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My Saturday Field Trip

BC Kitty

Mom was sad yesterday. We couldnt figure out why. She was in and out the front door several times and all teary eyed.

We finally figured out why she was so sad.

BC Kitty, the neighbors kitty that Mom took care of passed over the Rainbow Bridge.

BC Kitty showed up in our neighborhood all beat up about five years ago. He was taken in by a cat loving neighbor named Juanita who built him a kitty condo with all the trimmings on her porch. See BC just didnt want to be inside, he wanted to be outside on her porch unless it was really windy, really cold or hot. Then she took him in. He had the best life for the past five years that he could have. Then suddenly or not so suddenly as probably is the case, our 18 year old half brother BC started to have failing health. Juanita took him to the vet and said he was in renal failure plus he had several other conditions that were not good for a cat of his age.

After several vet trips and IV drips, BC Kitty passed into Kitty heaven where he is at peace. Mom and two neighbors were there when the visiting vet dr made the house visit to end his misery. Mom's face was all red and she cried and cried that night.

I'm a stray, too so I know Mom was thinking about the plight of homeless kitties (and all animals who need homes) and was glad that BC Kitty picked our neighborhood to call his own. He had a good life and I know Mom will miss him.

A neighborhood stroll that went bad.

So Mom and stepfather got home after much shopping and I wanted out! It's Saturday, are they insane?
They're supposed to be home to let me in the fenced back yard so I can stand half in and half out of the door way while I decide to venture forth into a hot St Louis afternoon.

Mom let's me out and moves the dreaded sprinkler so I make a mental note to avoid the invisble wet things that are disturbing the garden area I so love to hide in. Mom goes in the house and I begin to make my daily trek to see what's new. I chase a grey thing with a long tail up a tree, all the while it's making some weird chittering noises at me. I fend off the bird feeders honor from the mean city birds and I commune with the pointy headed bird that my Mom calls a cardinal. It's a little hot out here and so I decide I'll hide out in a cool dark place and keep my watch over the back yard. Jake, the pointy eared dog with the huge tail that my Mom calls a German Shepherd was out earlier this morning and I give his snout a good whacking when he stuck it under the fence. It's a good thing for him that I dont have my nails. Although it didnt do any good as he just continued to bark and snuffle at me. I guess Jake knows who's boss since he's lived with two cats since he was a puppy.

Anyway I doze off in my cool hiding spot waiting for my next butterfly to chase. All of a sudden I hear the back door open and I hear Mom calling my name. I can see her but she cannot see me. She's acting a little funny since I"m not immediately visible to her right away. Now she's acting really crazy and is running from place to place in the backyard. Now she's hollering for Stepfather to come outside.
Wow.
She's pretty unglued and not very attractive looking in this heat. She's asking some man in the alley if he's seen me. I think I just saw her run in the neighbors yard. Stepfather is walking around, scratching his head. I hear her yelling my name to the neighbor. I hear him reply he hasnt seen a cat.

Ok. It's time to put down my cards. Maybe I dont need to show her where I've been hiding but I can saunter into the yard and just act like I didnt see her get all weird.

Mom comes flying into the yard, again and sees me. She calls me a little *itch and takes me in the house.

Humpft! Why exactly is this my fault and why am I in trouble? I didnt forget me in the backyard while Mom was drinking lemonade! And why am I being unceremoniously picked up like so much trash? This will require a complete bath.

Oh well. I had a nice time meeting Mrs Butterfly and the crazy animal with the long tail. I dont know what he said to me but it was fun to chase him around the tree. The cool basement floor feels good. I may just hang out here and take a nap once I get my fur all going in the same direction again.