The Conversation…

“It’s getting closer,” he sighed, rolling over.

“What’s getting closer?” she asked, putting his food dish in front of him.

“Halloween.”

“Yes, it is.”

“What kind of food is that?”

“It’s good for you.  Just eat it.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes, seriously.”

“If I put something in front of you and it made you gag, would you eat it because I told you to?”

“Fine,” she signed, opening a can of his favorite food.  “I’m just trying to keep you healthy.”

“Sometimes being healthy isn’t worth the misery, or disgusting taste, of eating something like that,” he said, watching her put the plate in a trash bag.

“It’s your life.”

“That’s true for everyone, isn’t it?  I mean everyone has his, or her, own life, right?”

“The sun’s supposed to come out over the weekend, so I’ll be able to finish some of the landscaping and garden work, or at least do a few things I want to do.”

“Feels like winter is walking toward us.  Can’t you smell it?” he asked, sitting up, sniffing the air.  “Winter looks like Santa, with a suitcase of ice in one hand and a suitcase of snow in the other and he’s marching toward us, taking big steps.”

“Wow, that was a very cool and clear visual?” she said, petting him.

“What can I say?  I’m good at things like that.”

“You’re good at everything,” she said, grinning at him.

“Glad to see you’re finally catching on,” he purred.

She snickered.

“Life’s not always easy,” he said, rubbing his face against her hand.

“No, it’s not,” she agreed.

“Things don’t always make sense.”

“That’s true for most things,” she said.

He nodded.  “For a long time, I believed things didn’t have to be the way they were.  Then I realized that nothing was ever going to change, at least not for the better.”

“That happened to me as well.  Sometimes when we’re young we believe all kinds of things.  Then we grow up and find out everything is a lie and nothing was ever what we thought it was, or could be.”

“Why is that?”

She shrugged.  “All part of the stupid game, I guess.”

“Have you noticed how easy it is to forget the good things and how long the bad things stay with us?”

“Yes.  But nothing here is fair, or makes sense.”

“Did you bring any treats?”

“Of course.”

“The vet was here.  Everyone is mostly fine.”

“I spoke to her and she said you were all wonderful.”

“She’s right.”

“I know,” she said kissing him.”

“It’s nap time.”

“I love you.”

“I know,” he said, closing his eyes.

“I love you more than anything.”

“You should.”

She kissed him and ran her hands over him.  He curled up in a ball and sighed, then he told her to be careful crossing the street, and fell into his dreams.

The Conversation…

“When will your garden EVER be finished.  It’s so distracting.  You aren’t paying nearly enough attention to me.”

“Uh, sorry, but I do have a life.  I mean I have things to take care of.  I’m not neglecting you, I’m just doing what has to be done.”

“I’m not happy about it.”

She smiled at him.  “I know.  It’s almost over.”

“Promise?”

“Yes.”

“You need to prioritize what’s important in your life.”

“And you, I’m assuming, should be number one on the list, right?”

“Seriously?  You have to ask?”

“I was just checking.”

“Can you do anything about winter?”

“What do you mean?”

“Make it warmer and keep the snow away?”

“I wish I could, but my magic doesn’t work that way.”

“Then what god is it?”

“I’ve often asked myself the same question.”

“Jinx thinks he found a place to plug in the heated beds.  He’s going to show me later tonight.”

“That’s great.”

“And no, I don’t know what happened to the chipmunk in your yard.”

“What?

“Nothing. Never mind.”

“Did you…were you…in MY yard, hunting?”

“I just said I wasn’t.”

“I better see the chipmunk tomorrow, or you’ll have a lot of explaining to do.”

“Geez, I’m sure he’s fine.”

“My yard in a no hunting zone.”

“We ALL know that.  You’ve told us a million times.”

“Why did you bring up the chipmunk?”

“I didn’t, you did.”

“I did not.”

“Maybe you need more sleep, since you’re mixing up who said what.”

“Ack!”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Trust is a delicate thing. Once broken it can never truly be fixed.  So you better not have done anything to the chipmunk.”

“Great.  So, if you can’t find him, you’re going to blame me?”

“Yes.”

“How is that fair?  What if he’s in another yard, or went on a vacation to visit other chipmunks?”

“You better hope he didn’t do either one of those things.”

“We should change the subject.  Halloween is coming and cats are in danger.  Especially black ones.”

