More Mice to Hunt

Early Monday at 3:30 a.m. we were awakened by the sound of Ogden meowing. Ogden is a very silent cat and I told him to be quiet. He waited a minute and meowed loudly again. This was soon followed by a deep growling.

 I hoped that it was just Russ settling into a snore but I had to acknowledge that it had to be Og with a mouse. I elbowed Russ, he fumbled for the light, stumbled to get his glasses, and confirmed that Ogden had indeed caught a mouse. “Good Ogden, good kitty,” he crooned. Og was encircled by the other two cats hoping that he would drop his find, thus the growling. 

Russ scooped up the vibrating cat that had the mouse hanging from his jaws and closed him up into the bathroom. We were able to fall back asleep. 

Monday night around 8 p.m. I was reading up in our sitting room when I noticed our young cat Pippin scurrying back and front by the door. It was a familiar move and I called Russ' name. She batted her paw along the door frame. I called louder. 

 The activity increased, I jumped up on the chair, shouting for help. (Did I mention I am terrified of mice?) Meanwhile I heard Russ crashing into furniture downstairs in the dark. (Did I mention that I rearrange furniture a lot?)

 Now Pippin and the mouse are running around the interior of the room, I reluctantly admit that I was whimpering words to the effect of, "Save me,” as I stood on the chair, 

Russ  careening into the room saying, “Have you hurt yourself? I think I may have broken a toe on the couch.” 

That was when Pippin chased the mouse from behind my chair and into our bedroom. All was revealed. I was helped from the chair, ordered to go downstairs and Russ closed off the room to deal with the mouse. 

Time passed. I waited downstairs and listened to furniture being moved, the scrabbling of cat feet, and Russ shouting for Pippin, “Get the stupid mouse!” Finally he bellowed, “Kathy, grab Ogden and bring him up. Pippin doesn’t know how to catch a mouse.”

 Og was sleeping curled next to Russ’ computer. I scooped him up, dashed to the sitting room, tossed him into the room, and hurried away. 

Ten seconds after Ogden entered the room the mouse was caught and entered the annals of history. I am surrounded by heroes. One large and furry, one small and furry. Thank you Russ, thank you Ogden.