Another low-sleep night, maybe an hour or so, possibly because I laid around all day, reading. Or maybe something else was the reason. Could it have something to with the fearless foursome?

It was an eventful night, because it was a kitty circus. They have been taking care of me while I have been ill; even the August Cleo has been sitting on my lap, washing what ever part she could get to. This is rare.

Lying comfortably, I put my book away, turned out the light and immediately, a cat arrived. Since the springs didn't creak, and I didn't hear any sounds like the screech of jet airliner tires on tarmac, I knew it wasn't Jumbo Velvet.

Time does the feel test.

Tippy. He snuggles up to me. You can tell if it's Bella, she's all bones. Tippy has filled out a bit. He was bones when he arrived. Next it's Velvet. She lands on me just below my rib cage *OOF!* and settles to my left. Moments later, a low Lynx like "ggggrrroooowl!" is issued in Tippy's direction. But he is already gone. Now I turn on my right side and Velvet wants to snuggle in my arms, and stomps on my midsection again.

*OOF!*

We snuggle for quite awhile, then she turns around to watch the end of the bed for any predators (or I have bad breath), and plunks her rear-end, tail up, right into my face. I grumble and turn to my left side, guess who follows.

*OOF!* I turn back to my right.

She gets the hint, her side is the left side. She gets under the covers, and is soon snoring gently, has a kitty dream and starts to kick me in the back. Cleo joins the marry parade at her exciting new scheduled time of 04:00. My face must be dirty, because it was sure clean when she got done washing it.

Maybe this is why I often get only one hour sleep.

Copyright © Bill Mason
November 1, 2002