24. A Christmastime Look Back at Sam's Childhood

There is a reason that Christmas is such an important time of the year for Sam.

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And no, it isn't entirely to do with the tasty holiday treats.

Christmas is Sam's favorite time of the year because it was on Christmas that Sam first met who would soon become - even to this very day - his very best friend...

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Long ago, in many holidays past, it was Sam's very first holiday season, and the very first Christmas for his family together.

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Like it is for so many babies, little Sam was bewildered by all the whimsical sights and sounds around him.

And though he can't recall too much of that fateful day today, there is one sight he could never forget.

Among all the colorfully wrapped gifts, a little, furry creature sitting beneath the tree on Christmas morning.

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It was so small, Sam had never seen anything like it.

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And it was so scary!

Sam was terrified of it!

He tried to crawl away to his mother or his father for refuge, but when he turned to flee the creature pounced upon him!

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It had him!!!

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Fortunately, Mom heard little Sam's plight and came to his rescue.

But his parents now worried. This wasn't what they expected. If little Sam was afraid of the new kitten, what would they do?

Would they have to give him away?

Or maybe even give the kitten away?

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They decided to try one more time to introduce Sam to the kitten.

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Sam was very nervous.

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Not everyone knows this, but Sam can still be nervous of new things even to this day!

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But the kitten was not...

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...seeing little Sam, he wished only to make friends.

And pretty soon, Sam realized that this strange little creature wasn't actually very scary at all.

It was actually kind of nice.

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Sam decided that he liked kittens!

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He liked kittens very much.

It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship...

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...that would last through the years...

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~~~

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~~~

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And though time would change some aspects of their relationship...

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~~~

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~~~

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Sam recalls this ploy working out much better in his youth...

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Some things just never change.