Queenie

As Miss Gray gathered her purse and keys and slipped into her shoes, she patted the head of the dog prancing at her feet and called out to the ball of fur resting on the arm of a nearby chair. “See you two later. I’m off to work.” And then she was out the door. The keys could be heard locking the door as the dog lay on the floor with a sad moan.

“Oh, give it a rest King. Every day it is the same thing. You’re not fooling anyone. No one is even here to see your pathetic attempt to gain sympathy.” Came a voice from the ball of gray and black fur. Queeny stretched her back as she stood up. She walked across the back of the chair, hopped over to the back of the couch and continued to walk towards the window. She perched herself on the window sill and enjoyed the morning sun as it came through the leaves and branches of the cherry tree in front of their yard. She licked her paws and watched as Miss Gray got into her little car and drove away.

“She’s gone. You can go sniff the garbage now.” King had a routine each morning that never seemed to change. It drove Queeny a little crazy. Sure enough, the doggy door could be heard, as King let himself out into the backyard to sniff the garbage cans. He returned a few minutes later and lapped at his water bowl. Then came to sit on the floor below the window where Queeny was still enjoying the warmth of the morning sun.

Queeny gave a sigh, and turned to face him, “Ok, ding-a-ling, what do you have to report?”

King gave a series of snorts, grunts and a sneeze or two and then finished off by flopping on the floor and covering his nose with his paws.

“Really? How exciting for you.” Queeny said, a little too dramatically for it to be a legitimate reaction. Then she gave a yawn and stretched her back again. “Enjoy your day King. I’m off to do a walk around the neighbourhood.

Queeny pushed through the door flap and looked around. Who was going to be her entertainment today? She jumped up on the wooden fence that surrounded their yard and walked towards the front of the house. She noticed the mailman a few houses away and knew just what to do. Within a few quick leaps, she was perched in the cherry tree. Hidden by the leaves and ripening fruit as she sat in wait.

Whistling a soft tune, the mailman walked up to the front door and placed the handful of letters and papers he held in the mailbox. He turned to leave and continue his route when a voice made him stop suddenly.

“We don’t want the junk mail.”

He looked around, maybe he didn’t notice someone in the yard. No one was nearby, and no one was in the window either. He looked closer at the door and wondered if there was an electronic doorbell with a camera. “We don’t sort your mail for you. You can just throw out the flyers.” He looked silly talking to a door.

“Throw them out?! Where is your care for this planet? Recycle them, or send them back to the senders!” Queenie was enjoying herself immensely.

“Oh, um, ah, yes, ma’am.” He practically stumbled on his way back to the sidewalk.

Queenie chuckled to herself as she flicked an over-ripened cherry off its stem with her paw and watched as it landed with a splat on the man’s hat. It left a stain that gave her a satisfied feeling.

“Humans are so easy.”