Sonia (Rainbow Bridge) was a one-of-a-kind kitty. She was smart, talkative, sassy, obnoxious and deeply loved. She also didn't know when to leave well enough alone.

One night, I was eagerly awaiting one of my all-time favorite movies that was to be on television, "Bless the Beasts and the Children". Yeah, it's dated, yeah, it's not going to be in anybody else's Top Ten lists, but I don't care. I love the thing.

One problem: I had to run to the grocery store first to pick up a few items. So I raced over to the store so I could return home in time for my movie.

I arrived home to a most distressing picture. The apartment was filling with smoke! Terrified, I looked around quickly for the source, and saw a shadeless lamp I had left on in my hurry to leave, now sitting in a basket containing a blanket, which was smoldering. Quickly, I yanked the lamp upright and ran the basket to the bathtub, filling it with water and putting out the fire.

Just in case, of course, I called the fire department. I explained calmly on the phone that I had put the fire out, but was calling them just in case. No fewer than four large tanker trucks and the fire chief arrived a few minutes later.

In the meanwhile, Sonia was skulking around the apartment, looking terribly worried. I couldn't fathom why she was looking so upset when the other cats seemed to be fine.

Until I looked at the bare light bulb on the lamp. There, attached firmly to the light bulb, was one quite fried fly.

The fire chief found it amusing. At the time, I most certainly did not.

Sonia got a good talking-to that night about the wisdom of not fricasseeing flies on lamps.

Copyright © Ginger-lyn Summer
January 25, 2002