Is there anyone who doesn't find it charming when their dear furry masters
roll over on their backs, spread out their paws and offer you their warm
little bellies?

In the morning, I have Brandy time. The minute I'm sitting up in bed she'll
come up, often with a mew that's more kitten than cat, and plop over as I pet
her. Then she'll roll on her back and give me that "come on, you know you
want to" look. And I do. I'll rub her plump little gut and Brandy will
stretch to make sure as much gets petted as can be managed. Her fur is
something else: short but thick and very dense, but on the belly it's just
like a puff of cotton candy.

Odessa, as she got more used to us, started coming into bed to nap between me
and Louie, on her back, eyes blissfully closed and paws all splayed out. It
took over a year to be granted the Gift of Gut from our Dolly and she'll purr
ever so gently while getting rubbed (in contrast to the riotous sonic boom
that reverberates through fifteen pounds of Brandy.)

Roxie teases with her gut; she'll show it, make sure we're looking, and do it
again until we get up to do her bidding. Stosh will display too, but touching
means "well and good, I accept your challenge of a wrasslin match to commence
immediately," or consent to allow him free rein with my hair (which I'm
surprised still has a home atop my scalp, as Stosh likes to take it in his
mouth and run, or grab it and swing.)

Only Sabrina hasn't come around to the Giving of Gut yet. Give it time,
though, she's still learning and has a lot of stuff to get over; we were so
thrilled to see her stealing food the other day, which means she's getting
bolder.

Blessed be,
Baha