There were four, oversize stockings hung from the front-hall staircase railing. This produced considerable curiosity the week before, and even some disassembly. Christmas morning, Polly, Calvin, and Kona were milling around the pile of presents in the family room, and Heidi (so named because she hides) crouched a safe distance away. Kristin began the festivities by dumping all four stockings onto the floor, allowing each cat to pick and choose. Then, Kristin opened a bag of cat treats and scattered them around the floor.

Calvin is the one who owns possessions, and he carefully guards his hoard of plastic drinking straws. Each Christmas, there are more added, and they are kept in a basket atop a kitchen cabinet. Whenever he wants a new straw, he jumps up to the basket and brings one down. The "old" straws are probably behind the refrigerator and in other crevices around the house. He plays with them, hour on end. Another favorite toy is a very special white, plastic spoon, and I noticed a bright new one near his stocking.