“I know.  You should tell them to all come and stay with me for a couple of weeks, later in the month.”

“I already did.”

“Okay.”

“How can you be so attached to a chipmunk anyway?  They can’t really hold a conversation and they rarely let you pet them.  Okay, the really tame chip’s might let you pet them but…

“Why are we talking about chipmunks again?”

“No reason.  I mean I can see why you’re in love with me, but I don’t get it with the chipmunk.”

“I’m going home.  Tell Jinx I said hello and I love him.  His food is over there, in its usual spot.”

“Why are you leaving so soon?”

“To look for Tyler.”

“Don’t tell me that’s the name of the chipmunk.”

“Okay, I won’t.”

“You can’t name a tiny fuzz ball Tyler.”

“Why not?”

“It’s just not right,” he said, shaking his head.  “He needs a name fit for a chipmunk.  Something like, Chitter, or Scamper.”

“Not bad names,” she said.

“Tyler sounds as if he should have a backpack and go to school.  He doesn’t go to school, does he?”

“I don’t think so.”

“They usually don’t.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“I’ll be here.”

“I love you.”

“I know.”

She kissed him and leaned into him.  “You’re so soft,” she sighed, rubbing her face against him.”

“Ya done yet?  It’s nap time.”

She sat up, gathered her things, kissed him one last time, and walked away.”

“Be careful crossing the streets,” he muttered, as he closed his eyes and thought of rabbits.

 

The Conversation…

“You’ve been posting pictures of those feral cats on your blog.”

“Yes.  Do you have a problem with that, and how do you always know what I put on my blog?”

“I know everything.  I keep telling you that, but you’re in denial and refuse to believe the truth that’s right in front of you..”

“Fine.”

“You’re not putting any pictures of the cats around here, on your blog.”

“You’re right.  I haven’t taken any pictures of them.”

“Why not?”

“Because I consider them to be my cats and since they live outside, I don’t want anyone hunting them.  I want to protect them.  No one can get the feral cats, because they live inside.”

“Rats,” he said.  “That’s a good answer.”

“What were you expecting?”

“Not that,” he said, biting his back leg.

“If we can find someplace to plug them in, I want to get heated beds for the cats who want to stay outside when it gets cold.”

“I’ll put Jinx on it.”

“Okay.”

“It’s not fair that cats have such short life spans.”

“I know that.”

“Can you do something abut it?”

“I can’t. I wish I could,” she said, her eyes filling with tears.

“Why can’t everything live the same amount of years as a tortoise?”

“I have no idea,” she said, miserably.  “I know people who don’t live as long as cats do.  Some die right away.  There’s no use trying to make sense of it, because it doesn’t make sense.”

“Birdsong, said that we come here to do certain things and when we’ve done them, it’s time for us to go.  Do you think that’s true?”

“I have no idea.”

“Maybe I came here to help you.”

“If you did, I can’t thank you enough,” she said, tears finally escaping and running down her face.”

“You’re leaking.”

She laughed, wiping her face with her hands.  “Let’s talk about something else.”

“What?” he asked.

She shrugged.  “I brought new treats.”

“Skippy died last night,” he said.

She hugged him and kissed his face.  “I’m so sorry.”

“He was a good fighter and he shared his kills with those who needed food.  He was always true to his meows.”

“Life and death don’t make sense.”

“What does?” he asked.

“Good point.”

“If things made sense, cats would be running the world.”

“That’s true,”  she agreed.

“I know. That’s why I said it.”

She smiled at him.

“I found a publisher for my book.”

“You didn’t really write a book, remember?”

“A cat I know lives at a publishing company and he said he’d show my manuscript to the man who makes the books.  You need to type it.”

“You didn’t write a book.  You wanted to write a book.  You started to write a book but you didn’t actually write a book.”

“I need a good cover, because people buy books because of their covers.”

“Okay, think of something that would attract people, cats and cat people.”

“I didn’t really write the book yet.  You know that, don’t you?”

She started laughing.

“Feel better?” he said, softly.

“Not really, but thank you for trying.”

“I think I should write a book.”

“So do I,” she said, running her hand down his back.

“Maybe a kitten on the front.  Everyone loves kittens.  Big eyes, tiny face.  You know how cute they are.”

“I do, but you’re still cute and you’re not a kitten.  You’re a brave, strong, beautiful cat.”

