January 23

“Cool it, Deegs!” John dumped the kitten to the floor. “When’s that pizza coming? I’m getting tired of waiting.” The young restaurateur sounded gruff, but the fact was that John and Deegan were inseparable pals.

“You’re tired, huh? Think you could eat a pizza in your sleep?” Pat asked. “You could call it a ‘sleep-dish’ pizza.”

“If I made a pizza you could eat in your sleep, I’d rule America.”  John dropped his head to the table, eyes closed, his voice drowsy.  Deegan took this opportunity to jump back onto John’s lap, but again his leap was incomplete and he rolled off John’s knees to the floor.  Undaunted, the kitten began a tug-of-war with John’s left shoelace. Deegan had a boundless, positive attitude and was delighted with everything he discovered.  When the pizza finally arrived, Deegs made a game of chasing the credit card receipt across the floor. The Dunneys, however, were focused on extra cheese, onions, olives and mushrooms.

“So…did you hear the cat talk?” Pat chewed loudly.

Anne rolled her eyes.  “Look.  She said the cat’s name was ‘Polydactyl Princess’ and she acted like it was talking to her the whole time we were there.”

“Was it moving its mouth?” John raised his eyebrows in mock excitement.

“Maybe next time I will ride home with Dane Spangler,” Anne scowled.  John’s eyebrows went up even higher.

Anne shook her head, the tips of her dark braids swinging just above the tabletop.  “The cat did meow and make other noises.  Old Lovey would listen and answer it.  They seemed to be having a regular conversation.  At one point the Princess apparently told her that you’d arrived, John, and when we looked out the window we saw your car coming over the hill.”

“The woman’s been alone so long it’s no wonder she talks to cats,” John said pragmatically, lifting a third steaming slice from the box.

Anne was still picking at her first.  “How do you explain that she knew Nonnie, Jude and I are students and that I’m married?  The Princess told her that, too.”

“A good guess—you’re all the right age.  And she probably saw your ring.”

“Hey, I wouldn’t be surprised if the cat did talk to her,” Patrick put in.  “I’ve developed a new respect for cats since Pansy’s been at Nerd Hall. Look at Baby Features here,” he indicated the kitten.  “He’s growing up, doing his own thing, not worried about what other cats think, not being bothered by any attempt to make him into something he’s not.  I think cats have it all over humans in that regard.”

“You’re as crazy as Lovey, Pat,” said John, knocking Deegan off his lap yet again—but dropping him a piece of provolone.

“No doubt!  But I think there’s more to the way cats operate than people know,” Pat replied.  “I’m with Lovey on this one.”

“Her name’s really ‘Audetta’,” Anne corrected, taking a big bite of pizza now that she had some vindication.

“B-i-i-i-g emphasis on ‘odd’.” John got in the final word.