Cleo does swear a lot these days. She swears in cat when I get in her way, she sure swears in cat when I whisk her off her feet for a cuddle she does not want. She swears at a passing Bella whilst in my arms. Such language! Too bad. Velvet is picking this up and swearing too.

Bad.

Bella and Tippy never swear. (Normally)

A "Cleo Moment", brought to you by... Me.

In the hallway, my home. 7:09PM EST.

"Cleo!"

"$%#@!&*!!"

"Come here, you Caticus!" {{picks Cleo up}}.

"$%#@&*!!"

"Good girl, belle puss..."

"$%#@&*!!"

"I love you, you know... I have seen you from five weeks old; you fit in the palm of my hand... I have seen you bleed. I have seen your blood fall in big droplets from fights you have won... and lost".

"I have stepped on your tail."

{{Bella goes by}}

"$%#@&*!!!!!!"

Cleo now is firmly attached to my T-shirt. Attached to me, actually, as the claws have made their purchase in my flesh. I attempt to put her down before the blood flows. Too late.

{{Put her down... rip... rip... that's not my shirt you're hearing.}}

"The same to you, puss puss!".

"$%#@&*!!!"!"

"Well, $%#@&*!" to you too, you ungrateful feline!

Did I mention she was purring the whole time?

In a few hours, she will be curled up beside me. At 06:35AM, she will awaken me, without fail, a gentle prod with her foot, or a warm raspy lick on the nose.

I always get the nose lick. What could be simpler, I love her, she loves me.

That's my girl.

Copyright © Bill Mason
May 14, 2002