CAT AND MOUSE

Six o’clock AM, another day begins at the estate. The servants arise and dress in their uniforms and head to the kitchen dining room for their breakfast. The staff settles in with their coffee. Coffee time is the best part of the day for the staff. It is a dark roast and served just at the right strength. This is the time the staff has just to themselves to chat and get ready for a day of service. The Butler, Mr. Maxon enters the dining room, the staff stands until he is seated. He is the head of the palace staff. 60 years old, he volunteered for service at the palace. Mr. Maxon alerts the cook Ms. Parker that breakfast is ready to be served. She brings out a porcelain tureen and sets it in front of him. Mr. Maxon picks up a bowl from the stack to his left. He dishes out portions into each bowl and the staff passes them down the table. Clara looks down hiding her disappointment. Porridge--again! More often than not the staff is served porridge for breakfast. She does not complain because as service positions in this time went - theirs was one of the best. As she consumes her breakfast she gently fingers the heart shaped locket around her neck.

Modern times in the year 2050 were not what history would have predicted 30 years ago. The USA did not move forward into modernity -rather it seemed to have stepped back in time. Those unfortunate humans, not surrendered by their parents in service, were forced to dress in “Steampunk” style clothing. No matter the weather. They suffered extreme heat, rainfall and snowstorms. They were not allowed to dress outside of this culture. “Steampunk is a retrofuturistic subgenre of science fiction that incorporates technology and aesthetic designs inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery.”(Wikipedia) 1

This style is “hip/gothic” but not if you must suffer the elements and not have proper modern outerwear. Humans no matter their advanced age still had to endure this style of dress. Health conditions were not taken into consideration either when forcing this style on humanity.

The bells began to ring--their Master and Mistresses were greeting the day. They are demanding their breakfast. The staff stood, checked their uniforms, and picked up over-sized breakfast trays prepared by Ms. Parker. they headed upstairs to face the reason they-- unlike the other humans did not face persecution, threats of death and imprisonment daily.

Clara arrived at the door to the room. She knocked. She was summoned to enter. Her mistress was lying in her bed -her beauty known throughout society. She rubbed her paw across her face in anticipation of today’s breakfast. Clara removed the cloche from the tray. Scrambled eggs, baked cod, with a cold dish of skim milk. Artemis was clearly happy. She savored the breakfast. Clara gazed at her mistress Artemis ,a Lilac Point Siamese. She is the monarch of Boxton. All the citizens respected and revered her. The only thing that truly bothered Clara about her service to Artemis was her uniform. The staff dressed in mouse costumes. Fabric catsuits of varying mice colors. ears, whiskers and tails. Clara would spend another hour with Artemis brushing her fur, selecting a day collar and preparing the queen for the day’s adventures.

Clara buried her heart shaped locket under her mousse uniform when serving Artemis. She was allowed to display the locket but out of respect chose to hide her treasure. When surrendering their children some parents chose to give them a heart shaped locket made of titanium. The locket was not ornate, a simple smooth surface. Inside the locket was a family photo for the child to remember their family. The back of the locket had a recessed button. The child upon reaching the age of 21 would have the choice of pushing the button and returning to their family, thus leaving service. This was not a simple decision. Leaving service meant leaving safety. Those that made the decision to push the button did so at the door as they exited the palace. The desire to return to their families overcame the danger of leaving service for many servants.

Ruark serves Prince Carlton, a Maine Coon. He at one time was the best human catcher around. When he was about in the city humans would disperse quickly to avoid his strong paws. Ruark removes the cloche from his master’s tray. Carlton savors his eggs and cod lapping up the skim milk with a slight purr.

Ruark is extra careful when grooming Carlton as he has very thick long fur. He has more than just one reputation to uphold. In his prime he was considered not only the most eligible of cats but the most handsome. Females of all breeds dreamed of becoming his mate. Princess Daphne was hand picked by his mother Queen Grace. She became his mate despite his objections and disdain for her. Princess Daphne is an unbelievably beautiful white Persian cat with piercing blue eyes, She came out of the shadows into royalty.

