Christmas

Christmas is a recurring marker in CJ’s life with the dogs who accompany her. Its celebrations change with her circumstances: an early holiday passes under the strain between CJ and Gloria, a later one is made by Trent for CJ and Toby, and at the hospice the season becomes a communal ritual in which Toby belongs to many people at once.

A Holiday Under Strain

In the days after Molly protects CJ from a man who has touched her, CJ and Gloria avoid sharing a room. Their distance follows them into the Christmas observance: they tear open packages but barely speak to each other. The holiday’s familiar activity continues, yet it offers no immediate reconciliation. CJ retreats to eat in her bedroom, and the celebration sits beside her distress rather than dispelling it.

Christmas with Trent and Toby

Later, Trent builds a Christmas tree-like structure in the living room, its scent reminding Toby of the carpet outdoors, and hangs cat toys from it. During the gift opening, Toby receives a chew toy. The details make this celebration intimate and dog-centered: Trent includes Toby in the exchange, while the familiar holiday objects take on a form adapted to the household.

The Hospice’s Annual Ritual

Years later, Christmas returns as part of Toby’s life at the hospice. The women who visit wearing blankets over their heads play with him, give him treats, and sit around a large indoor tree. Cat toys still hang from it, though there are no cats to play with them. Repeated each year, the scene gives Christmas a communal shape distinct from the household celebrations that came before: Toby has no single owner there, but the holiday helps make him welcome to the people gathered around him. The season’s recurrence also marks the continuity of his purpose, even as his role has changed from caring for CJ to offering comfort more broadly.