

“Mom, I can’t find Patches. Have you seen her?”