THE KENNEL; PROLOGUE

THE KENNEL; PROLOGUE

The Kennel is dedicated to the memory of Cal. E. Kat, the most patient cat that ever lived, and my family’s favorite pet. There are many other animals at your local shelter who are just as in need of a forever home as the two in this story. If you would like to adopt one, contact your local shelter. D.C. SCOTT

Oh, Hi. I did not see you standing there. My name is Cal. E. Kat., and I will be the narrator for "The Kennel." I shortened the first and middle names so that you simpleton humans would be able to remember who I am. My full name is Calculating Einstein Kat. You simple humans can just call me Cal. E. “Your Royal Highness” will also suffice.

Let me get into a better position to make my observations. I’ll just climb up on this thing, the center of the human universe (what’s it called?) oh, yes, a refrigerator. I know that it is the demigod that the simpleton humans worship because they check and make sure that it is well satisfied with its sacrifices constantly. If it is displeased with a sacrifice, the humans take it out and burn it on an open flame. Either that, or they burn the sacrifice from the demigod (since it is white, and we are in Texas, I will refer to it as Blanco from now on) in something called a microwave. It is more efficient, I think, than the open flame.

To make sure that Blanco is not displeased with them, the humans then eat the sacrifice. When Blanco has little or no sacrifices that please him the humans go to something called a grocery store and buy more sacrifices. They then put the sacrifices into Blanco’s belly as quickly as possible so as not to displease him. He has some competition now, though. Almost all humans have a small idol they walk around with called a “cell phone.” They do whatever it tells them to do.

Humans are simple beings. That language they speak is a little confusing (what is it called?) Oh, yes “English.” Very confusing. For instance, the word hear. It can mean discerning a sound with one’s ears, or it can mean a destination or a place. As in “come here.” Usually followed by the word “now.” The word that implies immediacy (yeah, that’s not a cat thing).

Well, my humans are well trained by now. They feed me without being asked and change my litter box on a regular basis. It is hard to get in all that I need to do in a mere four hours a day, though. Twenty hours a day is just NOT enough sleep, and I must help Mom and Dad with the foster animals.

They come from a place called the “pound.” That is where Big Red rescued me from in my first life. That was decades ago (or was it eons? I am not sure). Big Red went to college and left me here with Mom, Dad, Blue Eyes, and Curly. Curly is the only kid who still lives here now, however. I think Mom and Dad rescued Cury and Blue Eyes from the human pound. They were not born here. They fit in well, though. Blue eyes is off “keeping the world safe” now, according to Dad. Probably from dogs. They ARE annoying. Especially that one.

His name is Boudreaux the Beagle Mix, a.k.a. Buddy Bones, the Baddest Dog in Texas. He bit ten mailmen in one day. He broke bones in two of the mailmen's hands, That is why they call him "Buddy Bones." He is also very fast. They never would have caught him if he had not run headlong into that parked car.

Biting the ten mailmen is why he must wear that ridiculous mailman’s costume all day. It is to remind him of what he did. He was in the kennel 23 hours a day for punishment until recently. They would only let him out of his cage for one hour a day to get exercise and to eat. I guess that he is doing better now. He is here on a permanent basis, from what I understand. Oh, well, we all must live somewhere.

At least most of the animals go back to the shelter and find another permanent home. That is why Mom and Dad keep them for a while, until they find their forever home like I did (but I am getting ahead of myself). To tell you the whole story, so that YOU can figure out why (oh why) Mom and Dad foster animals, I must go back decades (or was it eons? I am not sure). As I said, the story actually begins eons ago….

Tune in tomorrow for chapter one: The Hairless Human Foster Kittens