I lay in bed today. Well on the bed. This other being feeds me, I lie on him. I wait for him. I sniff. I try to go into the cupboard. I paw at it. There must be some real magic inside. Some special treats, but it’s always blocked off. Then I get bored and I remember my nice. I lie on my back and play with him and the string. I enjoy the rough sensation of the Matt against my back. I am alive. I look outside the window. I don’t see much. Sometimes I see the other cat. He’s grey and has wild green eyes, just like mine. We stare each other out. He looks at me as though he is the winner because I am stuck indoors whilst he has my territory to roam around in, but he knows I always have the best of him when we’re evenly matched. The little whipper snapper! My dad let me outside today. I like to sniff amongst the leaves or just lie down on the cool grass. I tend to get tired of that though and miss the warmth, so I’ll wait until dad lets me back in. I’m starting to work out how to communicate with him. He let me out pretty much immediately today when I leaped up onto the door. He things I’m a fickle, precious thing but I do demand my freedom too. I know he doesn’t want to deny me that. He wants me to feel safe. I sometimes feel all the tension in his body. He was very lonely until I came along, but now we’re together. The universe brought us together. I do like it here. I get fed and I can relax whenever I want and most of all I love it when I can just lie on my dad and he strokes me and we go to sleep together, sharing the most amazing dreams.

The sun is warm against my face And it illuminates the fields before my eyes. Kind of golden- Except for the green of corn sheaths.

A mouse runs out of the crops!

Before I can pounce, a crow swoops in, Reaches with its claws, Encases the rodent. An elegant kill. Kings should learn from us animals.

Days pass but I see no need to label them. And people too; Running about because Laziness is a sin. I am guilty of that. Nothing can stir me from my rest. Good smells perhaps...

Young children are trying to play with me. Oh, you innocent creatures, Under this roof, it is MY kingdom!

Despite the interruptions- Even the calls for meals- Slumber takes up most of my day. Every so often, I’ll go on the hunt; Rivers near the farm hide good snacks. Very soon I shall become one with nature. Everything good must end, after all.

I wonder what that endless sleep holds: Trouble, or opportunity?

(read the first letters of each line for a message)

I stretch out, swanning around in the lap of luxury, literally. I squeeze my eyes tightly shut as a calloused hand massages my aching neck and back. Pure pleasure.

A wonderful stench floats up to my nostrils, and I inhale it, so content it physically makes my mind hurt. Suddenly my ears perk up as I realise what the scent is coming from. A fat, flittering, fluttering, idiotic little flapping prey, the fun challenging ones that are always just out of reach, yet falter eventually. You merely have to outlast it.

I leap off the lap, landing silently on the shaggy carpet, feeling it rough and raw on the pads of my paws. Stealthily I crouch, eyes never leaving my quarry, creep towards the motionless flapper.

3...

2...

1...

I spring, fly. Claws outstretched, I know I’ve got it. Then- bam, I soar backwards, blocked by an invisible, but very solid, barrier. I fume as humans laughter rings out behind me and my prey is gone.

Morons.

I lay in the warm and light engulfs my dark form. I am content.

As the human carried me into some den , I clung to her with all my strength and claws.

I knew this place was where she often chose to be , for the smell - her smell was very strong here.

it was overpowering even to my immature senses .

But I felt I wanted to be here .

Pleasant drifts of an overwhelming peace and unrequited love were immensely welcoming.

I soon relaxed and could not help but release a quiet purr as she placed a fresh container of fish before me.

My favourite , I loudly purred .

The human then bared her teeth at me , but I felt no threat for I remembered when my mother had told me that this is how they themselves purr.

With belly full , I tried to now decide where I should reside.

Was it to be In front of the dancing heat that the human had suddenly brought to life or was it with her.

Their was no comparison

So I jumped on to her lap and gave the loudest purr ever.

I was overwhelmed by her response For a sparkle of love radiated in her eyes.

