THE TWELFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS WITH DANTE & SASCHA

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas, which you may also know as Christmas Eve, Dante's true love gave to him:

"TWELVE DRUMMERS DRUMMING"

This gift was a real smash!  "How cool is that?", asked Dante.  "I have my very own MARCHing band -- in DecemBRRRR!"

Dante had always been one to march to the beat of his OWN drum, but on this occasion he was happy to merrily march along proudly with Sascha on his arm following the twelve drummers.  It was rather thrilling actually.  There's nothing quite like a PURRade!

Of course, both Sascha and he, had already asked the drummers about signing with their theatrical agency.  And, of course they agreed.  "Wow!", said Dante. "Drumming up business is becoming a daily affair!"

Now that Sascha had presented Dante with all of his gifts, Dante had an equal number of wrapped packages for Sascha.  One for the First Day of Christmas, two for the Second Day, three for the Third Day, etc ...

 ... making a total of 78 wrapped gifts!

Dante instructed the drummers to give them a drumroll to heighten the suspense and then handed Sascha the gift he wanted her to open first.  She was breathless with anticipation.  And when she unwrapped it was ...

... Dante's Calendar for the Year 2013!

"Oh, I love it!", said Sascha enthusiastically.  "Now, even when you're not here with me, I can look at your handsome face every day of the year."  Sascha gave Dante a big smooch, and eagerly awaited her next gift.

"Drumroll, please!", requested Dante.

But when she opened the box, it was empty!!!

Dante said "I blew you a kiss and sealed it in this box."  "How romantic!", replied Sascha, still keeping very upbeat (with the help of the drummers, of course).

And the drummers drummed through all the rest of the 76 gifts, and every one was empty!  Each time Dante had placed something intangible inside the wrapping, and each time it was something so sweet that Sascha just couldn't be angry about it.

Sascha still checked each box very carefully, though, to make sure she wasn't missing anything.  But she wasn't.

What she did receive was "Winter Love, Spring Love, Summer Love, and Autumn Love, a box of Tenderness, a gift bag filled with Understanding, a large container of Caresses (something like Hershey Kisses, but without the chocolate) ... well you get the idea.  There were a whole lot of "Sweet Nothings" -- all except for the one where Dante's brother Dylan had slipped in one of his farts as a PURRactical joke!  That wasn't too sweet, I tell you.  It actually cleared the room until Dante got the 'Glade' and did a good spritzing.

Now some ladycats would be dismayed, but not Sascha.  It just made her love Dante all the more.  "How thoughtful!", she declared.

And then when Sascha's head was turned, Dante took out one more box which he had hidden deep under the tree.

At that moment, the clock meowed midnight ...

... and something magical happened!

This box contained something very special indeed.  The first thing to appear was an envelope addressed to Sascha.  It fairly floated out of the box on beams of light!

Sascha's paws were shaking as she opened it ...

Sorry, but you'll have to come back Christmas morning to see what was in it!