The living room was bathed in the soft, magical glow of red, blue, and green lights. Under the towering branches of the evergreen, a fluffy Ragdoll cat named Barnaby had discovered the true meaning of the holiday season, cardboard.
While the tall beings of the house focused on ribbons and shiny paper, Barnaby had found a discarded gift box decorated with smiling gingerbread men. It was the perfect size. With a determined wiggle, he squeezed his cloud like body inside, claiming the space as his own personal fortress.
From inside his new castle, Barnaby peeked over the rim. His sapphire eyes reflected the twinkling lights as he tilted his head, watching the room with a mix of curiosity and mischief. He was the captain of the gingerbread ship, and the rug was his ocean. For a long time, he simply sat there, looking adorable and refusing to budge, convinced that he was a far better present than whatever had originally been inside the box.
Eventually, the excitement of guarding the fortress became too exhausting. Barnaby tumbled out of the box and flopped onto the floor beneath the warm, golden lights of the lower tree branches. He rolled onto his back, paws curled in the air and belly exposed to the ceiling. Lying there upside down, watching the ornaments sparkle above him, the cat purred loudly, satisfied that he was, without a doubt, the star of the holiday.
Shannon Willis can usually be found in the company of furry friends. A passionate animal enthusiast, her work is often inspired by her deep love for cats, dogs, and the animal kingdom as a whole.
