From my [human] point of view:

I had just sat down to lunch. Will was behind me on the chair. (He is allowed to be present but not obtrusive during meal times.)

I heard footsteps on the porch, followed by a knock at the door. Guessing that it was some form of delivery and might require a signature, I rose quickly and started for the door, tripping over Will, who had somehow managed to get down from the chair without my being aware. I apologized sincerely, but perforce briefly.

I got to the door in time to take the package directly from the UPS courier, thanked him, and closed the door as he started back to his truck. Then I set the package aside for later attention and returned to my lunch, stopping to make of Will on my way back to the table.

From Will's [feline] point of view:

I was supervising human lunch when I heard a large growly machine in the yard and an intruder approached the house. Typically, my human showed no awareness of the intruder until after I alerted and moved into a defensive position. Then he moved with unusual speed, catching me a little off guard. (Reminder to self: Humans are generally slow and clumsy, but can occasionally be fast and clumsy.)

The intruder was a two-leg, so I left it to the human to see him off -- which he accomplished with honors, meeting the intruder at the door and sending him quickly into full retreat. We then indulged in a moment of mutual congratulation for a successful defense of our territory and returned to the important business of lunch.

Copyright © Wayne Mitchell
January 18, 2009