Living with the Lama (1964)

CHAPTER NINE

“Gee! Oh Gee!” exclaimed Miss Ku with elan, “what a mighty fine automobile.” Her voice rose higher and higher as she fairly shrieked, “AND IT'S MY NEW CAR, it is stopping here!” She pressed her nose harder and harder against the glass of the kitchen window. “Great Tomcats!” she breathed, “a hard top, its blue, Feef, the colour of your eyes, and it has a white top. Man! Is the Guv ever clever to get a heap like that!” “I must possess my soul in patience,” I thought, “and wait until she tells me more.” It is quite hard, at times, being blind and having to depend so much upon the good offices of others. A car the colour of my eyes she had said. I was VERY flattered at that. With a white top, too. That would make it very smart and show off the blue to the best advantage. But now I heard the car doors being shut, the Guv and Ma would be in soon: Footsteps coming nearer along the path. The opening of the screen door and the slam as the spring shut it after. Then they came in, the Guv and Ma. Buttercup came racing down the stairs, as eager as Miss Ku and I.

“Coming out to see it?” the Guv asked Miss Ku and me. I said “No, thank you very much, Miss Ku will describe it for me when she returns.” The Guv and Buttercup, the latter carrying a well wrapped Miss Ku, went out to the car. I could pick up Miss Ku's telepathic thoughts as she wanted me to. “Scrumptious, Feef, beautiful smell of leather. Mats you can REALLY get your claws into. Great Jumping Grasshoppers, there's ACRES of glass and room to sit just inside the rear window. We are just going for a breeze up the road, ta ta, Feef, see you later.”

Some people say, “Well, Mrs. Greywhiskers, why could you not pick up the telepathic messages all the time?” The answer to that very sensible question is: if all cats used their telepathic powers at full strength constantly, the ‘air’ would be so full of noise that no one would understand any message. Even humans have to regulate their radio stations in order to prevent interference. Cats get on the wavelength of the cat they desire to call and then distance does not matter, but any other cat listening on that wave length also hears the message, so privacy is lost. We use close-range speech when we want to converse privately, and use telepathy for long range discussions and messages and for broadcasting to the cat community. By knowing a cat's wavelength, determined from the basic frequency of the aura, one can converse with a cat anywhere, and language is no bar. Is NO bar? Well, not much of a bar. People, and that includes cats, tend to think in their own language and to project thought-pictures directly constructed from their own culture and conception of things. I make no apology for going into some details on this, for if my book gives humans even a slight understanding of cat problems and thoughts it will be well worthwhile.

A human and a cat see the same thing, but from a different viewpoint. A human sees a table and whatever is on that table. A cat sees only the underside of the table. We see upwards, from the ground up. The underside of chairs, the view beneath a motor car, legs stretching upwards like trees in a forest. For us a floor is a vast plain dotted with immense objects and clumsy feet. A cat, no matter where he may be, sees the same type of view, and so another cat will make out the sense of a message. Picking up from humans is a different matter, for they project a picture the perspective, or viewpoint, of which is so utterly alien to us that we are sometimes puzzled. Cats live with a race of giants. Humans live with a race of dwarfs. Lie on the floor, with your head resting on the floor and then you will see as a cat sees. Cats climb on furniture, and on walls so that they may see as humans see and so understand the thoughts which come to them.

Human thoughts are uncontrolled and radiate everywhere. Only people like my Guv can control the radiation and spread of their thoughts so as not to ‘jam’ all others. The Guv told Miss Ku and me that humans conversed by telepathy many many years ago, but they abused the power badly and so lost it. This, the Guv says, is the meaning of the Tower of Babel. Like us, humans formerly used vocal speech for private talk within a group, and telepathy for long distance and group use. Now, of course, humans, or most of them, use vocal speech only.

Humans should never under-rate cats. We have intelligence, brains, and abilities. We do not use reason in the generally accepted sense of that word, we use ‘intuition’. Things ‘come to us,’ we KNOW the answer without the necessity of having to work it out. Many humans will not believe this, but, as the Guv has just remarked, “If people, human people, would explore the things of THIS world before attempting Space they would be better fitted for the latter. And if it were not for the things of the mind there would be NO mechanical things at all, it takes a mind to think out a mechanical device.”

