All Hallows Eve

Mistress has prevented me from venturing into the evening air. This is strange, because she normally seeks to put me outside, even in the most dreadful weather. Tonight, however, she is sitting by the door with a large bowl of pretty wrapped up shapes -- and small persons (and some bigger ones) keep approaching the door and yelling, "Trick or Treat". A very odd custom. And why I cannot venture out to enjoy the cool evening breezes escapes me.

But it is most gratifying when I hear these oddly dressed children say, "What a pretty kitty", although one boorish young man made rude comments about my girth. Mistress gave him only one piece of the candy (as I now know the pretty shapes are called).

Household visitors

I can finally rest. Adult male brought someone he called his oldest friend into the household. That would have been acceptable, if the oldest friend had not been accompanied by a young man who picked me up, chased me around the house and generally made my life quite miserable. This youth, who I believe was the son of the friend, was a particularly handsome lad. However, his behavior did not match his beauty, and I was forced to spend two days hiding under the large bed occupied by mistress and adult male. The young gentleman and his father departed today, en route to a place called Omaha. I wonder if there will be felines like myself there for the young man to pester.

On a much brighter note, master and mistress have a boarder. This man, who apparently lives in a place called China, has not lived in a household with a cat of my stature before. Because he is so impressed with me, he feeds my frequently when adult male and mistress are away from the house. He is particularly susceptible to my charms, and when I cry and wrap myself around his legs, he always gives me a treat. This bodes very well.
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Tranquil Cat

Adult male wonders why I haven't written anything recently. Partly, of course, my lack of communication is due to the relative tranquility of my existence. There have been no small cats in the household, and I can easily deal with the neighborhood visitors who come to check the bowl that the lady next door leaves outside. These visiting cats are far too friendly, accepting petting and admiration from almost anyone. They need to learn the value of aloofness.

The only event of note is the fountain that one of the young masters gave to mistress for mother's day. Because the water is constantly moving, it tastes much better than the bowl that is left for me each day. I make sure that none of the neighborhood cats visit the fountain; I want the water to be pristine when I feel the urge to drink. So far, my vigilence has produced the result I desire: no cat fur besides my own appears in the water.

Left alone!

Mistress and adult male have left town, engaging their youngest offspring to feed me. He is a highly unreliable young man, arriving in the dark of night, long after I have resigned myself to dying alone and hungry in an empty house.

Boots

My tranquil life has been disrupted once again. Young master's kitten -- she who visited one week ago -- has returned. Apparently she was unable to live with the other young master's cat, Bobo and the cat of his lady friend, Claude. Of course, I could have told them that it would not be a good match.

I was just beginning to recover from her previous visit and regain my tranquility when she reappeared, running and jumping and, like all young cats, failing to appreciate my dignity and seniority at all. However, unlike Bobo, this one does keep her distance, so I am not forced to injure her to make my position clear.

Her name is Boots. She looks exactly like me, only 15 pounds lighter. I have heard mistress speak favorably of the young one's tail, which is long and snake-like, in my humble opinion. Boots spends many minutes of the day playing with her own tail, as if it were an independent entity. What a silly beast.

And because I am now constantly on guard, I have been unable to enjoy the pretty dangly things that have been placed on the green tree which was brought inside the house.