Suspense, Romance, and More by Pat McCain

Pet owners are a strange breed. We love our four-legged kids about as much as our two-legged ones. And sometimes as much. Losing Skye was very hard. He hadn't been sick long, but the day I made the decision that it was time---I don't want to go through that again. However, with two more cats, the time will come. Skye was so special that it is still hard to realize he is gone. I do know that as sweet and as individual as Blackie and Callie are, they can't take the Skyecat's place. A friend, and sister cat person, told me that when the pets go, they wait at the 'Rainbow Bridge' for us. I hopo that is so. His veterinarian cried too.

This has been Skye's Christmas village since I brought it home. When he isn't guarding it, he likes to have the tiny train running, then very carefully push it off the track and look at me with those beautiful eyes until I put it back on its track. It doesn't take much to amuse either of us.

 Callie came to us a very frightened kitty and still won't allow me to pet her or pick her up. She lives in the house and is very content to have a nice place to lay and look out a window, or on a kitchen chair, under the table. She has a terrible chest rumble and of course, if you can't handle a cat,you can't take them to the doctor. In the mornings, she sounds like a heavy smoker. So, we give her the best life possible and pray for an easy end for her when the time comes. I will never know what frightened her so badly but she is a sweet little kitty who deserved a good home.

 Blackie isn't fond of cameras that flash at him, but hopefully, one of these days I will have a good picture of him. He is a little guy for over two years old. Hard to tell which way he's facing if his eyes are closed, being pure black. He is a cocky young man with his big, plumy tail and 'pirate boots' on his hind legs.