Santa Clawed

been wired, vented, and plumbed. The modern conveniences served to enhance comfort. The structures had to last for centuries and no doubt would endure more improvements over ensuing centuries.
    As Harry Haristeen walked across the large quad to the great hall, her two cats and corgi behind her, she wondered if people today could build as securely as our forefathers did. Seemed like things were built to fall apart. Grateful that she lived in an old farmhouse built about the same time as the church, she paused on her way to the work party long enough to make a snowball and throw it up in the air.
    Tucker, the corgi, jumped up to catch it. As she did, the snowball chilled her teeth, so she dropped it.
    “Dumb!”
Pewter, the portly gray cat, laughed.
    “I knew it would do that, but if she throws a ball, I have to catch it. That’s my job,”
Tucker defended herself.
    Harry decided to sprint the last two hundred yards to warm up.
    The tiger cat, Mrs. Murphy, shot past her. The shoveled walkway was covered with inches of fresh snow but easily negotiable.
    Pewter, hating to be outdone, couldn’t get around Harry so she leapt onto the snow, where she promptly sank.
    Tucker, trotting on the path, called out,
“Dumb.”
    A snow triangle like a coolie hat on her head did not cool down Pewter’s temper. She shook off the snow hat, plowed onto the path. Running right up to Tucker’s butt, she reached out and gave the dog a terrific swat.
    Tucker growled, stooped to whirl around.
    Harry commanded over her shoulder, “That’s enough, you two.”
    “You’re lucky she saved your fat rear end.”
Pewter flattened her ears to look extra mean.
    “Ooh la.”
The dog now ignored the cat, which was far more upsetting than a knock-down/drag-out to Pewter, who felt the world revolved around her.
    Upon entering the great hall, Harry inhaled the fragrance of oak burning in the two fireplaces, one at either end. The aroma of a well-tended fire added to winter’s allure. Harry loved all the seasons. Winter’s purity appealed to her. She loved being able to see the spine of the land, loved popping into a friend’s house for a hot chocolate or serving the same. Born and raised here, she was buoyed up by close friendships. People might feel alienated in big cities, but she couldn’t imagine that emotion. Tied to the land, the people and animals that inhabited it, Harry knew she was a lucky soul.
    “Look at those hardworking women,” she called out as she removed her coat, hat, gloves, and scarf.
    Alicia Palmer and BoomBoom Craycroft, both great beauties, moved a long table near the eastern fireplace. The large room cost so much to heat that the thermostat stayed at fifty-two. The fireplaces helped considerably. Sitting near one kept one’s fingers from stiffening, and they’d need their fingers today.
    Alicia, a former movie star, now in her fifties, was in charge of decorations for the Christmas party, which was little more than a week away. Each season St. Luke’s hosted a large party that brought parishioners and neighbors together in a relaxed setting. Reverend Herb Jones, the pastor, constantly came up with ways to strengthen the community.
    Susan Tucker, Harry’s best friend from cradle days, and the breeder of Tucker, put grapevines on the table.
    Racquel Deeds and Jean Keelo, two former sorority sisters from Miami University in Ohio, laid out gorgeous dried magnolia grand flora blossoms along with the large, shiny dark-green leaves.
    BoomBoom brought bay leaves and gold-beaded strands.
    Harry carried dried red roses along with strands of cranberries.
    Once the women settled down at the table to make wreaths, the cats and dog volunteered to help.
    Mrs. Murphy, on the table, played with the gold beads.
“Aren’t these the same kind of beads that men throw to women at Mardi Gras if the women expose their glories?”
    “Sure won’t be flashing anything in this weather.”
Tucker, on the floor, laughed.
    Pewter batted around a lovely red rosebud.
“I will never understand why humans pitch a fit and fall in it if someone shows their breasts or if a man shows his equipment. I mean, everybody has them.”
    “Genesis. Remember when the angel comes to the Garden of Eden after Adam eats the apple and Adam and Eve realize they are naked?”
Mrs. Murphy read over Harry’s shoulder, not that Harry knew the cat could fathom it.
    “Ha. Adam was taking money under the table from the garment industry.”
Pewter swept her tail