Baby sometimes drinks out of my glass of milk. Now if you find this to be offensive, you can stop reading right now -- because it gets worse!

My cats share my hearth and home (and kitchen table and counter), as well as all manner of conveniences and pleasantries. Sitting in a half circle around my dinner plate, watching me eat and hoping for (and getting!) bites might be considered the latter!

Baby (beautiful 6-year-old muted Calico) looks forward to a full glass of milk. It is white and frosty-looking, and very inviting. And the taste! The lovely, thirst-quenching, full-bodied taste! She quivers with anticipation! Let the others fight over the bacon -- Baby wants the milk!

Sometimes I (feeling more is right with the world than not!) let her drink to her little heart's content. Let's just say that, most of the time, she gets what she wants!

Quite early this morning, I had poured and warmed a cup of milk for cocoa. Before I could mix it all together, the phone rang. As I stood at the bar, talking, I saw Baby leap up onto the counter, drawn by the wonderful scent of milk!

She approached the steaming cup with caution, yes -- but also with some eagerness. Here was an unprotected cup of milk! She crept slowly forward, nose quivering, confident that the prey was hers!

When she got there, some question rose in her mind. Yes, it was definitely milk, but something was not quite right. She sniffed. What was that unwelcome warmth? She reached out with the tip of her little pink tongue. This was milk, right? She liked milk! She scrunched up her small face, holding her eyes half closed, then slowly, carefully touched just the very tip of her tongue to the white liquid.

GAHHHH! Who was playing such a mean trick? This was not milk as she knew it! This was some disgusting, warm goop that was not even close to her beloved milk! She backed away, knocking over bottles, cartons and kitchen utensils as she did so!

By this time, I had finished my call and was watching with interest. Baby stopped very still and looked at me. "You!" she seemed to say. "You did this to me!" She stopped for a quick lick or two, then regally left the kitchen.

I drank my cocoa, but something had gone out of its usually welcome flavor. And do you know? Baby hasn't spoken to me since breakfast!

Copyright © Renee Darvin
January 6, 2001