Subject: Here is a true cat story told in the first person! (fwd)

My name is Aretha and I am a cat. The story I am about to tell you is absolutely true and bears out what they say about cats having nine lives. Like all cats I am curious but with me it is probably a character flaw. I am afraid of nothing, except perhaps the big black neighborhood bully, who prowls around our territory and tries to intimidate! He even comes inside the house through the cat door and brazenly helps himself to our food. The other felines who live here are just `fraidy cats' they run and hide. I stand pat and do a lot of posturing, make myself as big as I can, and spread my tail in true bottle brush fashion. I have the cat stare down pat.

You must understand, I have a fine home. Most of the time I am happy to bask in a sunny window and nap. I know every place in my yard where I can catch a sunbeam or sleep under a pine tree in the summer. I like to walk on top of the high wall surrounding my house and watch the world go by. I can see the swimming pool next door, but instinctively I have an aversion to water. I don't even like it when the sprinkler comes on in the yard and sprays water everywhere. But sometimes I wonder what the rest of the world away from my familiar home is like. This is what caused me a world of trouble. Later I overheard my people say that this all happened on Mother's Day. Just so you get the picture, a warm night in May, great exploring weather!

All evening I had been curled up on the couch kneading and purring on a comfortable lap. I wasn't even sleepy when my people went upstairs to bed. The back door had been open and I could see the full moon and felt its bidding. I could not help myself, I jumped off the couch and out the cat door. I stretched, then looked around deciding to check things out, or in cat language, "read the newspaper." I patrolled the area to see who had been around. My keen sense of smell lets me recognize friends and enemies. I was relieved to discover that the big black bully had not been by recently. With that I became confident, paused to do some quick grooming, and across the street I sauntered.

There was a slight breeze as I walked under a large fan palm imagining myself in a jungle. Hearing no people or car noises, I cautiously moved toward the stucco wall next to a house very much like mine. I hadn't visited this house often, because a nasty little dog lives there and he barks incessantly. The wall looked inviting and I crouched in my jump-ready position and sailed to the top. Satisfied with my perfect landing I sat for a moment contemplating my claws. I was tough.

Looking up I discovered a big hole right under the roof, where the eves met. Is this a cat door like mine? My whiskers twitched and I sensed adventure in the air. I wondered about that hole...where did it go, was there a bowl of food to sample. Perhaps I could watch that feisty little dog, maybe even tease him.

I sat for a moment to figure out how I could get into that hole. I really wanted to explore where it might lead. The hole appeared big enough. If my whiskers cleared it I was in. I jumped. My front paws and head were inside but the rest of me was dangling. It was downright embarrassing. If I pulled myself up a bit more I could make it. At last I was through but suddenly I was falling. I hit the ground with a thud. There was dirt underneath my paws. I explored my surroundings but it was too dark to see. Soon I realized I was in a narrow tunnel. There was no food and I could not see the dog or anything else. I carefully went as far as I could and discovered a turn a few feet away. It led to a blank wall. I prowled back and forth and soon knew I was trapped. With that I began to howl until I was so tired I could not make another sound.

I don't know how long I slept but when I awakened it was still dark. There were no moon or stars and I was hungry and thirsty. I began to cry as loud as I could. From somewhere I heard a door open and someone walking around very close to where I was on the other side. My meows got louder and louder, but I soon heard the door close. Isn't there anyone who knows where I am? Where are my people? I felt abandoned.

I don't know how long I was in my long black cell. I was so hungry and I longed for my dish of tasty crunchies and a bowl of fresh water. I was lonely. Whenever I heard the door open or the sound of people I meowed as loud as I could, but I was getting weaker. I think I slept most of the time. I don't know how long I was in that dank and dusty place . . . days, weeks, years, I don't know.

After what seemed like forever I was awakened to hear a commotion outside. First I heard voices, then someone called my name. "Aretha, are you in there?" "Here kitty kitty." Although tired and weak, I summoned all the energy I could and howled my loudest. "Aretha, Aretha, we're going to get you out." The next thing that happened was someone began pounding the outside wall with what I later learned was a hammer. I heard the stucco break and suddenly I saw a bright light shining in my eyes. I couldn't see much but I heard excited voices. I looked again and saw a familiar face peering through the opening. It was so noisy and there were several people talking all at once. Someone reached into the hole and set down a bowl of water for me. I was too afraid to get close to that opening. Soon another bowl was thrust in my face. This time it contained food. Suddenly it became very still and I weakly crawled to the opening and put my head through to look around. There were my people coaxing me to come out. I summoned the rest my energy and crawled through the uneven opening in the side of the house. I was covered with stucco.

As soon as I was outside I remembered where I was...I looked around and ran home as fast as I could. They beat me to the door and opened it. I ran inside and immediately went to my water bowl and lapped the water as fast as I could. I wasn't dignified but I didn't care. By this time the rest of my cat family and my people were standing around watching me. I overheard them say I had been gone 10 days.

It felt good to be safe. A little fear is a good thing.