03. [ Awake at 3:00AM ]

A smattering of kitty kisses is always a nice way to be woken up. Yes, even at three in the morning when you had been unable to sleep until after one and had to be up by six, you can't be upset when there's a little, pink nose gently nuzzling your cheek. Well, you can be a little upset when six a.m. comes around much sooner than you'd hoped, but then, that happens regardless of feline intervention.

He appeared to be giving me the silent treatment. Although, for a cat to effectively give you the silent treatment, he/she must also give you the vanishing act so that you can have plenty of time to wonder why you feel so sad and alone. Then, once you come to the realization that you happen to be missing the feline companion in your life, said cat will saunter in with that manner of oh, of it's you; I've been incredibly busy grooming, napping, eating, grooming...maybe I have time for you, maybe I don't. Leo, however, cannot keep the act up for long before he gives in to his desire for a scratch behind the ears and a belly rub. But, he does wait for it - he waits until I'm perfectly asleep, dead to the world...

...then there are the kitty kisses, the wet plea of: I'm so sorry I've been avoiding you. I just miss you so much. You haven't been home to play with me. And now you're here and sleeping and can't leave me so I'm going to stand on you and kiss you until you wake up and pet me and stratch me and love me and let me cuddle up and sleep next to you. That has been the routine of the last two nights.

Eventually, the great white beast falls into a gentle melody of contented purring with the occasional soft snore. He wraps his little arms around my arm and sleeps for several hours - or, if he's particularly busy, which is often the case, he waits until he thinks I'm asleep before he slinks off into the dark hallway. Six in the morning still comes, but there is always a warm place in the bed where Leo has been sleeping until breakfast calls him away.

Love & Catnip,
Nicolette