"Where is she? I can't go to sleep at night unless she's here!" I think to myself. I'd normally pace nervously about, but I'm too old and tired for that now. So I'll just sit here in the hallway and wait.

And wait. And wait.

And wait.

After what seems like forever, there is a sudden noise that echoes through the sleeping house. The door. The squeaky noise of the door opening! I run wildly to the door.

"Oh she's home! She's home!" I say frantically.

She walks through the door, saying good-bye to some other person. Just as I come sliding in the living room across the new wood floors, she halts her conversations with that person to acknowledge me.

"Oh!" she exclaims and opens her arms, "Gimmi hugs!" I run to jump into her embrace. "Aww... You missed me, didn't you?" she says while reaching that itch behind my ear, "I'm sorry I was out so late."

"You better believe you were out late! I've been sitting in this hallway forever!" I think to myself. I don't say anything, and just relish in the massage. She takes me into the bedroom after saying good-bye to that other person and turning out all the lights.

Just as we enter her bedroom, though, there is another noise at the door. "Go to bed," she says while putting me on the floor, "I'll be right back." She heads to the living room while I'm right on her heels. Yeah, like I'll just stay put. She walks back into the living room and goes to the piano to turn on the light. Just as I am about to jump on the bench to be closer to her, she steps on me! I love her and miss her so much, and what does she do!? She steps on me!

"MEEEOOOWWW!!!" I scream and run to my secret hiding place. How dare she.

"Oh no!" She says, "Sunshine, sweetie? Are you OK? I didn't mean to! I'm sorry, sweetie. Where did you go? I'm really sorry, sweetie, I didn't mean to step on you!"

Someone yells something from another room.

"What? What did you say?" she asks.

"What in the world was that noise!?" the voice asks.

"I stepped on the cat! She's really pissed at me now. I can't find her anywhere,"

"Well, just go to bed. It's so late,"

"She'll be scratching at my door all night if I don't,"

"Don't take too long. Get to bed,"

She wonders aimlessly about the house searching for me. She's never fond me here before. Finally, she shakes my food dish. I don't fall for that old trick anymore. She's used it one too many times. Next she actually tries to fool me by shaking the bag that holds my food. Silly girl. That isn't enough to drag me from this hiding place.

Finally she leaves my sight, and I hear the familiar sound of the door that drags on the floor. My mouth begins to water. Following is the wonderful, delicious "tinking" sound.

Tink.

Tink.

Tink-tink.

It's the sound of canned food. It's the sound of when she opens that delightful, luscious, ambrosial can of food. I love canned food. This whole thing is probably another trick to get me to leave my hiding place -- but -- I can't resist. I have to see if she'll really give me that food! I run quickly into the kitchen, and end up sliding half way across the linoleum floor. There she is, like a beautiful Goddess holding a heavenly can of food.

"There you are!"

She places the can on the counter, and walks towards me. I'm defeated. It was all a trick. She won. I don't argue as she picks me up. She walks around turning off all the lights while lightly massaging my head. She knows how to win me over. Just two minutes ago I was so angry with her, and here she is now giving me a wonderful massage.

We finally get to the bedroom; she puts me down by the desk and crawls into bed to read. I sit quietly for a time and contemplate my loss. She made me wait for hours to go to sleep, then steps on me (which really hurt, by the way!), and then fools me with threats of tasty foods. Yet, she sure does give good massages. She's always around for a hug. She lets me cuddle inside blankets, and lay on soft pillows, while the other two people who live here do not. Well, I've always forgiven her before, like when she washed me with toxins, cut my whiskers off, allowed that evil other cat into my bedroom, and went through a phase where she wouldn't let me go. Yet, that evil cat is gone because she would beat me up, and she always takes my side when the dog decides to annoy me. She even helps me keep the dog out of my territory! She's a good kid. I finally jump up onto her lap and fall asleep as her fingers lightly graze my back.

Copyright © Kathleen Coyne
July 1, 2001