White Christmas

The gold and silver tinsel sparkled in the morning sunlight that streamed through the window as Kaleb wrapped the garland around the creamy puffiness some would call a tail.  Kaleb liked to call it his greatest accessory.  The chest next to the full-length mirror was full of all kinds of decorations for his tail.  The aqua blue Rexbirb pinned the ends of the tinsel in place and examined his handiwork in the mirror.  He nodded at his reflection with approval.

Now he was ready for Christmas.

Kaleb skipped out of his room and down the hall to the living room where he’d set up the Christmas nest.  He couldn’t wait to see what goodies Santa Birb had brought for him.  He was particularly hopeful for a new string of pearls for his tail, since the last one had been torn apart when a hurricane blew through a beach party Kaleb crashed.

Kaleb stopped so suddenly he tripped over his own talons when he turned the corner.  There was his Christmas nest tucked against the back wall, so carefully crafted from evergreen branches, jingle bells from Kaleb’s own tail chest, and sparkles he’d found buried in the attic (probably an old tail decoration that went awry).  It looked just like it did when Kaleb went to bed.

That was the problem.

The Christmas nest was empty.

Kaleb rushed over to the nest and waved his hands over it, wondering if Santa Birb was feeling mischievous that year and made the presents invisible, but there was only empty air.  He dug through the needles, throwing jingle bells to the side and scattering sparkles everywhere, but the presents weren’t under the nest either.

A horrifying thought popped into Kaleb’s mind and his glowing ring markings dimmed.  Did Santa Birb just not leave presents for me?  I thought I was a good birb this year!  Ohhh no, oh no, oh no.

Then Kaleb’s large ears picked up the dim sound of a small Rexbirb crying.

He grabbed his golden orange scarf (to match his eyes, of course) and threw it around his neck as he headed outside.  He pinpointed the crying’s origins as the home next door, flapped over to their porch, and knocked on the door, his heart sinking.  A small family lived here and they sometimes asked him to watch their little one when the parents wanted a night out.

The little birb’s mother opened the door and exclaimed, “Oh, Kaleb!  It’s awful!  Santa Birb didn’t bring us any presents!  Our little one’s absolutely heartbroken.”  Behind her, Kaleb could see the young Rexbirb crying on the couch, her father trying to comfort her but looking just as confused as his wife.

“I didn’t get any presents, either,” Kaleb told the mother.  “Maybe no one did.”

“Oh, the poor children!”

Another wail from the little birb.

“I’m sorry, Kaleb, I need to take care of my little girl.  I’d wish you a merry Christmas but so far it’s not very merry at all.”

Kaleb nodded and returned to his own home, flinging his scarf on to the endtable where he’d put the plate of traditional treats for Santa Birb.

Kaleb’s head snapped around.  The treats!  They’re gone!  But that means Santa Birb had to have been here.

Knocking at Kaleb’s door distracted him and he opened it to find his brother Krios and their adopted brother Justin on his front porch.  The two barreled past Kaleb, Justin exclaiming, “Have you heard, Kaleb?  Santa Birb didn’t bring any presents to anyone!”

“Little birbs are crying everywhere,” Krios added.

“I’ve heard,” Kaleb replied, gesturing to his messy Christmas nest.  He picked up the empty treats plate.  “But look!  The treats are gone!  So Santa had to have come.”

“But why wouldn’t he leave presents for anyone?” Justin asked.

“Maybe he did leave presents,” Krios mused, “but then someone else took them.”

“Took all of the presents from everybirb’s homes?” Kaleb said.  “How would that be possible?”

Krios shrugged.  “How do our arms float?”

Kaleb rolled his eyes.  “Look, we have to do something.  We can’t just let Christmas be ruined like this, especially for the little birbs.”

“What are we supposed to do?” Justin asked.  “Find out who took the presents and get them back?”

Kaleb and Krios looked at each other.

“Sounds like a plan to me,” Kaleb said with a grin.  He grabbed his orange scarf again and made for the door.

“Come on, boys.”  Kaleb’s markings glowed brightly now as he put his hands on his hips.  “Let’s go on an adventure.”