The Dreamstress

It’s called ‘how to disappear and throw your people into an absolute panic.’

And she’s REALLY good at it.

It started last week Friday.  I headed off to teach my evening class, and had just finished setting up and was just about to welcome my students when my phone started getting text messages.  Mr D & I have a rule that he is only to call me when I’m teaching if it’s an emergency.

So I ignored the texts, assuming that he was just asking me to pick up bread on the way home, or something else.

But the texts kept coming, every few minutes.  And I started to get worried.  Finally I stole a moment to check my phone while all the students were on their machines, happily sewing away.

The first text message said “Did you see Felicity today?  Can’t find her anywhere”

The next one: “Are you sure you didn’t lock her outside?  She is NOT in the house”

Then:

“Not coming when I call”

“Really starting to panic”

“When did you see her last?”

Cue major panic on my part as I frantically cast my mind back to when I had last seen Felicity.

And then I remembered.  I’d seen her just before I left the house, as I locked the back door from the inside.  She was sitting by it, giving me the aggrieved look of a cat who has been locked inside and is about to be deserted.  She was definitely inside the house.

And Felicity comes when you call when she’s outside.  When she’s inside, she doesn’t bother.  She knows she’s already where she’s supposed to be, and doesn’t see what all the fuss is about, and it’s not her fault you haven’t noticed her tucked behind a cushion or lying on the floor next the guest bed.

I was just about to call Mr D and tell him this when I got another text message.  This one said:

“Found.  Shut inside linen closet.”

Inside the linen closet?  How is that possible?  It wasn’t even open when I left the house, much less shut with her in it.

Now Felicity is notorious for her ability to open doors.  She hooks and pushes and bangs until she gets them to open.

But closing doors?  That’s a whole ‘nother  step!

But I certainly didn’t shut her in the linen closet…

So it was a mystery until yesterday, when I was cooking dinner.  I can just see the linen closet door from the stove, and I noticed Felicity stroll down the hall, stop at the linen closet, and begin tugging at the door.

I kept as quiet and unobtrusive as I could while she worked it open just enough to slip in.  Then I watched as she disappeared behind the door into the closet.  There was the soft sounds of a bit of rummaging around, and then a faint thump as she jumped up to the first shelf.

And then I saw one little white paw reach around the side of the door, and hook it almost shut  – so that to a casual glance it would look properly shut.

The little minx!

A few minutes later I crept up and threw open the linen closet door, to expose Felicity, cool as a cucumber, curled up on the sheets.  She looked up at me, so innocent butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth.  “Oh, were you looking for me?”

My cat is too bloody smart for her own good!