Usually the cats are locked out of the bedroom at night because it is hard for me to fall asleep with five cats all trying to sleep on me at the same time while Mia does her starfish impression. Anyway, Mia was away last night so I thought I would let the cats in because they could sleep on *her* side. (Hah!! I am SO naive sometimes...) So there I was trying to fall asleep, with Romeo on my chest, Jetson on my thighs, Juliet on my legs, Chloe on my feet, and Tiffy on my arm. The cats are all snoring and purring and enjoying themselves. It always amazes me how easily cats can fall asleep.

As for me, I need to watch TV or read a book to get to sleep. But unfortunately I can't see the TV because of the black furry body on my chest and I can't read a book because my arm is pinned down beside me by Tiffy and I can't reach the book with my other hand. I lay awake, listening to the purring and snoring. After 45 minutes my body starts to get numb. I decide that if I want any sleep I will have to lock the cats out. So I try to sit up and push the cats off me. Romeo whines, gives me a dirty look, and climbs back on my chest. Tiffy jumps up in shock - who took away the hand? Jetson, who is the heaviest of the lot, rolls further down my legs and bumps into Juliet. Juliet hisses at Jetson but doesn't move. Chloe at my feet watches all the commotion with fascination, and I swear, I thought I saw her smile... but no, surely it is my imagination.

Eventually I pushed myself up onto my elbows and rolled out of bed, rolling most cats off the bed with me. (Don't worry, it was a soft landing.) All the cats scatter. My legs are numb as I stagger out into the kitchen to execute the trick that they always fall for: feed them and while they are eating I can sneak back into the bedroom and lock the door behind me. I pour out five portions of dry cat food into five bowls, make sure they are all eating, and then I race to the bedroom and secure the door. I climb back into bed.

Ahhh, peace at last. No heaviness on my chest, legs, or arms. I turn the TV on and find the National Geographic channel. I set the TV timer - half an hour should be long enough. I watch as archaeologists put forth another theory about the lost city of Atlantis. I'd like to watch till the end but eyes won't stay open. The sound of the TV is starting to fade as I float towards much-needed sleep. Finally, I fall asleep.

But it was only a few minutes later that I was woken by a strange raspy sensation on my lips. I open my eyes to see Chloe standing on my chest, less than an inch away from my face, licking my lips with her raspy little tongue. Aww, how sweet, Chloe was giving me Kitty Kisses. But wait... how on earth did she beat me back to the bedroom? I *swear* I saw her eating with the others when I left them in the kitchen. But *somehow* she sneaked into the bedroom and kept out of sight until I fell asleep.

Now I know for sure that I was not imagining things when I thought I saw Chloe smile...

Copyright © Flippy
May 28, 2005