Harper is maid to Princess Daphne. Her job was the hardest of all the servants. Maintenance of Daphne’s long thick white fur was a daily challenge. A simple lap of water would turn her face fur dark. The princess always had to present a polished appearance. Her schedule of public appearances and charity work always had her in the limelight. Daily she was attending luncheons, dinners, openings, public appearances and work for her charities. Her staff, administrative assistants, security detail, butlers, maids and many others at the palace knew her schedule was grueling. They worried that for such a young feline, not accustomed to royal life, this intense schedule would be the death of her. Her unmatched beauty and outgoing friendly purrsonality soon earned her the moniker “The Cat’s Meow” She became the most photographed Feline in Boxton. Her only escape from the “purrparazzi” of photographers was the palace. Daphne has rooms full of clothes, collars, tiara’s for all occasions. There is a wardrobe stylist assigned to choose and prepare her outfits for the occasions . Harper helped Princess Daphne dress from morning to evening in the stylist’s experienced choices. The “purrparazzi” would exploit any fashion “faux paux” she wore. Princess Daphne became a style icon.

The family breakfast duties settled, The staff returned to the dining room. They sat repairing items of clothing, collars and tiaras. The morning’s responsibilities were not over but they were free to enjoy more of the coffee. Their one respite from the life of servitude.

Clara, Ruark and Harper were surrendered by their parents at age twelve to the palace. Their parents made the hard choice to release them to the cats. Humans outside of service to any of the cats in Boxton were fodder for persecution. A human surrendered at age twelve was spared a life of living in fear of the cats. The child would remain in service for the rest of their natural lives. Ruark and Harper were also given lockets by their parents. The three of them became close friends in service at the palace. They had many conversations about leaving--together-- to travel back to their families.

In the year 2039 political tensions were explosive. A young politician burst on the scene. Karen Williams was predicted to become the first female president of the USA. Humans were so distracted by political news they did not notice that the cats in their homes and neighborhoods were growing larger by the week.

Humans were required to have a sensor installed on the wall of their homes called “BB”. They used this sensor to confirm answers to questions, play music, set timers, create shopping lists, find recipes, almost anything they desired. This invention so intrigued the humans with it’s novelty. The installation was never questioned.

One day during the campaign the incumbent president’s white house cats, found a way to send a growth hormone for cats through “BB”. The cats throughout the country began to grow until they were giant sized creatures. Cats took over society and ruled with iron paws. They divided the continental United States into regions. They established a monarchy in each region.

They used humans as toys, batting them around at their pleasure. They imprisoned humans for peeing themselves in fear of them or for medical conditions. Those unfortunates were sent to the human shelter. they experienced hard floors and no mattresses. Their food and water were scarce and substandard. The only way out for these humans would be if another human adopted them and promised to rehabilitate them.

Cats out in the village looking for adventures, may meow a desire for tuna or catnip or a certain toy or scratching post. The humans would scatter to appease the cats . The humans that delivered the treasure were spared. Others had to flee to avoid being carried off by the scruff of their necks and dropped miles away. Worse they may be swatted and suffer injuries or death.

Another day of service ended at the palace. The staff ate their dinner in silence. Mr. Maxon seemed in a grouchy mood and no one wanted to anger him. When He and Ms. Parker turned in for the night. Clara, Ruark and Harper began a serious conversation. They all had resolved to leave service and locate their families. This would not be easy but they were determined. They decided to leave tonight. They went to their quarters and removed their mouse suits. Grabbed the few possessions they could carry and met at the door to the palace kitchen.

They confirmed their pact to stay together and help each other find their families. Each held out their heart shaped lockets. They opened the door and pushed the recessed buttons together. There was no turning back. Grabbing each other’s hands. They scurried into the darkness.