Some of our legends tell of great things between humans and cats in the days of long ago before humans lost their powers of telepathy and clairvoyance. DID some human laugh at the idea of cats having legends? Then why not laugh at the human gypsies who have legends going back centuries? Cats do not write, we do not need to, for we have total recall at all times, and can use the Akashic Record. Many human gypsies do not write either, but the stories they know are passed down through the centuries. Who understands cats? Do YOU? CAN you say that cats have no intelligence? Really you live with a race of people whom you do not know because we, the cat people, do not WANT to be known. I am hoping that some day the Guv and I may together write a book of cat legends, and it will be a book that will truly amaze humans! But all this is far removed from what I am writing about now.

The sun was shining warmly upon me through the kitchen window when Miss Ku returned. “Brrr!” she said as she came in, “It is cold out, Feef, good thing the car has such an efficient heater!” She went off in order to have some light refreshment after the excitement of the new car. I thought I would eat as well, knowing that she would like to have company. “Food tastes good, Feef,” she said, “I guess the outing has perked up my appetite. You ought to take a ride, then maybe you will eat even more than you do now—if possible!” I smiled with her, for I never disguised the fact that I liked my food. After years of semi-starvation it was nice and comforting to be able to eat just when one wanted to. As we sat together washing after our meal, I said, “Will you tell me about the car, Miss Ku, please?” She thought a moment as she washed behind her ears and combed her vibrissa. “I've told you about the colour,” she said, “and I suppose you want to know what happened. Well, we got in the car and the Guv told Buttercup and me all about it. The Guv and Ma drove to the car lot and there they examined a lot of cars. The Manager knows the Guv well, and he pointed out this one as being very good. The Guv tried it, liked it, and bought it. The old Monarch was traded in. The Guv is going to take both of us out for a ride later, he is going to go specially slow for you.”

Monkeyrouse was shrieking his head off again. “Wantago! Wantago!” he howled. Buttercup scolded him, but very kindly, for making such a noise. Monkeyrouse was insane, of that we were sure. Always complaints from him. “When are we going to take him back?” Buttercup asked the Guv.

“Hooray!” yelled Miss Ku, leaping into the air with joy, “Old Misery Monk is going, everything will be drier then! I wish HE would get his taps frozen!” The night before had been colder than usual, and we had had the water supply frozen. As Miss Ku so often remarked, Monkeyrouse was the wettest monkey ever.

“We should telephone and say we are taking him back,” said the Guv, “can’t just drop this creature on an unsuspecting world!” Ma went to the bottom of the stairs to phone. The Guv NEVER used a telephone if he could help it, because he often picked up the thoughts of a person instead of what they were saying—two very different things! After a few incidents where the Guv had picked the wrong meaning, they made a rule that Ma or Buttercup should use the instrument. Ma acted as “business manager” because the Guv said she was more fitted to do it. Ma saw to all the accounts, but only because the Guv wanted it that way.

“Yes, it will be all right to take him back,” said Ma, adding glumly, “but they will not refund any money!” “Well, Sheelagh, what shall we do?” asked the Guv. Buttercup was so upset that she stammered a little and shuffled her feet. “Well,” she said, “he is becoming no better and he obviously does not like it here. I think maybe he is afraid of the cats, or would be better in a house without cats. Let's take him back!” “SURE? QUITE sure?” pressed the Guv. “Yes, we will take him back for his own good.” “All right, I will get out the car now.” The Guv got up and went out to the Garage. “Hate! Hate!” shrieked Monkeyrouse, “Wantago! Wantago!” Sadly Buttercup took him out of his cage and wrapped a blanket round him. The Guv came in and carried out the big cage and put it in the commodious car trunk. He sat in the car for a time, running the engine so that the heater could warm the car for Monkeyrouse. Then, satisfied with the temperature, he gave a toot on the horn for Buttercup. I heard the car door close and the sound of the engine speeding up and fading away into the distance.

