Patricia Stoltey

Author

Clarice the Cowardly Cat

By:

Blogging from A to Z April Challenge
 The ABCs of Behavior and Emotions

Clarice the Cowardly Cat

I guess it’s not too unusual for a cat to be afraid of everything.

Clarice, for example, was afraid of loud noises, birds and mice, and other cats. She was pretty much okay with humans though…especially her own humans, Percy and Penelope. She had personally selected them from all of the visitors to the animal shelter where she’d been dumped, and Clarice found Percy and Penelope quite willing to do anything she wanted whenever she wanted it,

…until the day Clarice got sick.

Suddenly, poor Clarice was yanked out of her comfy corner of the world and hustled from veterinarian to veterinarian, subjected to poking and prodding and X-rays and such. Percy and Penelope made her drink vile liquids and swallow giant pills. It was all too much,

…so Clarice began to hide from everyone, including Percy and Penelope.

She hid under the bed, in the wastebasket, on a high shelf in the closet, and behind the sofa. Clarice even learned to open a cupboard door and hide behind the sheets and towels.

The only thing that would bring Clarice out of hiding was the dinner bell.

And that’s the way Clarice lived out her life.

Cowards don’t have much fun. So sad.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To learn more about the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge, visit the official challenge blog and check out the list of over 1,400 participants.

More from my site

Comments

  1. Great Story and Poor kitty! I only have a Chihuahua and she is afraid of cats. I think because cats are bigger than she is! 🙂 Enjoyed your posting!

  2. Poor Clarice. Some cats just struggle with the big bad world, especially when dealing with the Vet.

    Our cat tends to hide when our God Children (9 and 3 years old) are over but will be in the thick of it when there are adults around.

  3. Sadly, you’re describing out little Sophie. We rescued her when she was six and whatever went on in her life both us, she shows no signs of getting over.

  6. Poor Clarice. A lesson to be learnt. For something can seem so traumatic. And yes, like Clarice we have to try to move beyond the fear and make some sense of it all.

    Be well, Patricia.

    Gary

  10. Hi, Pat. I love how you’re having fun with A to Z.

    I’m a Leo so I’m supposed to be bold, but I’m more like Clarice 🙂

    Thanks for visiting!

  11. Thanks, Margot. Katie Cat was a good model for this one. She’s scared of everyone but my husband and me.

    Hilary, it’s fun to do this. I’m not very good at prompts or flash fiction, so it’s good practice.

    Clarissa, my kitty stays under the bed the whole time my cleaning lady is here…fear of the vacuum sweeper.

    Crystal, I believe it. Katie Cat probably needs to be on it too.

  14. Hi Pat .. I can’t think of a more miserable life for a cat – or humans for that matter … cowards definitely don’t have any fun.

    Love your story line .. cheers Hilary

  15. Poor Clarice! Pat, I really do admire your creativity doing this challenge this way. And this story really makes me think about how animals must feel when they have to go to thte vet…