Austria, Here I come!

By Gentle Mouse, chronicler of this sad tale.

Sob, sob!  Hiccough, hiccough.  *Pulling self together* ...   So sorry, friends.  Mummy Whiskers has gone to Austria.  I know!  What happened? You need a little background.  Okay, here goes.
​ 
As you know, if you’ve been following our Facebook page, friends of ours visited our fair city for a few months this past summer, and while here, came to visit us a number of times.  Now for the duration of the story we will call them M&M when they are together, or Mme when referring to Grammy’s friend, and M the younger, when referring to her daughter (also her friend). 
  
Now, M&M were here a couple of years ago and that is when Grammy met Mme originally.  They struck up a conversation and before we knew it, Mme was invited to visit and subsequently met all of us... the Mischief and Mayhem Crew.  AND in a moment Mummy Whiskers and Mme became friends.  It was instantaneous... before the tea tray was transported from kitchen to living room, Mummy Whiskers was purring up a storm as Mme’s hand stroked her velvety back.  
​
As Grammy was saying good-bye after such a pleasant visit, mummy was packing her suitcase to follow Mme home to her temporary lodgings.  Grammy had to keep a close eye on her at each subsequent visit.... Mummy was smitten and so was Mme. Then suddenly Mme was gone back to her home in Europe and Mummy Whiskers was bereft.

This summer Mme returned and these two struck up their friendship again...  Mme stroking and mummy purring through each visit... and when M the younger arrived she got double the attention.  Unbeknownst to us, this time she (Mummy Whiskers) was determined to accompany them home to Austria.

Well, Grammy stepped in again and counted heads, paws and toes just to be sure all feline furries were accounted for... and all were. 

Whiskers was devastated when she heard they’d left without her.  Oh yes, she got the goodbye kisses and hugs, but she thought that was just a ploy to put Grammy off the scent... and they would come back on their way to the airport and pick her up.   When that didn’t happen she devised her plan.
 
She borrowed Grammy’s plastic card. You know the one that we use to order treats and toys on-line.  Yes, that’s the one.  So she ordered airline tickets, some Canadian cash and a lot of Euros to pay tariffs, a railway ticket from the airport to the village and food along the way.  She was determined! No-one could stop her!!!
​ 
*Mousie starts crying again* Boohoo... hiccough, gulp. Sorry friends, but I miss my mummy! 

---

The next morning while Grammy was busy knitting, (You know how focused the old girl is when she knits!  Oblivious!) Mummy Whiskers hauled her backpack, suitcase and essentials into the hall and kissed us all goodbye with an “I’m off!  Toodles! I promise to write.”
 
Well, we couldn’t let her go to the airport alone. So Rondo ‘borrowed’ the neighbour’s car again and we escorted her to the airport.  We were all sad that she was leaving us.  After all, she is our Matriarch of Mischief and the family groomer... and we love and will miss her.  I will miss her most.  She’s my mummy! Oh boohoo! Sob, sob! 
​
*gathering herself together Mousie continues....*

---

At the airport we had to wait in line to verify her ticket, weigh, label and check her luggage... and we got a lot of odd stares from the other travelers. We were so sad to see mummy go that we barely noticed.  Mummy seemed oblivious to our sadness. Always prepared, Sweetie brought boxes of Kleenex with her. 
Maybe we should have had paper towels though.  We left huge puddles of tears all over the floor.  Last we heard as mummy went through to the boarding gate was a call for “cleanup – water spill at Gate No. X”. Oh, I miss my mummy.
 
By the time we got home, mummy would be well on her way.  Grammy looked up from her knitting as we walked through the door and saw us all crying.  Realizing something had upset us all she started questioning us.  We blubbered as we told her Whiskers was gone to Austria.  Explanations over, Grammy cried along with us.  More Kleenex and more puddles. Grammy gave us  cuddles and kisses then crawled into bed herself.  What a sad day!

(for those of you who might be upset that Grammy let Whiskers go, this is ONLY A STORY!. 

Whiskers is part of our family and will be so for life) but Whiskers’ love for M&M is strong... and she would be happy to live with them.  It is this love that inspired the story.)  

​Comments are welcomed.  Let's keep them fun.

---