Invasion of the Interlopers: The Plan

By Rondo, the handsome one, chronicler of mischief and mayhem

So, where were we?  Oh yes! 
I, Rondo the Brilliant, determined we might hit a gold mine of information from Mousie's diary on ‘how to treat lady kitties..
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Now, don't get me wrong. I am only doing this for my brother.  I think girls are too much trouble but Etude’s been smitten by the arrow of Eros. Sad but true.    

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A page in Mousie's Diary

Oh no, I don’t think so.... not this time buddy boy!  Readers... ignore that paragraph.  I’m writing this one.

​By Sweetie, the good girl and chronicler of naughty boys

​​​Okay, so Mousie went on a trip last Tuesday to the UK with her Cheffy (aka Little Boy Cat) and the rest of us were just hanging out in the livingroom with Grammy.  Whiskers and Grammy were deep in conversation when I noticed the ears twitch on those sleeping boys. Then they winked at each other.  Hmmm. 
 
A few minutes later they both gave a big after-nap stretch and Rondo sidled over to me with a.......

“Hey Sweetie, you haven’t been to visit Monty, Aunty Joanna and family for a while, have you!”  We’re feeling a little sad for you with Mousie away. What say we pay your bus fare so you can have a little vacation?  Eh?  What do you say? Wouldn’t you enjoy that?”

Well, I may be the youngest but I wasn’t born yesterday and on top of that something was smelling a little fishy here (and it wasn’t my bunnytail tuna cookies) but I played along because, truth be told... those boys are always up to some form of mischief.  So, being the cool kitten I am...

“Oh wow!  How thoughtful of you both!  I would love to visit with Aunty Joanna and the family... and especially Monty. You’d do that for me?  Pay for my ticket?  Wow, how sweet of you both.  I just made bunnytail cookies.  I’ll take some along.”  

And I noticed another surreptitious wink and a whisper of a snicker.   Something is cooking ... but I carry on, pack my overnight and the cookies and then I overhear..........
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“Grammy, you do so much for us.  How you doing? Tired?  Would you like a cuppa before bed?  You would?  Great!  We’ll make it for you.  We know, Grammy.  It is unusual but you deserve a little TLC... and we’d love to treat you.”

I think to myself, odd! Really odd! So I tiptoe out to the kitchen to see what they are up to and ...

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Mousie's Diary sketch

Rondo is pouring hot water into Grammy’s cup of Wild Sweet Orange tea while Etude slips a teaspoon of something into it. 
 
“Hey, what you doing?” I ask. 

Both boys jump about 3 feet off the floor and the teacup goes flying. “Nothing, honest.  Just making Grammy the perfect cuppa.  Now we'll have to make another."

"What did you put in that tea?”
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​“Oh, just a bit of Manuka honey!  Thought Grammy would like a little before bed time.  It’s healthy for her.”  
 
To myself I say, “Okaaaay! then I think.. maybe I’m too hard on them.  They sounded really sweet.  *giggles*   Honey, sweet!   *shakes head*   Could it be they’re finally growing up... Maybe Etude’s new girl interest has changed him into a responsible young fellow and he’s rubbing off on Rondo.  How lovely!  It’s about time!
 
Like I said, I’m not a newbie at kitten mischief but I thought lighten up, Sweetie. They’re finally growing up. 
 
So I said good-bye to Grammy and Whiskers, gave the boys a big hug and took their pocket change for my ticket and left slipping the spare house key in my pocket and whistling a merry tune.   Bought my ticket, got on the GoTransit bus heading northward and settled in for the trip. 
 
About half way to Aunty Joanna’s I was going over the past few days and putting things together...
1.     The boys were in cohoots over something... they’ve been whispering together for days.
2.    Mousie’s away.
3.    They paid my ticket to go visiting Aunty J. So now I’m away.
4.    They made tea for Grammy. – a first! 
5.    AND put something in Grammy’s tea... and now I’m thinking maybe it isn’t honey. Oh no! They wouldn’t poison her!  NO, must be something else.  A sleeping potion?  - and now Grammy’s ‘AWAY?’
6.    Well, there's still Whiskers to keep an eye on them. BUT, Whiskers sleeps most of the day and all night... and SNORES like a Sailor.  So no sleeping potion needed for her... Whiskers is most likely ‘away’ too! 
7.    They are essentially unsupervised! Alone! ....   MISCHIEF is definitely AFOOT....
I had to get home.  “STOP THE BUS!!!” 

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Well, that wasn’t going to happen.  Driver said, “Set yourself down, Miss!  Let you off at our next stop.”  And that was that!  Well, I huffed and puffed and tapped my toes for the next ten kilometres, but the old geezer at the wheel just ignored me.   
 
As soon as the bus stopped and being the spry kitten I am, I jumped the seat backs, scampered past the slowpokes and off the bus lickety split.  Hit the Presto machine for a return ticket and ran for the return bus....  Too late!   

Well, that next hour was awful. Felt like ten.  I paced, and huffed and puffed some more, wondering what could be going on at home. I had to stop imagining the horrors.... 

• Skipping walnuts of the tenants’ heads in the courtyard below? We’ll be evicted! - No, Out of walnuts.
• A party with all the strays in the park?  NO, didn’t see the rope ladder off the balcony.
• Raiding the pantry? OH no! Weiner roast in the middle of the livingroom floor? Imagine the mess!   Oh, Grammy will be soooo upset if they've ruined her new floor.. 

That must be it... but still my head raced around in circles...  What else could it be? What could they be up to?

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​Well, let me tell you... When I got in it was already too late!  Mousie’s room was tossed topsy-turvy and I found a list on the floor. 
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Those boys had ransacked Mousie’s room looking for her diary, found it and were reading and taking notes when I walked in on them... They tried to hide it but...

When I saw what they were doing, shame on me, I joined them.  I wanted to know what she wrote too. 

​Well they do say, curiousity killed the cat and I wasn’t about to die.  No siree bob. 

So, stay tuned for what we learned... but not a word to Mousie.
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Oh, Grammy?   Sleeping like a top, whatever that means!  At least she’s still breathing... so we’re okay.

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