THANK YOU , I meowed as I drifted into the best sleep that a homeless kitten could ever have.

l love you !

I nestle my head against the soft blanket, stretching my arms and legs. A squeak escapes my mouth and I yawn as I open my eyes the bright light streaming through. The morning sun shines from the windows as I arch my back and glance at my human. It appears by her peaceful face and her closed eyes it is not yet her time to rise. But I find myself awake and in need of a tickle or scratch behind my ear. I walk over to her side of the bed and knead my paws into her side. A meow bellows from my croaky morning voice as I nudge into her face. She groans in her sleep and turns over. Well it was worth a try. I jump of the bed, shaking my head and ringing my bell. I love that sound, makes me feel important. Maybe time for some food but no my human still has not arisen to feed me. Off to glance at some birds hungrily I guess. I walk over to the window and see my reflection through it. Well I think if looks could kill then I could kill every bird in those trees. I see my soft, glimmering ginger coat and yellow big eyes staring back at me. I would be scared if I was a bird, I mean I’m quite intimidating. If only I could get beyond this see though glass and run my paws through the soft grass. Chase the birds and call to them. There is a big fat bird in the tree, I lick my lips. I wonder if it tastes like that chicken I get every morning or better. But I will never find out as my human tries to tame me daily. I do love her but the thing is, I’m a wild animal and that I’m tame.

I hear my human getting out of bed in the next room, walking over to the kitchen. Well I guess it’s time to pester her again. I follow her back into her room as she sits in her chair drinking her morning coffee. Hmmm that lap looks nice, I jump onto the chair and then again into her lap, purring and bumping into her hand for more head scratches. “Good morning Milkhy”, she says and she stares down lovingly at me and kissing my head. I always like those kisses, makes me feel warm. But not only that I always like the mornings before my human leaves the house for today. I stretch out my paws and drift off, making use of the warmth of her and dream about a time when I can escape and eat that yummy bird. Well who knows if it’s yummy but I know one day I will be curious and smart enough to escape and taste it.

Sometimes humans and dogs sound pretty similar. Or at least Dave and that cocky German Shepherd that’s always around scarfing my food down. They act similar too. Clumsy. Dumb but thinks they’re clever. Way too energetic. And Sister Callie says they actually get hurt bad when they fall off things. How pathetic is that? Most of us, we have fluffy fur and pretty faces but we can’t truly be trusted. I mean we know exactly how to make humans adore us with one simple meow. And we know how to act terrified around dogs only to transform into a devilish monster once they’re close enough to scrape their noses. But we just don’t want to get too attached to anyone. Dogs do it all the time and sometimes it bites them in the ass hard. That’s why at night when everyone’s asleep we’ll go sleep on Dave’s fat beer belly or under Rocky’s chin. God I love his thick fur and his big dog snore. He can never find out.

The warmth of the big ol light in the sky is my very favorite. I lay by the window all the while it is there. I wish it would never leave. The warmth settles into my fur and my insides warm up...I’m hungry and want food. Regretfully, I leave my perch. I yawn and stretch my legs, beginning to make my way into the darkness. It’s cold, but warmth remains. I hope it’s food time.

I head to my human, as they call themselves. My little mouth can’t pronounce their words, but they are truly below me. Like stupid kittens.

My human is in this weird room I haven’t quite figured the purpose of yet, with a big hard white thing they sit on and a mini water producing spout. Odd... why would anyone need water like that? Will they play in it? I don’t know, I’m not quite tall enough to see and they don’t like me jumping on everything.

But I like the room too, and I want in. There’s a plant in the corner that smells heavenly and tastes good too, eating it makes me feel magical. But now I want my pebble food.

I hit the door, again and again, then pawing underneath, hoping to catch their toes. I scream at the top of my lungs, imitating them in their waterfall thing. They come out, I lead them to my bowl, I need to eat.

Ever so slowly they pour my pebbles into my bowl and I scarf them down, finally full, I can return to the warmth.

Meow.