CLE ELUM, WA- On New Year's Day, local residents in the small mountain community noticed two strangers dressed in red and sporting little bells chasing their cats through a suburban neighborhood. "Fluffy had just climbed onto the roof when the smaller one started tearing through the garbage, so I caught them both and brought them in", said Enid Berkowitz. "They were driving us crazy!"
Speculation has it that these are two of Santa's helpers that were somehow left behind on jolly St. Nick's annual Christmas visit.
However, not all local residents agree as to

the nature of the friendly, jumping,howling duo.
"Maybe they help the reindeer- they do pull on a leash awfully hard", noted one local.
Another Cle Elum man- who declined to be identified- had yet another completely different theory. "It's hard to believe the <expletives deleted> would be a help to anyone. If they're supposed to do something with the reindeer, I'd think it would be more like chasing them out of the North Pole!"
Last our reporter saw, they were snacking on leftover turkey and fruitcake, and don't appear to be missing their home very much.