He sighed.  “Good leaders are followed because those who follow see something in them.  They trust them to make the right decisions for them, to protect them, sometimes from themselves.  You humans wouldn’t understand that, since your leaders are evil and corrupt.  They never think of others, just themselves and besides, good leaders just happen, they don’t run for office, or twitch their whiskers to get their own way.  To get power.  Do you know what I mean?”

“I do,” she said.  “Were you chosen by the other cats?”

“Yes.”

“You don’t seem happy about that.”

“I didn’t ask for this responsibility.”

“You do a great job,” she said, softly.  “The others wouldn’t stay with you, if you didn’t.”

He licked his shoulder.  “I can’t save them,” he whispered.  “I can’t keep all of them alive.”

“No one can do that,” she said.  “No one.”

“This is a bad place.”

“Yes.  It is.”

“Why are you here?” he asked.

“Because I’m insane, like all the other humans.  If we chose to come here, there’s no other explanation, other than Insanity.”

“I guess.”

“I’m sorry about your friend.”

“I’m going to nap now,” he said.

“Do you want me to watch over you while you sleep?”

“Be careful crossing the street,” he said, dismissively.

“Sure.  See you tonight.”

He flicked an ear at her and started dreaming.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Conversation…

“You were with other cats today.  I can smell them on you,” he said, sniffing her arm.

“I was visiting someone who had cats.”

“And?”

“And what?”

“You were petting them.”

“I was.”

“How did that make you feel?”

“What do you mean?”

“Was it like petting me.  Or Jinx?”

“How could it be?  You’re different cats.  I was just petting them.”

“How many cats?”

“What’s wrong with you?”

“I just want to know how loyal you are?”

“Excuse me?”

“I mean if you go around petting everyone you see,  then how does that make any of us special?”

“I didn’t know cat’s wanted to feel special.”

“Actually,” he said, “it’s more of an ownership kind of thing.  You belong to us and I just don’t want other cats to think you’re available.”

“What, in all the furry paws and tails, are you talking about?”

“This food is good,” he said.  “Get more of it.”

“Yes, your majesty.”

He flicked his tail.  “People used to worship us as gods, you know.”

“Yes, I know.”

“We’re still gods.  People just got too self involved to think of anyone but themselves.  Life was better when they knew who was important.”

“You’re jealous.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” he said, looking away.

“You are.”

“Am not.”

“I love you,” she said.

“Did you tell the new cats that as well?”

She swallowed a smile and ran her hand down his back.  “I could never love anyone the way I love you.”

He turned his back on her.

“Hey Jinx,” she said.  “Haven’t seen you for awhile.”

Jinx rubbed against her legs.

“Tell Jinx what you did.”

“I didn’t DO anything.”

“She petted other cats at someone’s house,” he said.

“Did you?” asked Jinx, staring at her.

“I did.  The women I was visiting, save feral cats.”

“That’s wonderful,” he said, but do you love them too?  I mean it’s okay if you do, but I think we should know.”

“I love all cats as a species, okay.  But you and your gang live in my heart.”

“Good enough for me,” said Jinx, “and thank you for the food and treats.”

“You’re always welcome.  I’m glad you stayed over last night.  I enjoyed having you sleep on my pillow.”

“I liked it too,” he purred.  “Gotta run.  See you tomorrow.”

She scratched his face and watched him dash away.  “How long are you going to pout?”

“Cats don’t pout.  Ever.”

“Then you’re the first one to do it.”

He turned around.  “Are you going to see them again?”

“Probably not.”

“Do they have a good home?”

“The best.”

“I’m happy for them,” he said.  “I wish more cat’s had good homes.”

She threw her arms around him and kissed him allover his face and shoulders.”

“Get off of me,” he hissed.  “Too much, too much.”

“Well, you wanted love and that’s the way I love you.”

“Fine, but not all at once.  I’d hate to rip your face off.”

She laughed.  “You wouldn’t do that.”

“Probably not,” he admitted.

“You can stay at my place as long as you want.  You can live there, you know that.  So can Jinx and any of the cats who want to move in.”

“I do know that.  We all do.”

“Well, I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said, grabbing her tote bag, kissing him one more time.  “Love you.”

“Whatever,” he said, curling into a ball.  “We could use more blankets.”

“I’ll bring them tomorrow.”