The car was a beautiful one, and Miss Ku loved it dearly. I went out a few times, but as I have already said, I am not at all fond of cars. Once the Guv took Ma, Miss Ku and me to a pleasant place beneath the Ambassador Bridge. We sat in the car and the Guv opened the window a trifle so that I could catch the scent of Detroit across the River. Miss Ku reminds me that ‘scent’ is definitely the wrong word here, but it is at least a polite word! As we sat there, in the warmth of the car, Miss Ku described the scene for me; “Above us the Ambassador Bridge stretches across the Detroit River like a Meccano toy across a bathtub. Trucks—that is American for lorries, Feef—rumble across in an endless procession. Private cars there are in plenty. Sightseers stop their cars on the Bridge in order to take photographs. Across from us is a railroad marshalling yard, while to the right the Americans are building some big Hall because Americans like to go to such places and talk. Conferences, or Conventions, they call them, it really means that they get away from the Missus, freeload on drinks, and get tangled up with paid girl friends.” Miss Ku stopped a moment and then said, “My! How the ice is coming down! If we could catch some of it and save it until the summer we would make a fortune. Well, as I was saying, if you like I will get the Guv to take us over to Detroit.” “No Miss Ku, no thank you,” I replied nervously, “I fear that I should not enjoy it a bit. As I cannot see there would be no point in me going. I'm sure the Guv would love to take you, though!” “You really are a drippish sissy, Feef!” said Miss Ku, “I'm ashamed at your stick-in-the-mudishness.”

“Let's take the cats home and go house-hunting,” said Ma. “All right,” replied the Guv, “time we moved, anyway, I didn't like that place from the start.” I called out “Goodbye, Mister the Ambassador Bridge.” I had previous associations with ambassadors and consuls and so I did not want to be at all disrespectful to that Bridge. The engine hummed into life, and Miss Ku called to the Guv, “O-KAY! Let 'er roll!” The Guv put a gentle pressure on a pedal and the car eased slowly up the snow covered slope and on to Riverside Drive. As we passed Windsor Station a train hooted with impatience and I almost jumped out of my skin with fright. On we went, along by the side of the River, past the Drink Factory and on. We went by a Convent and Miss Ku made the remark that she always thought of Mr. Loftus, away in Ireland, when she passed the place. Mr. Loftus has a Daughter who is a Sister in a Convent, and we hear that she is doing very well indeed.

We pulled into the side of the road, after our long drive, and the Guv said, “Home, Feef, you will soon be having your tea. Shall we have tea first, Rab?” he asked, turning to Ma. “Just as well,” she said, “then we need not worry about the time.” The Guv has had so much suffering that he has to eat often and little. Because of ‘the lean years’ before I came Home as the Old Apple Tree had predicted, I too had had hardship, and I too eat often and little. We went into the house, being carried by the Guv and Ma and well wrapped, for the snow was yet upon the ground. In the house Buttercup had tea ready, so I went to her and told her I was glad to be back.

Tea was soon over. The Guv stood up and said, “Well, let's be going or we shall be caught in the evening rush.” He bade Miss Ku and me goodbye and told us to look after Buttercup. Then he went out, followed by Ma. Once again we heard the voice of the car engine dying away in the distance. Knowing that we should be left to our own resources for an hour or two, we first took some exercise; I chased Miss Ku around the room, then she chased me. Then we had a competition to see who could make the most holes in the newspaper in the shortest time. This soon palled, and anyhow we had no more newspaper. “Let's see who can walk on the stair rail farthest, Feef, without falling off!” suggested Miss Ku immediately followed by, “Oh! I forgot, you can't see, well, that's out.” She sat down and gently scratched her left ear in the hope of obtaining a flash of inspiration.

