Not something you see every day he thought 

                                              he thought it because he didnt actually see itimagined it

because it humoured him

he was easily humoured 

anhe had cats 

                 his were characters  they were What’s this? What’s this? aaand What’s this?  as curious as he

their bond

and they didnt bark

 

they were notoriously quietlike children

                                         when you dont hear them you know theyre up to no good

he paused the programme he was watching on the computer and got up from his desk

                                                                                           he listened for clues

he wanted to catch them redhanded 

in the bathroom

                 virtually across the hall 

he sneaked that they didnt hear him indicated the thrall they were contending ninjastepping into the hallthen to the bathroom doorwaycaught three of the four 

                                  Q-Tips were scattered everywhere 

when he used them last evidently he left the top off the wicker container hes kept them in since 1970acquiring it at Salvation Army 

he liked woven things  knitted  blankets sweaters  had more baskets than necessaryvirtually all decorative  as what they heldif they did wasnt evident unless he helped himself to them  looked inside  

it was unlikely any one of the three finessed its top off as no cat he ever had had

                                                                                     Nah  he was responsible

   standing at the threshold his imagination warbledflopped suddenly bomberstanding inside the sink began juggling threefour Q-Tips shy on the floor under the window stood on her hind legs one in her clutches acting a conductor  smiling enjoying her orchestra leftie was inside the catbox at the foot of the pedestal sinkoblivious scattering litter as she chased Q-Tips around which bound end on cotton end trying to elude her

he leaned gleeful against the doorjamb

              

he took it in until his eyes yelped 

                                  Ohshit he’s watchingSTOP!

1209 or 0009,  Thursday,  8  12. 22

1334,  Thursday