Zebrina the cat takes a romp

Zebrina lept onto the window seat making certain she didn’t upset the plants and the many yogurt containers full of muddy potting soil. What, she wondered sulkily, was her human thinking? Didn’t she know this was her spot for sunning herself? So, why did her human insist on crowding it with these stupid pots? She couldn’t grow a tomato if her life depended on it. You’d think she’d figure it out by now. As for the catnip... well, it had been delicious. Wished she grow some more.

Zebrina could only sigh and stare moodily out the window. It was such a nice day and her human still wouldn’t let her out. What was she waiting for? For the mice and moles to run amok in her garden? They would get the chance, Zebrina thought angrily, if her human didn’t let her out to do her job. She had tried to sneak out just last week when one of the human kittens went out to catch the bus to school. She was thwarted. Blast it!

Why was her human torturing her this way?

“Zebrina!”

Oh, and there she was, her human calling her. What now? Had she found the mess yet? Well, it wasn’t her fault! The litter box was simply unacceptable. She should have tended to it before going on the tippy-tap thing with the screen. Why she always plays with that contraption is anyone’s guess. She keeps talking about some weird thing called Helium too. Zebrina still couldn’t see the thrill in it.

“Zebrina! Where is that fluff ball?” the human muttered.

Well, she supposed she’d have to answer. “Me–arr,” Zebrina said and propped herself up.

“Should’ve know,” the human said seeing her at the window. “ Well, you’ve been buggy for weeks now. How about a romp outside? It’s a nice day. I’ll even join you. Could do some gardening.”

Oh, what joy is mine, Zebrina thought sardonically, jumping down and following her human to the door. Her human would no doubt stop her from catching one of those yellow feather balls. She calls finches nice little birds. Zebrina knew better. They were a nuisance.

Cat and human stepped out of the house and both took a deep breath of fresh mountain air. “Don’t you just love spring time, Zebby?”

Zebrina rolled her eyes wishing she wouldn’t call her that. It was bad enough when the human’s mate called her fluffy. Fluffy, of all the indignity! He wasn’t all bad, her human’s mate, Zebrina mused grudgingly. He allowed her to sit on his lap most nights during his time in front of the big, noisy box with the flashing lights. That was almost enough in itself to redeem him, but he made up for it.

He had come home with the right food for a change. Last time he got 9-Lives because it was on sale. 9-Lives? Honestly! Did he think her that stupid or just desperate enough to want that foul fast food? Zebrina remembered a few summers ago being lured to this house of humans because they were grilling salmon. They had offered her some in return for a fat juicy mole. She took them up on the offer because that fish smelled wonderful, but she to this day couldn’t understand why they tossed the mole across the street into the ditch. It had been a perfectly good mole and very fresh, fresher than the salmon.

Zebrina ignored the human and slowly descended the steps.

“Remember, Zebrina, no birds!” the human shouted after her, pointing a threatening finger at her.

Zebrina stuck her tail way up in the air and stalked off. She wouldn’t even dignify that with a reply. If she didn’t watch her step, Zebrina thought slyly, that human might just find no moles at her doorstep come dinnertime. Wouldn’t she be disappointed!