“Feef!” she called. “Yes, Miss Ku?” I answered. “Feef, you tell me a story, one of the old legends will do. Talk softly, because I want you to lull me to sleep. You can go to sleep after,” she added magnanimously. “Very good, Miss Ku,” I replied, “I will tell you of the Cats who saved the Kingdom.” “Gee! That's a dilly, well, get crackin'.” She settled herself comfortably, and I turned so that I would be facing her, and commenced.

“In the days of Long Ago, it might have been a thousand or a million years, the Island lay green and beautiful beneath the warm gaze of a gently smiling sun. The blue waters lapped playfully at the indolent rocks and sent showers of white spray into the air in which rainbows stretched all embracing arms. The land was fertile and luxuriant, with the tall, graceful trees reaching high into the heavens there to be caressed by balmy breezes. From the higher grounds rivers came bounding over huge boulders, to fall tinkling into great pools before spreading out and flowing more sedately into the ever welcoming sea. In the hinterland mountains rose and hid their crowns above the clouds, providing maybe foundations for the Homes of the Gods.

“Along the stretches of golden sands, fringed by the white foam of incoming waves, happy natives played, swam, and made love. Here there was nothing but peace, joy, and ineffable contentment. Here there was no thought for the future, no thought of sorrows or evil, but only joy beneath the gently waving palms.

“A broad road led inwards from the shore, disappearing into the cool dusk of an immense forest, to reappear miles away where the scene was very different. Here were temples, wrought in coloured stone and metals such as silver and gold. Mighty spires which reached aloft to probe the skies, domed cupolas, and vast expanses of time-mellowed buildings. From a high temple embrasure came the notes of a deep-toned gong, scattering into flight thousands of birds who had been dozing in the sunlight along the hallowed walls.

“As the deep chiming continued, yellow robed men hastened to a central building. For a time the rush continued, then it slackened and in the open all was quiet again. In the main Assembly of the immense Temple the monks shuffled uneasily, speculating upon the reason for the sudden call. At last a door clicked in the far recesses of the Temple and a small file of yellow robed men came into view. The obvious Leader, an old old man wizened and dried by the years, walked slowly ahead, escorted by two immense cats, cats with black tails, ears and mask, and white bodies. There was, it was clear, complete telepathic understanding between the old man and the cats. Together they walked to a podium, where the old man stood a moment, gazing out upon the sea of faces confronting him.

“ ‘Brothers of all degree’ he said at last, slowly, ‘I have called you here to tell you that this, our Island, is in mortal danger. For long we have suffered under the threat of the scientists who inhabit the land at the other side of the mountain. Cut off from us by a deep gorge which almost divides this Island, they are not easy of access. Within their territory science has supplanted religion; they have no God, no conception of the rights of others. Now, Brothers of all degree,’ the old priest stopped, and looked sadly around. Satisfied that he had the rapt attention of his audience, he resumed, ‘We have been threatened. Unless we bow the knee to the ungodly and become utterly subservient to these evil men, they threaten to destroy us with strange and deadly germs.’ He paused wearily, with the weight of his years heavy upon him. ‘We, Brothers, are here to discuss how we may circumvent this threat to our existence and freedom. We know where the germ cultures are stored, for some of us have tried in vain to steal them that they may be destroyed. Yet we have failed and those whom we sent have been tortured and killed.’

“ ‘Holy Father!’ said a young monk, ‘would these germ cultures be bulky, heavy to carry? Could a man steal them and RUN with them?’ He sat down, overcome with his temerity in addressing the Holy Father. The Old Man looked sadly before him; ‘Bulk?’ he queried, ‘there is no bulk. The germ cultures are contained within a tube which may be held between a finger and thumb, yet one drop would spread across our land and annihilate us. There is no bulk, but the germ culture is contained within a tower which is heavily guarded.’ He paused again, and mopped his brow. ‘To show their contempt of us they placed it at an open window, well within sight of all those whom we have sent into their land. A slender tree stretches a delicate branch across the window, a branch but as thick as my wrist. To show they have no fear of us they sent a message saying that we should pray until we were light headed and then perhaps the branch would support us.’

