Fiction: Fallen Gods

“Omari, you promised that this year you would explain the human Christmas to me.”

“So I did, Naji. Come, then; let’s take a little walk.”

Omari stretched, curving his back high, and ended up on all four paws. He led the other cat out of the warm shed and down the alley.

“Tell me, young Naji, about Egypt.”

“In Egypt we were worshipped as gods,” Naji replied brightly, “because we were the ones who killed both the rodents that infested the granaries and the fearsome cobras. This knowledge is part of every cat and is every cat’s birthright.”

“Very good,” the older cat said. “But later?”

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Fiction: On Patrol

Nash had hoped everyone would just leave the subject alone. They all knew what day it was and where they were and there was no point in talking about it.

“Sarge, it looks like ol’ Santy Claus has forgotten us,” Williams said.

“Yeah, again,” Borgerz agreed.

“Leastwise, there wasn’t a beautiful girl or any discharge papers in my foxhole this morning,” Williams continued. “Not even so much as a drop of holiday cheer.”

Nash cursed to himself, but as the sergeant he felt obliged to do a little something for morale and talk to his men. “Do I have to be the one to break it to you guys about Santa Claus and Christmas miracles?”

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