by Mary E. Lowd
A Deep Sky Anchor Original, September 2020
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a cat in sight of an empty box, must sit in it.
However little known the feelings or views of such a cat may be on their first encountering an empty box, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of all good cat owners, that all empty boxes are considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their cats.
“My dear Mx. Kitty,” said the dog to her one day, “have you heard that the Amazon truck has arrived at last?”
Mx. Kitty replied that she had not.
“But it is,” returned he; “I have smelled the cardboard!”
Mx. Kitty made no answer.
“Do not you want to know what is in the boxes?” cried the dog impatiently.
“No, indeed, for how can it affect us?”
This was invitation enough, and the dog detailed every scent he smelled coming from them.
“It will be no use to you if twenty such boxes come,” explained the cat.
“You are over-scrupulous, surely. I dare say our owners will be very glad to share.”
“Is that their design in ordering them?”
“Design! Nonsense, how can you meow so! But it is very likely that they may fall for my best puppy dog eyes once the boxes are opened.”
“Depend upon it my dear, once the boxes are empty, then I will care. I will sit in them all.”