And then he fell into a dream.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Conversation…

“I caught a present for you but Jinx said you would hate it, so I ate most of it.”

“Thank Jinx for me,” she said, trying not to gag.

“It’s not like I can go into a store and buy something for you.”

“It’s the thought that counts and besides, it’s not my birthday.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“Why else would you want to get a gift for me?”

“So you could praise me for my fantastic hunting skills. Why else?”

“I should have known,” she sighed,  giving him more food.

“Is this stuff new?” he asked, sniffing at the dish of paté in front of him.

“Yes.  How do you like it?”

He ate some, then said, “It’s good enough to bring it again.”

“Okay.”

“Imagine what it’s like to be a bug and get smashed against a window by a giant who hates you just because you exist.”

“I’m going home.”

“Why?”

“You know I don’t like it when you talk about things like that.”

“But it’s true and what about freedom of speech.”

“You can say whatever you like, but I have the freedom to walk away.”

“I never thought of that.”

“How could you not think of that?” she asked, giving him treats.

“I don’t know.  But you’re right.  I can say something, but you don’t have to listen.  I don’t listen to much.  I guess not listening is a freedom of its own.”

“It is.”

“The vet was here.  She stuck needles into a few of the cats who live in the alley.  They did not enjoy it.   I wouldn’t be surprised if they hid from her from now on.”

“She’s trying to help them.”

“I know that, but all they know is that she stuck a needle in them.”

She nodded.  “I get it, but you need to tell them she’s making them better and even saving their lives.”

“Like I said, Life on the street is hard.”

“Can’t you say anything that’s uplifting?”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know.  Think of something.”

He thought for a moment, then said, “I don’t think I actually do uplifting.”

“Why not?”

“No Idea,” he said, biting on the claws of his front paw.  “You say something.”

“Like what?”

“How should I know?” he asked.  “It was your idea.”

“Maybe I don’t do uplifting either,” she groaned.  “Well, I love what’s happening in my garden.  I saw a couple of chipmunks and a tiny mouse, so my friends are moving back in.”

“Chipmunks?  Mice?  Are you sure?” he asked, excitedly.

“Yes and a million squirrels.”

“A MILLION squirrels?” he asked, sitting up.

“More like a dozen, but it seems like a million.”

“Be SPECIFIC please,” he said, glaring at her.  “This is important information.”

“You’re not hunting in my yard.”

“What time do you usually go to bed.”

“Argggggg!”

“Just making conversation, that’s all.”

“You’re ear looks better.”

“It is.  Chipmunks, you say?”

“I’m going home and scare all of them away.”

He snickered.  “You can try,” he said, chittering.  “I’m a cat, it’s instinctive, writ on my DNA.”

“Writ?  On your DNA?  Writ?”

“I’ve been reading poetry.”

“I’ll see you tonight.  Remember to thank Jinx for me and ILOVEYOUILOVEYOUILOVEYOU,” She said kissing him all over his face.

“ACK!”

“Deal with it.”

He saw her smile, as she walked away, swinging her tote bag.

 

 

 

 

 

The Conversation…

“I see you put another dog on your blog.”

“I put cats on my blog all the time.”

“Why would you put a dog on your blog?”

“What happened to your ear?”

“Nothing.”

“It doesn’t look like nothing,” she said.

“The other cat lost, so no big deal.”

“Can I put something on it, so it doesn’t get infected.”

“You can try, but I won’t promise I won’t bite you.”

She put the salve on her finger and inched closer.  “This won’t hurt,” she said.

“I hope not.  For your sake.”

“Hold still.”

“I can’t hold more still than this.  I’m not moving, you are.”

She dabbed the medicine on his ear and sat back.  “See.  That wasn’t so bad, was it.”

He glared at her.

“You can stop whipping your tail around, since it’s over.”

“Any ideas on how to get free cat food?”

“I don’t know anyway to do it.”

“What do you know?”

She thought for a minute, then shrugged.

“Life’s like that, isn’t it,” he sighed.  “It’s hard to know anything when things change all the time and you don’t have control over any of it.”

“You’re a wise cat.”

“Duh!”

She laughed and kissed his face.  “The longer I live the more I realize that we don’t know anything at all.  Things become automatic, ritualized, repetitive and sometimes people don’t even pay attention.  They just go through one day after another and don’t even realize they’re alive.”

