Day 89 - story

"Make up a name and write a back story for a stranger you see today."

I didn't exactly make up a story about a stranger, per se. But, I did make up a story for someone who I know, but is unable to communicate her story to me. My cat went missing for almost a week recently. She is now back at home, safe and sound, but it made me wonder what she had gotten up to in the meantime. So, here is her story.

The Misadventures of Penelope Pepper Pennyworth*

My name is Penelope Pepper Pennyworth. I am an independent feline. I live in a house, which I also allow 3 humans to inhabit (they do give me food and cuddles every day, so I let them stay around), but I also like to run around the neighborhood during the days. I cannot be confined to human-made structures. I am a free spirit.

One day recently, I went outside in the morning to see what kind of shenanigans I could get into. I noticed it was a bit colder than it had been the day before, but my fur coat usually keeps me warm. I chased a squirrel for a little while. Then I got tired and wanted to take a nap. It also started raining really hard. I went to the porch at my house, but none of the humans were home to open the door for me. Useless humans – never there when you want them, and always trying to smother you when you don’t want them!

I tried to curl up on the porch chair, but I just couldn’t get warm enough to feel comfortable. I decided to see where else I could find protection from the elements, so I walked down the street a little way. I saw a building that some people were going into, and thought that looked like a good place to try. The building had big windows and the word “Starbucks” written on it. The people inside looked warm and cozy. The door shut before I got there, so I put on my sad face and cried while pawing at the door. Someone inside saw me and opened the door and I ran in. They thought I was really cute, and everyone wanted to cuddle with me. One of the humans working there poured some warm milk into a bowl for me. She must have thought I was a homeless cat who doesn’t have humans to feed me. What she doesn’t know doesn’t hurt. Except that later on, she took me to her house! I liked it there, with so many new things to explore and a small human to play with. But, I also missed my humans and my house.

I stayed at the new house for a few days. They didn’t let me go outside and run around at all, so I didn’t know how I would escape or if I would ever get to go home and see my humans again. Then, one day I was sitting at the front screen door, looking outside, and I saw my human walking up to the door! She had come to take me home! I said goodbye to the new human, and went inside my basket that I have to ride in when we go in the car. My human took me back to my house. I was happy to see my humans and my toys again. Everything seemed weird though; I felt like I had been away for a long time, and I had to get used to my house again. I sniffed everything to make sure all was ok, and then, as I do to celebrate any accomplishment, I took a really long nap.

*based on a true story