On Friday morning, I was getting ready for the trip out to the island. I
always put the harnesses on the cats for the trip, though they travel in the
Sherpa bag, just in case of an emergency and I have to take them out of the
bag.

The cats, of course, zoomed to the door when they were dressed in their
harnesses, because they thought it meant walkies. When I didn't go out with
them, they started suspecting foul play, and they both went up on the top of
the bookcase. There they were when my brother came to fetch me. How to get
them down?

Fortunatle, Nikki panicked and got down herself (she always panics), and I
managed to pluck her off the cat tree before she could find another hiding
place. Stuffed her into the bag. Frank was a different kettle of fish. He
stayed glued to the top of the bookcase. I took a broom to prod him with. He
only threw me withering looks and stayed glued. I prodded harder and harder.
Frank glared. Finally he gave up and tried to slink down, but I grabbed him
off the cat tree while he was coming down. Bundled him into the bag with
Nikki.Phew! The worst part over.

Usually, Frank yowls the whole way, but this time he was quiet the whole
trip in the car. I was quite worried when I never heard a peep from him, and
had to check up on  him all the time. Apparently, he didn't get car sick
this time, so didn't feel the need to yowl. However, my niece and her cat
Bella were also in the car, and Nikki, who can't stand the sight of other
cats, kept hissing at her. Esepcially as Bella was allowed to roam on her
leash while Nikki was cooped up in the stupid ##&!! bag. She let us know in
no uncertain terms that she was a Very Disgruntled Cat.

Then there was the boat trip... This finally loosened Frank's vocal chords,
and he protested loudly at the sheer nastiness of a rocking boat in high
winds. Fortunately, the boat trip is much shorter than the car trip, and
when we got to the island, he was very happy to rush outside and - chomp
down on grass. As if he didn't have several pots of grass at home. And
drinking rainwater from the potholes in the cliffs. As if I didn't put down
a clean bowl of fresh water for them the moment we got there.Ah well, he
just prefers wild grass and water to the tame varieties.