I stare at the dog in the ball hanging from the tree. He looks an awful lot like me. A lot smaller. I can take him! I bark!

"Hey, Charlie, no barkin', alright?"

I lie down and stare at the dog. He's lying down too. My owners have put a new tree in our house. I sniff it and let the needles scratch my fur. It doesn't smell anything like the ones outside. It smells like dust and oil. It smells like petrol. It smells like paint. The humans have covered the tree in balls. Some hang right next to my face and I bat them with my paw. They swing. I love this tree! It's so big and bright! 

"Here's the star, Malcolm."

"Thanks, love."

My owner makes himself taller and puts a bright star on the top of the tree. I wag my tail and watch all this hustle and bustle. The man sits on the floor with me and pets me. We watch the tree.

"How's it look, boy?"

I roll on my back and let him scratch my ribs and belly. I pant and sneeze. Fur falls off of me and onto the floor. My owners are covered in it. My fur is all over the house! What fun! My owner sneezes and I startle. 

"Sorry 'bout that, you're sheddin' like crazy!"

I lick his face. A sneeze such as that shouldn't go without a lick!

**********

There are humans everywhere! I don't know who to stand by! They all have a similar scent about them. They must be my owner's family! His pack! They're now my pack! The smallest one sits on the floor with me. He throws a toy across the room and I run after it. It won't get away from me! I snatch it with my teeth and bring it back. But I don't let him have it. He has to earn it! Just try and take my toy away! I dare you!

"Havin' fun down there, Ang?"

"Oh yeah, lots of it. Come on, now, give me the toy..."

I growl and raise my rump. My tail whips across the air. The little man lets go and I take off with my toy leaving him there in the dust. I win again! 

There's a tree in this house too. It's also covered in balls and lights. There's music playing. There's food everywhere. I sniff around for anything they might have dropped. I smell....meat...I start drooling. Slobber hangs off my chin in a long strand. I feel my stomach ache with hunger. My owner brought my food bowl but I don't want what's in it. I want what they have. 

I sit by the table and wait. One of them is bound to hand me something. 

"Look at him, Mal, he's starvin'."

"Don't fall for it, he gives me that look every evenin'."

I lick my chops at the meat. My ears twist around, listening. I'm starving.

"Charlie!"

Oh, that's me! I run toward the voice and see the smallest man holding something for me under the table. Meat! It's meat!! I snatch it from him and run off so they won't try to take it back!

"Thanks, a lot, Ang."

"Wasn't me...."

I hear them talk and laugh behind me and I don't care what about. I only care about my meal. It's a bigger piece and I tear it apart. It's chewy. Moist. Juicy and tender. I love it. I wish Mum and my brothers were here to share it with me. Especially Mum. I'm glad I have a new pack to eat with. I finish my food and lick my chops. I lick the floor too for anything I left behind. 

**********

The music is loud. The humans are happy and enjoying themselves. I sit on the smallest man's lap who seems to like me very much. I like him too. He always smells sweet like sugar. My owner has his musical object and is playing along with the song. The woman he loves sits next to him and smiles. Everyone is smiling and happy. I'm happy too. But I'm tired.

**********

"Merry Christmas, love."

"Merry Christmas."

My owners kiss for the hundredth time. They look at each other with silly smiles and snuggle on the couch. They let me snuggle with them. We're home now. The house is dark but the tree is bright. A fan stands in a corner blowing cold air around. I bark at it but my owner tells me to stop. So I stop. He scratches behind my ears. 

"Linda?"

"Hm?"

"What would ya' say to gettin' married someday?"

I sigh and close my eyes. My food is gone and I feel sleepy. I yawn as much as I can and let a yelp slip. My tongue must be miles long. Anytime I lick my chops I end up licking my nose or my eyeball. I love it. 

We're home and happy and safe. I love my life.