“That’s because you don’t look for mice and voles.  You never try and catch birds, or do anything fun.”

“Have you seen a vole?”

“Not yet,” he admitted.  “But I have hope.”

“I love you.”

“I know.  But what if you sit on the corner, with a cat in your lap and hold a sign asking for free cat food?  I mean people will respond because you’re not asking for anything for yourself, just for the cat.”

“Fall is here, and you know what’s next, right?”

“What?”

“Winter.”

“We all hate winter.”

She nodded.

“What about the corner thing?”

“Never gonna happen.”

“Then I guess you’ll just have to keep paying for our food.”

“I guess I will.”

“Why do you think cultures kill dreams, creativity and joy?  They were talking about that in a sociology class a few months ago.”

“Because happy and fulfilled people can’t be controlled. Fear, and a false belief in lack, rather than abundance, kills everything.  All lies, of course, but if you lie to people enough it becomes their truth.”

“Cats don’t do that.  Actually, no one does that except your species.”

“I know.”

“You should have been a cat.”

“I know.”

“But it’s not always easy living on the street.  There’s disease, cars, and hateful people, hunger, and terrible things.”

“I know.”

“I thought you said you didn’t know anything.”

“I don’t like the things I know, that’s all.”

“I get that.”

“I love you.”

“You said that already and I know it from all the other times you said it.”

“I can’t say it enough.”

“Maybe you can,” he said.

“No.  I can’t.”

“Okay.”

“I have to go.  I’ll see you tonight, if you stop by.”

“Don’t go out after dark.”

“Why?”

“It’s dangerous, unless Jinx is with you.”

“I love you,” she said, kissing him one last time.

 

 

The Conversation…

“Okay, how about this,” he said.

“You’re not still thinking about getting free cat food, are you?”

“What if we ALL go with you…”

“No.  That wouldn’t get us anything but a call to animal control.”

“Some of the cats are small.  You could burrito wrap them in a baby blanket and….”

“Nothing we do, will get us free cat food.  And even if someone was generous enough to donate a few cans or bags, they couldn’t keep it up.  You all need food everyday.”

“You think people would give us food, just so they could have us around.”

“It doesn’t work that way,” she said, giving him treats.

“You could catch wild hamsters and they wouldn’t cost a cent.”

“I’ll ignore that.”

“It’s still a good idea.”

“It’s a terrible idea and there are no wild hamsters anywhere near here.”

“What about chipmunks and squirrels?”

“Ack!”

“Fine,” he sighed.  “Do it your way.”

“My way is the only way, in this society.  Everything is about money.”

“I know what you’re saying, but that’s what’s wrong with your species.  You’ve forgotten, or never really knew, what’s important in life.”

“Believe me, I know that.”

“Other species don’t hate.  We might fight, because we are instinctively territorial, but we don’t hold grudges, or try to get back at anyone.  We don’t hate each other or anyone else.  You’re the only ones who do that.”

“Thank you for the philosophy lesson.”

“It’s true.”

“I know.”

“But we do know how to love.”

“So you don’t just want me here because I bring food?”

“I’d be lying if I said that wasn’t part of it.  But there’s more to it than that.  I enjoy our conversations, the pets and kisses too.”

“Really?”

He rolled onto his side.  “I’ve gotten used to you.”

She chuckled.  “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.  Cats don’t befriend just anyone, you know.”

“Yes, I know that.”

“That makes you special.  Trust is a hard thing to come by and we trust you.”

She sniffed.

“Why are your eyes all wet?”

“Allergies.”

He nodded.  “I think you’re just happy that we all care about you, but I’ll go with allergies, if that’s what you want me to do.”

She bent over and kissed his face, over and over again.

“Okay, okay, that’s enough,” he said, putting is paw on her face.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said.  “Say hello to Jinx for me.”

“I will,” he said.  “Be careful crossing the street.”

 

The Conversation…

“I’ve been thinking,” he said.

“About what?” she asked, putting a plate full of food in front of him.”

“About getting free cat food.”

“Not gonna happen.  No one gives cat food away.”

“What if you brought me into the store with you?”

“Brought you…”

“Take me with you, when you go to the store.  Once the person sees me they’ll give you the cat food for free.”

“You mean just because I bring a cat into the store, you think they’ll give me free food.”

“Yes.”

She stared at him.

“If the food is free, then you can spend more time with all of us.”