“The meeting continued into the early hours of the morning, monk discussing with monk ways and means of saving their people from destruction. ‘Could we but knock it down so that it would break, they would be vanquished and we would be saved from destruction,’ said one monk. ‘That is so’ said another, ‘but if we could knock it down we could reach it, and if we could hold it we then would hold the power, for it is said that there is no antidote, no way of staving off the evil germs.’

“In an inner sanctum the old old man lay in exhaustion upon his couch. Beside him, guarding him, lay the two cats. ‘Your Holiness,’ said one by telepathy, ‘could not I go into the land, climb the tree and remove the phial?’ The other cat looked across at his companion, ‘We will go together;’ he said, ‘it will double the chance of success.’ The old priest pondered, thinking of all that was at stake. At last he spoke telepathically, ‘You may have the solution,’ he said, ‘for no one but a cat could climb that tree and move out upon the branch. You may have the solution.’ He lapsed into his private thoughts for a while, and no telepathic cat would ever intrude upon one's private thoughts. ‘Yes, it may be the answer!’ the old man said again. ‘We will have you both carried up to and across the gorge that you be not tired and we will there await your safe return’ He paused and then added, ‘And we will tell no other what it is that we will do for even in a community such as this there are those who talk too freely. Yes!’ he clapped his hands in delight, ‘we will send an emissary to obtain their terms and that will distract their attention from you.’

“The days that followed were busy ones. The High Priest let it be known that he desired to send an Emissary, and an answer was received that it would be permitted. Men guarding the Emissary, and carrying two baskets, climbed the mountain passes to the gorge, crossed, and were in enemy territory. The Emissary went on into the enemy stronghold, and under cover of darkness the cats were released from the baskets. As silent as the night itself they made off. Stealthily they approached the tree and paused at its foot. Thoroughly they used their telepathic powers in order to determine the presence of any enemy. Cautiously one ascended, while the other used every telepathic ability in order to keep the closest watch. With infinite caution the climbing cat crawled along the branch until at last he could snatch the phial under the nose of the startled guard. Long before men could come pouring out of the tower, the two cats had dissolved into the darkness, carrying back to the old priest the phial which would safeguard his land for years to come. Now, in that land, Cats are Sacred to the country's descendants, and only the cat knows why!”

A gentle snore punctuated my closing sentence. I looked up and listened to make sure. Yes, it was a snore, a loud one this time. I smiled contentedly and thought, “Well, so I am a dull Old Woman Cat, but at least I can soothe Miss Ku to sleep!” She did not sleep long, however. Soon she sat up, tall and erect. “Start washing, Feef,” she commanded, “they are on their way home and I cannot have you looking slovenly.” Moments later we heard a car engine, followed by the rattle of the garage door. Then—footsteps upon the path, and the Guv and Ma came in.

“How did you get on?” asked Buttercup, taking off her apron and putting it aside. “We have a place,” replied the Guv, “suit us fine. I'll take you to see it if you like, we will take ‘Fanny Flap’ as well.” The Guv often called Miss Ku ‘Fanny Flap’ because of the way she rushed round in her excitement. I was glad he did not ask me to go to the new Apartment, but the Guv knew that I hated such things, much preferring to wait until we ALL moved in together. What was there for a blind cat? Why should I go when I knew nothing of the place, did not even know of objects to avoid? I preferred to wait until all was settled, all the furniture was in place, because then the Guv and Miss Ku would take me to each room and point out the location of things, and the Guv would lift me up and down to objects so that I could memorize how far I should have to jump. When I knew a place I could jump on to or off a chair and not miss or hurt myself. I stand up and feel a chair first so that I can avoid jumping into the back, then I jump up to wherever I want to be. Of course at times I bump into things, but I have wits enough not to bump into the same thing twice!

