It was a blustery and cold day.  And by cold I mean bone chilling cold.  The kind of day I am just so glad God gave me such warm fur.  Deep down in my heart I am always hoping the hospitality of the family will override their seeming reluctance to allow me indoors. I just don’t really understand it.  I know that they love me . . . but I can’t help wishing they would set up a little spot for me in that cozy house of theirs.  I have managed to sneak in a few times and it does look like there just might be enough room in a corner somewhere for me. 

Anyways, not being one to dwell on the things I don’t have, I snuggled deeply into a forgotten pair of snow pants left carelessly on the porch and slept for a good many hours. 

As the sun sank on the horizon, I stretched leisurely and glided to the cat door.  I am quite an elegant cat, if I might say so myself, and I have to say that I am not particularly fond of the great amount of awkward jumping I have to do to climb through the cat door.  I much prefer to have the garage door open for me.  However, the people of the house just don’t seem to be willing to wait around to be of any service to me.  So, I do what I must in the most dignified manner I can. 

It was a beautiful clear and moon lit night.  My favorite kind of night.  I pranced gingerly along the pathway Father had so considerately cleared for my evening romp.  As I approached the end of the driveway, I carefully looked both ways along the street.  The dogs from the pen across the yard barked eagerly at my appearance.  I paused momentarily.  Maybe I should dart by them to give them something to bark about.  After all this was my corner of the world.   

Just as I was about to step into the silent street, I heard a commotion coming from the front porch area.  I watched in wonder as a possum wrangled his way out of the lattice boards, shook his sleepy head and waddled out into the garden.  I was speechless.  When had the family gotten him for a pet, I wondered to myself.  Was this newcomer a replacement for me?  Was it because I had been scratching at the door?  All the spring was gone from my step.  I knew not what to do with myself and there was no longer any joy in the prospect of an evening romp so I quickly headed back to my safe garage home.  Perchance the Family would move my things out of the garage to make room for this new comer.  I simply could not imagine a home anywhere else.  It would not do to leave my warm spot empty for too long.  I quickly returned to my bed, my mind in a whirl. 

I shudder to recount to you the events of the next few days.  I am still in shock myself. 

It began simply enough.  I was spending a lot of my time stewing about this encounter with the new resident on our property.  The weather was wretchedly cold.  I had stepped out earlier in the day only to be blasted by a strong and vicious wind laced with snow and ice chunks.  I immediately turned my furry body around and went right back into my warmish garage. 

I decided there was nothing to be done but to have a very long and luxurious sleep.  One of the absent-minded children had left the mitten bin carelessly open so I decided to jump in and get cozy.  I deserved it! 

The weather had warmed up slightly the next day when I made my decision.  It would only do to meet this invader of my personal abode.  Maybe I was being hasty in my judgments.  I recalled fondly of days gone by when my good friend Patches was still here.  How warm we would be together as we huddled up in the night.  How fun was our time of frolicking in the long summer days.  Maybe this possum would be interested in building a friendship together.  We could be companions of a sort.  Encouraging each other.  Chasing mice together.  I hadn’t realized how lonely I really was. 

I squared my shoulders, braced myself against the never ending wind and leapt through the cat door. 

I put on my friendliest face.  I practiced my smile.  I did a quick re-groom of my face.  Today could be the beginning of something beautiful.

I paid the pesky neighbor dogs no mind as they growled and barked at me.  I breathed deeply of the cold northern air.  One day spring would come.

I trotted to the end of the walkway to the front porch. 

I called out in a very cheerful and welcoming voice.  “H-h-e-l-l-o-o-! Anybody there?” in the general direction of the front porch.  I tentatively sniffed the air.  Seemed to be danger free.  I pranced around to the front of the porch and called again. 

What happened next was beyond belief.  Apparently possums are not interested in becoming friends with cats.  They are not at all interested in small talk and they actually have very,very sharp teeth.  However I quickly assessed the situation.  I immediately realized all my dreams were but a frozen bubble in the frosty sky.  This visitor meant business and he was going to fight me with all he had. 

With the welfare of the family at stake and my own honour to defend, I had no choice.  I had to respond and it was going to be bad.  It was a do OR die situation.  I growled my loudest and most fear- invoking growl.  I lunged at him and slashed him with my claws.  I won’t go into graphic detail for the younger ones among us, but let me say that for as bad as I looked afterwards . . . he looked much, much worse. 

He won’t be back. 

And now, I have to say, the family has gone above and beyond in their care of me.  I think they must just be over flowing in gratitude towards me for my heroic efforts.