Hello!  Packy here!  I'm the one with "Jingle Bells", who is my kitty.  I live in Chicago, Illinois, with my mama, and of course, my kitty.  I am ten years old.

Ever since "Jingle Bells" first walked into my life, my life has been a lot better.  I find many reasons to smile when before all I could do was be sad.  Y'see, where I live, it used to be that people couldn't have pets; if they did, they could be "evicted", which is a big, fancy way of saying "kicked out". 

Now the rules have changed.  It's all because of my mama.  She told the landlord what she thought of that; for a while, I thought we were going to end up on the street, but then the landlord changed his mind.  Now we can have pets.  Even the landlord, of all people, has a pet:  he has a big, fat, sassy Maine Coon cat who follows him around like a puppy!

In fact, the landlord named his kitty "Dog".  LOL

The reason I was so sad before (besides being poor, that is) was because daddy had left mama and me a long time ago and didn't even bother to say goodbye. 

Plus I am disabled.  I can't walk well without help.  I have spina bifida; I was born with a underdeveloped spine, and it caused my legs not to work.  I walk with crutches and braces.  Or, for longer trips, I use my wheelchair.

It isn't easy for kids like me to get around, especially in snow or on ice.  When it's really bad out, I stay in my room, and I play with my kitty, who can always be counted on to make me laugh or smile.

Sometimes the bigger kids at my school pick on me.  This is when I wish I could have "Jingle Bells" with me 'cause she makes me happy.  Mama hates seeing me come from school in tears, but I can't help it.  Why do kids have to be so mean??  I didn't do anything to them!  Don't they know that teasing isn't nice??

"Jingle Bells" came into my life when I needed a friend the most.  Mama tried her best to make me happy, but it just wasn't working.  

The day "Jingle Bells" came was like the best day EVER.  Here I was, feeling sorry for myself, and I heard this teeny, tiny little meow.  I looked down, and there was the cutest little kitten in the world!  Solid black with a red collar that had a bell on it.  Big, bright eyes and a sweet look on its face.  It jumped into my lap and instantly began to purr.

It was love at first sight.  I knew I had found a friend.   Now, if only mama would understand.  She did.  We didn't think the landlord would, though.  To him, pets were nasty, noisy, and destructive.  

"Jingle Bells" ' favorite place to sleep is on my head.  LOL  Every night mama tucks me in and "Jingle Bells" takes her place on top of my head!  LOL  She licks my hair and purrs in my ear.  A soothing, happy way to go to sleep, for sure (unless her whiskers tickle!).

Tomorrow night, a church here in town is going to feed the poor. (They're going to have Christmas for us poor people:  se'll eat turkey and all the trimmin's, and they'll give us presents.)  Mama and me, we're going.  I might try to sneak "Jingle Bells" with me.  I think she would like to have some treats or meet new people; she's a really sweet kitty!  Cute, too!  People hear her purring, or see her adorable face, and they can't help but smile!

I want people to know how a little black, furry kitten changed my life for the better.  I also want them to know that the same kitty softened the heart of a Grinch --  my landlord.

Bye!  Gotta go!  "Jingle Bells" is hungry; gotta feed her, or she won't be happy!  LOL

Oh!  Before I go, let me say this:  Merry Christmas!!!!

~Packy.  :)