They were not away long. Upon their return Miss Ku came bustling over to me, “Get your ears back, Feef,” she commanded, “it is time you were briefed. Now, the place is a house made into two apartments. We have taken the whole house so that the Guv can write another book. We shall live in the upstairs apartment. It has large rooms and looks over the Detroit River. There is a large railed balcony which the Guv says we can use when the weather is warmer. And Feef, there is an ATTIC where we can play and get ourselves covered with dust. You'll LOVE it!” So the Guv was going to do another book, eh? I knew that People had been impressing him with the need for another book, I knew that he had had some special instructions from discarnate entities. Already the title had been decided upon. Miss Ku got my thoughts, “Yes!” she exclaimed gleefully, “As soon as we move in next week we are going to see Mrs. Durr and get some paper and so start the book.” “Mrs. Durr?” I enquired, “who is Mrs. Durr?” “You don't know Mrs. Durr? Why EVERYONE knows her, she is a lady bookseller who for the moment is working for a Windsor firm, but she is soon to set up her own business. Don't know Mrs. Durr! Well well! Is that ever out of this world,” she shook her head and muttered with disgust. “But what does she look like, Miss Ku?” I asked, “I cannot see, you know!” “Oh no, of course, I forgot that,” said Miss Ku, greatly mollified. “Sit ye down, Old Woman Cat, and I'll tell you.” We climbed up to the window ledge and sat facing each other. Miss Ku said, “Well, you have missed something. Mrs. Durr—Ruth to her friends—is ELEGANT! Plumpish to the right amount, nice features, and Ma calls her auburn haired, whatever that means. She wears crinolines most of the time, not in bed, I suppose, and the Guv says that she looks like a figure in Dresden china. Good skin, too, you know. Like porcelain, get me, Feef?” “I do indeed, Miss Ku, most graphic, thank you,” I answered. “She sells books and things and although she is really Dutch she sells books in England. She is selling the Guv's books. We like her, we hope to see more of her now that we are going to live in Windsor city.”

We sat for a moment in contemplation of Mrs. Durr's virtues, then it occurred to me to ask, “And has she any cat family?” Miss Ku clouded over. “Ah! I'm sorry you asked me that, it is a very sad case indeed, VERY sad.” She paused and I am sure I heard her sniff a few times. Soon she got control of her emotions again and continued, “Yes, she has Stubby, who is a Tom that can't and he is a Queen as well who can't either. There was a dreadful mistake; poor Stubby is all mixed up in his, or her, Vital Department. But he has a heart of gold, yes, a heart of gold. Kindest person you could meet. Shy, very reserved as one would expect of one in his condition. The poor fellow would make a good mother to some homeless kitten; I must speak to the Guv about it.”

“Is there a Mister Durr,” I queried, then added, “of course there must be or she would not be Mrs.” “Oh yes, there is a Mr. Durr, he makes the milk for Windsor, without him everyone would be thirsty. He is Dutch too, so that makes the daughter Double Dutch I think. Yes Feef, you will like Mrs. Durr, she is worth purring at. But we have no time to discuss such things now, we have to arrange about the house. Next week we shall move and I told the Guv I would see that you were not frightened.” “I shall not be frightened, Miss Ku,” I replied, “I have moved around quite a lot.” “Well,” said Miss Ku, ignoring my remarks, “next week the luggage and things will be taken in a truck and Ma will be there to see the things in. Soon after, the Guv will take you, Buttercup and me, and when we are settled the Guv and Ma will return here in order to see that everything is all right, clean and all that, and will take the key to the landlord.”

By now the snows were melting, and the ice in the lake was breaking up and floating down the river. Sudden snowstorms reminded us that the summer was not yet upon us, but we could sense that the worst was over. Living in Canada was amazingly expensive, everything was twice—or more—the cost that it would have been in Ireland or France. The Guv tried to get work in the writing or television world. He found by bitter experience that firms in Canada do not want settlers unless they were (as the Guv put it) BUCK NAVVIES! Finding that he could not get into writing or television he tried anything, and found again that he was not wanted. None of us liked Canada, there was a remarkable lack of culture, a remarkable lack of appreciation of the finer things of life. I consoled myself with the thought that soon summer would be here and we would all feel better.

