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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Snap (09/04/08)
Tickle-tickle.

I shift my position and tuck my ear so it can’t be disturbed.

Tickle-tickle.

Not the other ear!

Tickle-tickle.

I twitch that ear and try to settle once again to my well-deserved nap.

Tickle-tickle.

Still enveloped in the haze of near-sleep I lift my paw and bat against the irritating sensation of the very tip of my ear fur being moved in the wrong direction.

Tickle-tickle…tickle.

Enough already! I leap up, hiss and use both front paws to swat at the offending nap intruder…whatever it might be.

Giggles erupt all around me.

Oh, this is so funny. The feather trick again. Why do they never seem to tire of teasing me? I lift my nose, turn aside and stroll away with all the dignity I can muster in the face of such senseless ridicule. Really! I’m above all that.

As I make my exit, I hold my tail high and still…but for the very tip which I move in stiff, rapid twitches. --Although, I must say I hold out little hope of my moronic companions accurately interpreting my clear message of irritation.

I move by the glass door, moisten my paw and luxuriate in my cleansing ritual. I pay special attention to my ears after their assault-by-feather.

Once again, the sounds of mirth surround me. Why is everything I do so funny today?

This time I don’t even grace them with a glance in their direction, but move on once again. Why can’t they realize I’m above all that?

I saunter into the living room and leap lightly onto the couch. More twitters of amusement. Maybe if I just ignore them, they’ll tire of this game and go away. I turn aside and pretend they don‘t exist.

My resolve to demonstrate my disdain lasts only seconds. A movement at the other end of the couch draws my attention.

He’s back.

I thought I had defeated him last week!

His red glow mocks me as he dances at the far end of the couch.

I propel myself toward him in a single, graceful arc. Perfect timing! My paws close around my enemy. Dot is mine!

No, no, no! How can this be? In an instant he is at the other end of the couch tracing small circles along the arm. I leap again, and once more Dot moves. All thought of dignity or reserve vanishes as I seek my prey. I must defeat him this time! From one end of the couch to the other, from back, to seat, to floor, Dot and I engage in a frenzied duel. Time after time, I just miss him. How can he continue to escape? He seems almost other-worldly, this Dot.

He teases me from the front edge of the cushion...daring me to leap. I do. Immediately he drops to the floor. I twist my body in a mid-flight, land on the edge of the cushion and tumble to the tile below. Dot has disappeared. With a growl of frustration I search for him. Guffaws bounce about the room as Dot winks at me from the top of the couch’s back cushion. I demonstrate my athleticism as in a single leap I land on top of him. Hah! That should silence the laughter! I pierce my enemy with my ice-pick sharp claws, only to have him make an all but impossible escape once more. He grins up at me from the floor, next to the wall. With a roar worthy of my golden-maned cousin, I leap again. Too late, I see the mousetrap just below me...tucked along the wall behind the couch.

Snap!

I blink repeatedly in the bright light. Laughter reverberates like a living being; it fills the room with a palpable energy. Disoriented, I try to make sense of the setting. Finally, I spy my wife sitting in the front row, holding her sides--mirth-born tears tracing down her cheeks.

Oh, no. It can’t be.

Lord, how long have you tried to change my attitude? So many times...so many situations designed to transform my haughty spirit. …This time, I think I may finally have learned.

I stand among the roar in disbelief. I had stood here before, only moments ago. --Or was it hours? Boastful. So very sure of myself. “No,” I had assured the entertainer. “I’m certain. You won’t get me to run around and cluck like a chicken or whatever it is you do. I cannot be hypnotized. --I’m above all that.”
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This article has been read 1611 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Celeste Ammirata
09/11/08
This is really good. What a cute story. I love that it's about a cat. Very well written!
Great take on the topic.
Joanne Sher 
09/11/08
Oh what fun! I was SO wondering what was going on - and you absolutely got me! Love the title, and the repeated use of the phrase throughout. Good stuff!
Betsy Markman
09/12/08
I LOVE the surprise ending! Definitely did NOT see that coming. And up until that point, you had captured cats purr-fectly.
(My cat HATES Dot!)
Great job!
Leah Nichols 
09/12/08
Nice twist! I thought it was just a cute story about a cat....way to pull a fast one on us! :)
Lynda Schultz 
09/13/08
I could see my Number Two Cat, Lou Lou Belle, in your description. She always plays the game, but it seems so frustrating! The twist at the end was very good.
Chely Roach
09/14/08
This was so fun and creative...what a wonderful twist at the end!
Joy Faire Stewart
09/14/08
This is very entertaining and I didn't see the twist coming. Great job!
Jan Ackerson
09/14/08
Su-purrrrrr-b! My Sophie loves to play with Dot...this just cracked me up. And I loved the twist at the end; first time I've read anything like that here. Very good!
Celeste Ammirata
09/14/08
You know what--I just now got that she was hypnotized. Duh! Wow, this makes your story even that much better. :-D Great job!
Kristen Hester
09/15/08
When I was close to the end I was scratching my head and thinking, "Huh??" Then I got to then end and said, "Ahhh!" Nice job. Really didn't see that coming. I was feeling for the cat and wanted them to stop torturing him. It didn't bother me when I learned it was a husband. LOL. Good job.
Lyn Churchyard
09/15/08
Shelley, that was very sneaky! I loved the description of the very tip of the tail twitching in irritation. Being a cat owner I've seen that so many times. You had us fooled to the very end. Well done.
Scott Sheets
09/15/08
I was wondering how you were going to get the topic in this clever tale. Then you brought it at the end with a clever unexpected twist. Nice job!
Beth LaBuff 
09/16/08
You have tons of fun in this. Wish I could have seen the tail move. :) No wonder the audience was laughing. Excellent creativity for this topic.
Valarie Sullivan
09/17/08
Oh, my! Oh, my! I cant stop laughing! You really got into a cat's head! Loved it!
Sharlyn Guthrie
09/17/08
Excellent! I read this once and didn't quite get what happened at the end (I guess I'm a little slow). When I went back and read it a second time, it was plain as day. I love the cat's musings. Very Strong Entry.
Tiffanie Chezum
09/17/08
Very fun read, I enjoyed this a lot. Great job.
Karlene Jacobsen 
09/18/08
I was a little confused. Maybe I'm slow, but was the husband hypnotized to think he was a cat, or was the MC a cat?

Overall, great story.
Shelley Ledfors
09/18/08
"...was the husband hypnotized to think he was a cat, or was the MC a cat?"

The "twist" which was revealed at the end was that the husband was hypnotized; so had acted out (on stage) all that had been described earlier as the cat's actions.


Joshua Janoski
09/18/08
You captured the attitude of most cats with purr-fection! I have read many cat POV entries that have bored me to tears, but this one is very creative and fun to read. Great job!
Jan Ackerson
10/24/08
Shelley, I'm going to feature this delightful story on the Front Page Showcase for the week of November 24. Look for it on the FaithWriters Home page, and congratulations!
Beth LaBuff 
12/03/08
Shelley, how cool to see this creative piece featured on the homepage. Congrats!