The Mischief of Midnight and Snowy’s Revenge...

 Never Mistake Loyalty as a Game...

Dear Readers,

The sun hadn’t fully risen when I rolled out of bed, ready to start my day. After freshening up, I brewed myself a hot cup of green tea a ritual I had recently adopted to manage my gout and aid in my weight-loss journey. With my steaming mug in hand, I stepped outside, the crisp winter air immediately embracing me. The chill was invigorating, a fleeting reminder of winter’s presence before summer inevitably took over.

I settled into my favorite chair on the porch, enjoying the serene morning. The birds chirped softly in the distance, and the world seemed at peace. That’s when Midnight, my mischievous black cat, sauntered into view or rather, limped into view. His fur was disheveled, and he bore a noticeable scratch on his nose.

"What on earth happened to you?" I asked though I knew I wasn’t going to get a verbal answer.

Before I could inspect him further, Snowy, my pristine white cat, trotted up behind him, tail swishing in what I could only describe as irritation. Snowy’s expressive blue eyes seemed to glare at Midnight as if she were saying, I told you so.

Snowy meowed loudly, pacing back and forth in front of me. It didn’t take a genius to figure out she was tattling on Midnight. She’d clearly had enough of his antics. As I sipped my tea, I pieced together the story from their behavior.

Midnight, ever the charmer, had apparently been flirting with one of the neighborhood’s feline beauties. Unfortunately for him, this particular lady cat had a boyfriend a massive Persian cat with fur as luxurious as a king’s robe and an attitude to match. Snowy had likely warned Midnight to steer clear, but my rebellious little Casanova hadn’t listened. The Persian cat had taught Midnight a lesson he wouldn’t soon forget.

As I chuckled at the thought, my two Siberian Huskies, Rambo and Suzie, trotted out of the house. They plopped down on either side of me, their bright eyes gleaming with curiosity as they took in the scene. If dogs could laugh, I was sure they were doing so internally. Rambo’s ears twitched as he watched Snowy fuss over Midnight, while Suzie’s tongue lolled out in amusement.

Snowy, ever the caretaker despite her exasperation, began tending to Midnight’s wounds. She licked his ear gently, cleaning away a bit of dried blood. Then she turned to the huskies, meowing with purpose. It was clear she was enlisting their help.

Suzie tilted her head, clearly intrigued by Snowy’s demands. Rambo, ever the protective one, stood up and stretched before giving a low bark as if to say, “Alright, what’s the plan?” Snowy meowed again, pacing back and forth with her tail high. She was rallying the troops for what I could only assume was a showdown with the Persian cat.

I couldn’t help but laugh at the sight. Midnight, the instigator, lay sprawled on the porch, looking utterly defeated. Snowy, his self-appointed nurse, was now commanding an army. The Huskies, always eager for a bit of drama, seemed ready to march off and assert their dominance.

“Oh no, you don’t,” I said, setting my tea down. “We’re not starting a neighborhood war.”

Snowy shot me a look that seemed to say, Stay out of this, human. But I was the boss here, not her. Or so I liked to think.

As if to emphasize her determination, Snowy trotted over to Rambo and nipped his tail lightly. He gave a playful growl in response, clearly understanding her instructions. Suzie, not one to be left out, barked excitedly and started circling Midnight as if to say, “We’ve got your back, buddy.”

I watched the spectacle unfold, unable to stop smiling. Midnight, despite his sorry state, seemed to perk up at the thought of having an entourage. He stood up, albeit gingerly, and gave a weak meow, his way of accepting the help.

Snowy led the charge, with Rambo and Suzie flanking her like loyal knights. Midnight hobbled along behind them, looking like a reluctant king heading to reclaim his throne. I shook my head, knowing full well this was going to end in chaos.

A few minutes later, the gang returned, tails held high. Snowy strutted onto the porch with an air of triumph, while Rambo and Suzie wore matching expressions of satisfaction. Midnight looked slightly less battered and slightly more smug.

I could only imagine the Persian cat’s face when he saw a white cat flanked by two huskies marching into his territory. Whatever had happened, Snowy had clearly made her point. Midnight would think twice before flirting with another cat’s girlfriend, and the Persian would know not to mess with our little family.

As the sun rose higher, I settled back into my chair, sipping my now-lukewarm tea. Snowy curled up next to Midnight, still fussing over his wounds, while the huskies lay at my feet, content and proud of their morning adventure. Life with these four was never dull, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Jacob M