John "Owwwwwww, my leg. You little monsters."

I sneak a look through the door. John is sitting in a patch of sunlight in swinging basket chair. Kittens are sitting under chair wearing pouncing looks. Suddenly, Clyde races up John to the top of the chair and sets the whole thing swinging from its hook.

John, bellowing as hot tea tips over his knee. "You little b#@#@#@d"

Bonnie yowls from beneath chair, tries to lap up tea from John's sodden newspaper.

I stroll through patio, whistling nonchalantly.

John, frothing at mouth. "Get 'em out of here, I'm trying to have breakfast."

Me, feigning innocence. "Get who out?"

John, trying to retrieve his tea cup while balancing his toast plate, "You know who, the kittens."

I walk to the chair and stretch up to retrieve Clyde who is wrapped around the top of the basket chair. He does a spectacular somersault, lands on John and streaks off on a circuit of the house chased by Bonnie. John's toast is sitting, marmalade side down, on the floor in a pool of tea."

John, "$#$@$#$@$#@$". Gets up and goes to kitchen to re-do his breakfast.

I go back to computer, closing door on way through.

I hear shouting from the kitchen. John "Get off my #@#@#@$%$#@ leg". Yowling and thumping sounds. John, "%$#@%$%$#@#$ Get your paws out of my toast!!!"

I am quite impressed. John has an amazing vocabulary!

Copyright © Beverley Dunlop
February 23, 2003