Many thanks to Cheryl Pennington for her consternating door. It inspired the cats and I with a feeble last attempt at the Thursday Door Writing Challenge and an opportunity to include Stream of Consciousness Saturday, all rolled into a tight little package.
“You had better prepare, Hoshi.”
“Prepare for what Gibbs?”
“In a week, mom will be gone for awhile and different humans will be coming to feed us.”
“Why is that?”
“Mom is going on vacation.”
“What is that?”
“She goes out the door with bags and boxes and doesn’t come back for what seems like forever.
“You mean we will be left alone?”
“Sort of. Humans will show up a few times during the day to make sure we don’t starve, but otherwise we will be on our own.”
“I seem to remember this happened awhile ago, when I was little.”
“Yup. It tends to happen once or twice a year, much to my consternation.”
“Conster…what?”
“It means I tend to get anxious when she leaves. If I were human, my face would look like the picture that’s on mom’s computer right now.”
“Let me see Gibbs… Oh yeah, that’s the face I have when she doesn’t let me do what I want to do.”
“That’s a subject for another day.”
“Someone should paint that face on our door. Just saying…”
“I agree, peanut. I completely agree.”
“What do I have to do to prepare before mom walks out the consterwhatever door?”
“Cry a lot. Beg for attention a lot. Lay on the box that she stuffs with her clothes. Cry more. Beg more. Make mom feel guilty about leaving us.”
“Oh, I like that plan. You’re pretty smart, Gibbs, for an old guy.”
“I’m a well-seasoned guy and I’ve been through this many times before. I know what to do.”
“I’m going to start begging for attention as soon as mom sits down.”
“Such a young grasshopper you are. Begging for attention does not wait for someone to sit down. It is all the time, 24 hours a day.”
“Except when mom kicks us out of the bedroom.”
“Yeah, there’s that, but you can sit outside the door and cry while she’s in there. She’ll come out to yell at you and then we’ll both beg for more attention.”
“I’m not sure I like that part of the plan. Why do I have to be the one to get yelled at?”
“Because you’re used to it. All day, every day.”
“Very funny. I’m not going to be happy when mom walks out of the door and other humans are here for days on end. What if I don’t like them?”
“Hoshi, get over yourself. Those humans will be giving us food and if you let them, they will be giving us attention too.”
“Oh. Well, I have had enough of this talk of doors and mom leaving and consterpation.”
“It’s consternation!”
“Whatever, Gibbs. It’s time to do something else. Play. Nap. Visit the litter box…”
“You can play and poop for me. I’m taking a nap and dreaming of the days when mom spends time on this side of the door.”
“Gotcha. Sweet dreams, but I think I’ve changed my mind about painting the anxious face on the door. We need a human to paint a smiling face instead. While she’s gone.”
“Why is that, peanut?”
“To let mom know we are happy she returned to us and we love her and never want her to leave on vacation again. Ever.”
“Then I probably shouldn’t tell you about August.”
“Huh?”
Stream of Consciousness Saturday is the brainchild of author Linda G. Hill. Every Friday, Linda provides her followers with an inspiring blogger’s prompt. It can be a word or words and sometimes bonus points are involved (my favorite). Linda asks us to write without editing, other than correcting spelling errors.
Just go with the flow.
Like a babbling brook or rain drops. Click HERE if this type of writing floats your boat or helps with your decision-making. Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “left alone.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!
This post is in response to Dan Antion’s Thursday Doors Writing Challenge (#TDWC) that runs the entire month of May (but has been extended to today, 6/3/23). If you’re looking for a new challenge that involves lots of ways to enter and exit, check out the rules and photos of #TDWC HERE. You can post as many times as you’d like during the month, choosing a door from the gallery and writing in whatever format speaks to you. It’s an opportunity to have fun and perhaps meet a new blogger or two.
Mary J Melange 
Aww, a cute dialogue.
Those two are pretty cute, Sadje. Thanks!
You’re most welcome
“…to make sure we don’t starve.” Oh my goodness, that’s exactly how they act! I love this combination prompt, Mary. So well done and you nailed feline behavior. I hope you have a wonderful (and guilt free) time on your vacation. You deserve it.
Gibbs and Hoshi easily wrote themselves into this post, Dan. I know they will be well taken care of, so no guilt when on vacation. I told one of my cat sitters yesterday that regardless of what they think or, if by chance, a meal is missed, they will not starve. Mad, maybe… 😉
I get that when I take care of our daughter’s cat. He’s glad to see me, but he’ll let me know if I’m late.
This is brilliant Mary. You do a fine job of expressing your little buddies’ thoughts. I am honored you chose Mr. Consternation door. 😀
Thank you so much, Cheryl! I looked at the face of your door and instantly thought that it was a good representation of what Gibbs must feel when I’m on vacation. Hoshi, on the other hand, is probably going to enjoy getting into trouble and not getting yelled at…lol.
Ha! I can see that, Mary!
I like this. You certainly got into the minds of your feline roommates. They are two individuals with their own points of view. And some people say cats are all the same! Pish posh to that idea.
Ally, I have had cats in my life for the last 45 years. I can truthfully say that while all felines have some of the same actions (like cackling at birds), none of mine had the same exact appearance or personality. Two things I’d like to clear up though: 1) Cats are not sneaky; more likely, they are afraid of you and being wary. 2) You can teach them tricks. I had two cats that learned how to fetch and Gibbs will sit up for treats because…food!
A great conversation 😊
Gibbs and Hoshi say thanks, Willow!
And I wave back smiling widely 💜💜
❤️ Willow! 😺😺
“to make sure we don’t starve”–so funny, Mary. My cats know, within 15 minutes, when it’s time to eat and you would think we never feed them. Yup, I can totally picture this conversation. 😹
Gibbs will try to trick me into thinking it’s food time 30-45 minutes beforehand. It never works!
Hahaha! Those cats have it all figured out!
Yes, they do, and know I tend to bow to their pitiful cries and stares. Except when it comes to leaving on vacation…because a servant needs time off too!
You sure know your furbabies. It’s hard to leave such sweetness. That’s great that you have humans who will show up a few times during the day. I generally arrange for two visits per day, but a few times a day would be better.
I am fortunate, JoAnna, that I have more than enough cat sitters to help out when on vacation. It puts me at ease when away from the kids.