“She stared at him some more.”

“No one will give us free food.  No one.”

“I can look…kittenish.  Everyone loves kittens.”

“You’re a grown cat.  You look nothing like a kitten.”

“How about now he said,” opening his eyes wider and curling up.

“Not even a little.”

“Really?”

“Really,” she sighed.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m positive.”

“I thought I could pull it off,” he said, biting his paw.

“You weigh fifteen pounds.  A kitten weighs two.”

“Well sure, but…”

“Forget it.”

“Fine.  I’ll think of something else.”

She nodded and gave him some treats.”

 

 

The Conversation…

“You’ve been avoiding me,” he said, his tail, thrashing back and forth.

“I haven’t,” she said. “I’ve just been so busy.  You now what my yard looks like.”

“You need to get your priorities straight.  What’s at the top of your Most Important Things to do in the Entire World, list?  It should be me.”

“I don’t have a list.”

“Maybe that’s your problem.”

“Maybe, but I doubt it.  It think my problem is that I’m only one person and I’m trying to do the work of three.”

“You time is valuable.  Don’t waste it on work, you need to be here with us.”

“That’s a lovely thought, but then where will the for cat food come from?”

‘Maybe if you explain things to the people at the store, they’ll give it to you.”

“Seriously?”

“Just an idea,” he said, looking away.

 

 

 

 

The Conversation…

“Where have you been?” he asked, his tail thrashing back and forth.

“I’ve been busy.  I drop off your food everyday, I just haven’t had time to sit and have a conversation.”

“So, you’re saying I’m not important enough for you to make time for me, right?”

“No, I’m not saying that at all,” she sighed.  “I’m saying that I’ve been really busy.”

He glared at her.

“I’m sorry, okay?”

He closed his eyes and ignored her.

“What can I do to make it up to you?”

He turned his back on her but said, “Live hamster.”

“Never  going to happen,” she said.  “Not in a million years.”

“Neither one of us will be here a million years from now and if we are, hamsters might be extinct.”

She leaned forward and kissed him.  “Deal with it.”

“Easy for you to say.”

“Would you want to live for a million years?” she asked, petting his back.

“No.  Would you?”

She shook her head.  “No. But I think it’s strange that all of us have such short life spans.  It doesn’t make sense.”

He shrugged.  “It’s actually insane, when you think about it.  Imagine forever, if you can, then consider that fruit flies live for about six minutes.  The rest of us live days, weeks, or years, but not many, and we can’t do anything about ANYTHING.  That’s the thing.  Your species deludes itself into believing that it has control over one thing or another, but they don’t.  None of us, control anything in our lives.”

“Okay, depressing again.  Let’s find something nice to talk about, or I’m either going to stop listening to you, or leave.”

“We could talk about hamsters, birds, mice, or hens.”

“Do you WANT me to leave?”

“Jeeze, you’re so touchy,” he said.  “Summer’s pretty much over, but you’d never know it by the weather.”

“True, but it’s getting dark earlier and the sun is on it’s side and slanting in a weird way so it doesn’t come in the windows the way I like it to.  And do NOT tell me I ended that sentence with a preposition.”

“I won’t because you seem to already know it.”

She put her face into her hands.  “Tell me something nice.”

“The vet was here last night and everyone is fine.”

She looked up and smiled at him.  “Thank you.”

“Do you want to live to be a hundred?” he asked.

“Some days I feel as if I already am a hundred, but no.”

“Maybe that’s why we have such short life spans.  Maybe we would hate living longer.”

“Maybe.  And who really wants to live a million years when you’re punished for not dying by getting physically that old?  If I can’t be the me I want to be, then I don’t want to be.”

“I get that.  Besides, you guys make life so much harder than it has to be.”

“True.”

“Jinx broke up with his girlfriend.”

“She seemed nice.  What happened?”

“She is nice,” he said.  “But Jinx said he’s a free spirit and doesn’t like being tied down.”

“I know a lot of men and women who are the same way.”

“You mean like you?” he asked, curling into a ball.   “You only like cats.”

“Nap time?” she asked.

He started purring.

“I love you,” she whispered into his hear, as she kissed him.

“Not enough to bring me a hamster,” he snickered.

She kissed him again.  “See you tomorrow.”

He nodded sleepily, and she blew him a kiss as she left.

He caught it and smiled.