The Saga of Leopold and Saysheen

Leopold was a white mouse. A favorite pet for some, and entertainment for others.

He was rarely out of his screen covered glass aquarium. Primarily due to his fleet-footed maneuverability. Once on the move, he was gone. In a large house, that's a problem. Especially a large house with, well 18 cats in residence. Of course you might think he quickly became lunch, or a midnight snack. Not true. Leopold knew how to hide better than most and was never trapped or caught. He didn't lose as much as a whisker, or a tail hair (okay, he didn't have tail hair).

However, he had a secret admirer. A sealpoint Siamese kitten named Saysheen. She would perch on the tabletop or chair back and watch Leopold make his rounds. Saysheen had patience. more than most cats, perhaps because she was a kitten and had yet to learn that some opportunities don't wait for conclusion.

Oh she would point with a paw, and her radar ears would rotate to detect the tiniest sound, but that was all. She didn't pounce.

After Leopold had exhausted himself, a task that require no more than fifteen minutes, he would be returned to the safety of his home, the screen covered glass aquarium.

His admirer, Saysheen was quick to leap on top of the screen and continue her studies. I felt certain she wanted Leopold to look up and acknowledge her beauty, or just her presence.

He did not. Yet she would stare without blinking, attempting to mesmerize him with brainwaves of temptation. Cat telepathy, or her imposing presence. Nope, he never looked up, didn't act as if she existed in his world view.

As a last resort, the final attempt for the day, she would wait until he was facing a particular side of his home and quickly move her head so Leopold couldn't possibly miss her.

Leopold gave her the cold shoulder every time. Without a glance in her direction, he casually turned away to face another direction and resume his search for the best piece of mouse food in his dish, or to watch the drop of water at the end of the water tube spark the setting sun.

Forlorn, but not without fortitude and determination, Saysheen persisted. She stared and glared, flicked her tail rapidly, rubbed her whiskers against the glass, her claws across the screen top, and Leopold went on as if he were alone in the world.