Kitten

I see two eyes peering out at me from the corner of the couch and a little pink nose nestled in the middle of bewhiskered, white marshmallow cheeks. Uh oh. What's this? Two ears approach (twice too large for that adorable face) and gold and black eyes are wide in mischievous anticipation. Oh mortals, take heed, such a slow methodical stalk hath this monstrous, tigrous beastie. See how he takes his position on a twitching haunch poised for the merciless kill. Aha! He springs completely surprising my defenseless hand. Little pink paw pads are choking my index finger but my defiant digit wrestles to the death! Oh fearsome proposition what horrible teeth you have grandma those mighty molars strike terror to my heart pray don't gum me to dea---Aaaaaaagggghhhhh! ! ! (Damn cat.) ~ Laurence Overmire (Previously published Short North Gazette, Columbus, OH, Nov.1998)