Sneaky Cat Sylvester

Friday, Kent drove the motor home and Pop and I packed our luggage into my car, hooked up with the boat on the trailer and were heading out the door for Egmont.

I told Pop I’d bring Sylvester the cat to him as soon as he was seated with his seat belt on, then I went looking for Sylvester who I was sure hadn’t escaped outside, but could not find him. I looked in every room and called and called. Then I went outside to call. After 20 minutes of searching for him I realized we were too late to catch the same ferry Kent was going to be on so Pop came in and we had coffee while waiting for the damn cat.

Sylvester is the most loving, lovable cat in the world and he is such wonderful company for Pop while at Egmont, that I didn’t have the heart to say ‘forget it – we’re not waiting’. We knew when the next ferry left and impatiently put in the time – actually I was able to accomplish quite a few chores while waiting those 2 hours.

Wouldn’t you know, Sylvester WAS in the house, and he came meowing around our feet and legs moments before we needed to leave for the next ferry. I told Pop to go to car and I’d bring Sylvester right out and we’d be on our way. I turned to get the cat and he ran – upstairs or down? I wasn’t sure so I started hunting, finally figuring out the ONLY place I hadn’t looked for him was under the beds – so down on my hands and knees – without a flashlight of course. Sure enough there he was and he was not a happy cat when I grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and started pulling – gently. He dug in his claws and if he could have spoken I wouldn’t be able to repeat his words here!

In the car, and off to the ferry, with barely an hour to make the 55 minute drive, leaving no time in case of traffic jams, problems, waiting time at the terminal, lineups at the toll booth – and not even enough time to get into the handicapped lane for easy access to the elevators.

I paid at the toll booth, grabbed the cat as he was about to jump out the window and the ticket agent said, ‘go right now – the ferry is loaded’. Off we went to find a few cars left in the lot waiting to board and we drove right on. Phew – not a minute to spare.

The really funny thing was that Pop had been telling Sylvester all week he was ‘going to a better place where he could be outside catching mice, moles and birds – in just a few days’. Darn cat must understand more than I thought because he knew when we were getting ready to leave and hid twice. He hates riding in the car and hides under the back seat, meowing plaintively.

If he wasn’t so darn cute and if Pop didn’t love him so much, I’d have given up on him.