[*Sigh*]... Monday morning after a Bank Holiday Weekend... Well, really Tuesday morning, but back to work. A day going to work at the start of the week is classified under "Monday".

Cleo gives me my requisite morning face wash before I can get up, feet on my chest to make sure I don't get away until she is done. I swear it's a good pre-shave lotion.

So I do all the things I must do to make the human form acceptable to the outside world and take my morning vitamin and electrolyte booster (Grapefruit juice) out to the balcony to watch the sun come up. Cleo and Velvet routinely follow me out for some air, and a flop on their backs.

Then, that being done, I chase them inside. Cleo responds immediately to "come". Velvet must be chased in everyday, she does not like being told what to do. Then the phone rings! Who could be calling at this hour? Oh.. a follow working drone needs a lift in, his car has crapped out. I shut the balcony door and get on my way.

If you've read my previous story about "The Cat Door Stasis Theory", you'll know how much trouble I am in.

I did think it was odd that Cleo did not say goodbye at the door as she always does. On my return 11 hours later, when she did not greet me as she always does, I knew something was VERY wrong! I opened the balcony door to see Cleo on a deck chair looking very forlorn indeed. She rushed inside and proceeded to swear at me in cat for nearly a full minute, circling me menacingly, and looking up with eyes burning with rage. Then when she was satisfied that she had used up every swear word available, stalked off to the food dish for a very long meal.

Poor Cleo! No food, no water, no litter tray in 26ºC heat. (Well, not so true about the litter tray, she dumped in the turtles' water dish.)

She is, however, really not one to hold a grudge, and truth be known, she does love the great outdoors. I was forgiven and allowed to scritch H.R.H. about two hours later, while telling her how truly sorry I was.

Since then, each morning there is a "Cat Count" implemented before departure. I'm not going to endure language like that again!

Copyright © Bill Mason
September 5, 2001