Skippy…

“Yes, I have been talking to the cats again,” she said, putting the toys she brought for him on the floor.  “I spoke with Fido, the other day.”

“Cats make fun of us because we pant.  It’s not our fault that’s how we stop from overheating.  Besides, what’s wrong with panting?”

“Nothing at all. They just think your tongues are always hanging out.”

“So?”

“Cats and dogs are made differently,” she said,  “and truthfully, cats don’t often think about dogs, or anyone else, unless their servants don’t wait on them properly.”

“It’s not that,” said Skippy.  “They were worshipped for a long time, so they believe they are gods and who can blame them?  Look at all the things they can do.”

“I see your point,” she said, “but you’re different species, so you can’t compare yourself to them.”

“It’s hard not to.

“Everyone loves dogs.”

“Oh, I know that.  And Sparkles sleeps with me and licks me, so some cats do like dogs.  She never makes fun of me.”

“She’s a nice cat.”

“She’s in charge.”

“They always are.”

“I don’t mind.  She knows what she’s doing.”

“You do too.”

“I’m noisy and slide on the floors and hit the walls sometimes.  Cats are never clumsy.  They can fly and they’re graceful.”

“But dogs can do things too.”

“What can we do?”

“You can catch a frisbee.”

“And?”

“Um, you can…guard the house.”

“That’s true.”

“See, you can do things

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.  You’re a beautiful dog.”

“I’m a good boy too.”

“I’m sure you are.”

“Cats don’t care if they’re good.”

“No. They don’t.”

“I wonder what that’s like.”

“I have no idea,” she said.

“I’d like to keep talking with you but Sparkle wants to take a nap on me, so I have to go an lay down now.”

“You don’t really have to do that, you know.”

“I don’t?”

A hiss came from the dog bed.

“I think I do.”

“Yes, maybe you do.  It was nice seeing you again.”

“You too,” he said, trotting over to Sparkle, who curled up under his chin, as soon as he curled up in the soft little bed..