It's been quite a time since I last posted here, but I want to share a
cute little (night-)story about Blacky, the tomcat.

On May 28th, just before I went to bed, I had a last look after our
furry folks - at that time both busy outside. And look, Blacky stood
in front of the patio door. He had a present with him - in his mouth
he carried a respecable mouse. But - mouse is not for the house -
neither dead or alive, thats a rule here. In spite of that I would
have liked to give some praise to our big black kitty, but the patio
door kept being closed for the moment.

Blacky looked at me - with the mouse still in his mouth - and
requested: "Open that door!" I looked back: "Hey old fellow, I am
sorry, but mouse is not for the house."

Now Blacky put that mouse very carefully down in front of his fore
paws and looked at me again: "OK, is THAT all right?" I still was a
little bit unsure but thought, the risk to open the door now would be
acceptable. The mouse sat there, absolutely motionless.

When I opened the door the latch cracked quite loudly. Blacky had been
watching my hand and was distracted. The mouse - just like Speedy
Gonzales (you know - the fastest mouse of Mexico) - cannoned away
across the patio into the darkness and the rain. Obviously she had not
been hurt at all. Blacky absolutely did not realize, that his prey had
literally vanished from under his paws.

As he grasped that his mouse had run, he faced me with such a very
dumbfounded look that I could not keep from laughing. Totally upset he
searched for the mouse and sniffed all across the patio. That was
neither the time for some praise nor for the question, whether he
would not prefer to come inside for the night. He was absolutely busy
with the loss of his prey.

After about ten minutes of fruitless search he concluded to stay
outside for the night. So I went to bed - but without my big black
furrykid.

Squarely Yours
Michael