“Here’s your new home, Shae,” Brittany said. “Come on out.” I lay there for a while, taking my sweet time, in good catly fashion. I noticed that Mellie, too, was still lying in her cage.
“Thought you’d be on the comfy bed by now,” I said to Mellie sarcastically.
“I’m sure they’re just getting it ready for me,” she said. “In the meantime, I think I’ll go sit in the sun.” She stretched, yawned, then slowly got up and ventured out of her cage and over onto a sunny spot on the grass where she lay down again. “This is nice,” she purred.
I couldn’t stand it any longer. So I, too, stretched and yawned, then slowly made my way out of the cage and onto the grass, where I sat down. “Welcome to life in the great outdoors,” I said.
“Oh, I’m not getting used to this,” she replied. “I’m sure they’ll be taking me inside very soon. You’re the outside cat, remember? I’m not the one who pissed on the wall.”
Why did she always have to bring that up, just when I’d think maybe she wasn’t so bad after all? I decided to ignore her and began licking myself.
The next morning I was surprised to see Mellie still outside with me. “You still here?” I asked.
“It should be any time now,” she said, “and they’ll be coming to get me,” sounding not quite as sure of herself when she said the words this time.
“Well, if you’re not here when I get back, enjoy yourself on the comfy bed,” I said.
“When you get back? Where are you going?”
“I’m ready for an adventure. This yard is too confining,” I explained. “I’ve spotted an opening under the fence where I think I can squeeze out. I’ll be leaving tonight after dark–do a little exploring of the neighborhood. I may be gone a night or two.”
“Well, be careful out there,” she said. “And, well, I’m sure I’ll be inside by then, but, uh, just in case I’m not, uh, I’ll miss you.”

© Copyright 2015 Ginny Brinkley