The Guv, Buttercup, and Miss Ku went for a ride one day, I think they went to a shop in order to get a supply of peat moss. Ma and I made the beds and did a few odd jobs about the house. The stairs had to be dusted, and the old newspapers put aside. By the time we had done that they were back. “What d'ye think, Feef?” asked Miss Ku, coming across to me and whispering into an ear. “What? Miss Ku,” I replied, “What has happened?” “My Oh! My! You'll never guess,” muttered Miss Ku, “You'll never guess. This will KILL you. She has met a man named Heddy who loves monkeys.” “Monkeys, Miss Ku, you don't mean that we are going to have a monkey again!” Miss Ku laughed cynically, “No, Feef, we are not going to have A monkey, we are going to have TWO of the little horrors. Guess we shall have to swim for it with two of the things working overtime in the floods department.” She sat silent for a moment, then said, “But perhaps they will be kept in the sun porch, we could not have two wild monkeys racing around. Monkeyrouse could not walk, these two are in good working order, guaranteed, satisfaction or refund of money.” She exhaled gustily and said, “Buttercup is going to see the man Heddy soon, she LOVES monkeys!” “Most strange,” I remarked, “Monkeys have such a bad reputation, I remember one in France, it was the pet of a retired seaman and it escaped one day and almost wrecked a fruit shop. I did not see it, mind, a lady named Madame Butterball told me about it, she ran a veterinary hospital. When I was a patient there she told me the history of the cage's last occupant, that monkey who cut himself by falling through a showcase.”

We were busy packing, so many things had to be put into cases, Miss Ku and I worked overtime stamping on things to make them take up less space in the trunks. At times we had to rake things out of a packed case in order to make sure that nothing had been forgotten. We had to scrump up tissue paper, because everyone knows that scrumped up tissue is softer than the stiff new stuff. We worked very hard indeed, and I am proud to think that we helped so much. We particularly adored making clean sheets ready for use. No one likes sheets straight from the laundry, stiff and unfriendly; Miss Ku and I worked out a special system of running up and down the sheets until they were soft and pliable and no longer had the hard folds of freshly ironed sheets.

“Sheelagh!” Ma was calling from the kitchen, “the Carpenter is here to see about the monkey cage.” “I'm coming,” called Buttercup, clattering down the stairs. Miss Ku grunted in disdain. “Monkey cage, eh? That is going to cost a packet! Blow me, I don't know what things are coming to. We should go and listen, can't know too much.” “Ya, ya,” the Carpenter was saying, “the cage you vant heem in sections, no? Ya? I get heem quick. Vor de monks my vife she like to see, no? I breeng her? Ya? I come.” Miss Ku was chuckling to herself, “As soon as he said ‘I come’ he went, Feef. My! What a whacker this cage is going to be, the Guv, Ma, Buttercup and we could all get in together.” “Will there be room at the new house, Miss Ku?” I asked. “Yeah! Yeah! Plenty of room, we shall have a big upstairs porch which is completely netted in. I thought we would have it as a playroom, instead it will be Monk Hall, as well! That's the way the cookies crumble!”

So the last few days dragged on. The Guv and Buttercup went to see Mister the Dutch Carpenter and came back with the news that the cage was finished and was being erected at the new house. With each trip that the Guv made to Windsor, more and more things were taken. Miss Ku went to see that everything was all right and came back to say, “Well, Feef, tomorrow you shall sleep in the City of Windsor, where we can look across and see the sights of Detroit. Some sights they are, too, some of them come over here in their flashy cars. Still, they bring dollars into the country. Good for trade and all that.”

The Guv picked me up and we played together for a time. I loved to play with him, he would have a thin stick with something that rattled on the end, and as he drew it along the floor I could chase it by sound. Of course he let me catch it very often, just to give me confidence. I KNEW he was letting me catch the stick, but I pretended to him that I did not. This evening he ruffled my fur and stroked my chest. “Early to bed, Feef, for we have a busy day tomorrow.” “Goodnight” said Ma and Buttercup, “Goodnight,” we replied, then I heard the click of the light switch as the Guv turned it off for the last time in this house.

Tomorrow? Tomorrow was another day, and would take us to another house. For tonight, I lay down and slept.