It was about nine-thirty in the morning and chilly outside. Dukee was already out on the back porch when Auntie let him back inside. Dukee had a good night's rest and wanted to do something. So, auntie grabbed the string with the mouse attached and swung it above his head. Dukee jumped up and grabbed ahold of the mouse and then plopped down on the floor. After he let go of the mouse, Auntie swished it around on the floor for him to chase.
Dukee got up and charged at the mouse as it swished past him. He stopped when he noticed that Mia was lying aside the chase lounge chair watching him. Mia giggled to herself as Dukee turned around and lay down. Auntie tried to get him to continue playing but he didn’t want to. She wrapped the string around him and went into her bedroom.
Mia walked up to Dukee giggling, “are you having fun?”
“I was just letting Auntie know that I still like playing with her,” Dukee sat up.
“Well, now you look like you are decorated for Christmas,” Mia giggled.
Dukee looked down at the colorful string that was wrapped around him, “well, at least it’s not a silly sweater.”
“That’s true. Has auntie ever put one on you?” Mia asked.
“Yes, once. She made it and put it on me. It made me feel like I was being hugged for a long time. I didn’t care for it,” Dukee looked at Mia.
“Mom hasn’t done anything like that to me yet. I try and keep her in line by scratching her when I don’t want to be touched,” Mia said.
“I do that sometimes but not as much as you do,” Dukee licked his paw.
“How do you know how many times I scratch Mom?” Mia cocked her head and asked.
“Because your Mom lets out a squeal usually followed by no Mia, that hurts,” Dukee looked at Mia.
Mia thought for a moment, “I guess I do scratch her a little too much don’t I?”
“Yes, I think you do. It’s okay once in a while to let them know to stop, but you have to let your mom enjoy petting you. It makes them happy to pet us,” Dukee walked inside the cardboard barn.
“Yeah, that would explain why she always wants to pet me,” Mia walked over to the barn window.
Dukee clawed and scratched on the scratchboards inside of the barn and then looked at Mia peeking in the window.
“I know that you are young and still learning but just think about it. Our humans are here trying to take care of us and make us happy the best that they can,” Dukee said.
“Yes, that’s true. I’ll try harder to be more gentle to her,” Mia said.
Dukee walked out of the cardboard barn and over to the wingback chair. He jumped up and laid down on it. Mia walked into the front living room to see what her Mom was doing. Oh, looks like Mom is reading something on her phone again, Mia thought as she jumped up on the bean bag by her. Mia leaned over and gave her Mom a lick on her hand before lying down. Mom told Mia thank you for the kisses and gave her a few love rubs on top of her head.
Please join me again for more of: Two Cats And A House.