A Christmas Kibble (Part 5): The Ghost of the Empty Bowl 🌑💀🦴✨🐾

The Phantom slowly, gravely, silently approached. 🌑👤 It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched paw. 🐾

"Ghost of the Future!" Muffin cried. "I fear you more than any spectre I have seen. But as I know your purpose is to do me good, and as I hope to live to be another cat from what I was, I am prepared to bear you company, and do it with a thankful heart." 🙏✨

The Spirit did not answer. It pointed toward the **Panoramic Skybox** of a large, empty house. 🏰🏚️

Two neighbor cats were talking near the fence. 🏘️🐈

"So the old miser is gone, eh?" asked one.

"Yes," replied the other. "Died last night. They’re selling off his heated mats today. Not that anyone wants them—they’re full of his bad energy." 😾📉

Muffin shuddered. He looked for himself in his usual spot, but another cat was there. A happy, generous cat who was sharing the view with everyone. 🦁💖☀️

The Spirit led him to a quiet, dark corner of the garden. There was a small, neglected mound of earth. 🪦

"Before I draw nearer to that stone to which you point," said Muffin, "answer me one question. Are these the shadows of the things that will be, or are they shadows of things that may be, only?" 🕯️❓

The Spirit still was silent as ever. 🌑

Muffin crept towards it, trembling as he went; and following the finger, read upon the stone of the neglected grave his own name, **EBENEZER MUFFIN**. 💀🪦🙀

"No, Spirit! Oh no, no!"

The finger still was there. 🐾👉

"Spirit!" he cried, tight clutching at its robe, "hear me! I am not the cat I was. I will not be the cat I must have been but for this intercourse. Why show me this, if I am past all hope?" 😿✨

For the first time the hand appeared to shake. 🤝

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The spirits of all three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach. Oh, tell me I may sponge away the writing on this stone!" 🧼🪦🐾✨

The Spirit's hood and dress shrunk, collapsed, and dwindled down into a bedpost. 🛏️

Ready for the finale? Does Muffin change his ways? Find out in the conclusion! 🐾✨