Lessa was all excited. She had overheard her Meowmie and Deowdie say that they were going to spend Thanksgiving at Grandmewmie's this year and they had decided to bring Lessa on the trip too rather than board her at the vets! Lessa had never met her Grandmewmie. She wondered what she was like. She had seen pictures of her on the side tables in her living room. "I hope my Grandmewmie will hold and pat me like my Meowmie and Deowdie does," Lessa told herself. Lessa started her packing of her favorite kitty toys in case Meowmie did not have any packed for her. She had also overheard that Grandmewmie lived in the country on the other side of the state. "Lessa, Lessa, where are you?", her Meowmie said. I want to tell you some good news. Deowdie and I are bringing you with us to Grandmewmie's for Thanksgiving. We will be...

...staying with Grandmewmie for the day after too. And there will be lots of good things to eat-like turkey, and ham and more turkey. There will be plenty of warm laps for you to sit on too- doesn't that sound like fun? The only thing is that we are going to have to drive there....

...Lessa knew all about car rides from having to go to the v*ts. She also knew that a car ride meant the dreaded carrier. Having to go on a car ride meant that Lessa had to make some decisions....

...Lessa hated to think of being confined in that small, uncomfortable carrier for such a long trip. Even short trips to the v*t were unpleasant. She thought of the time she had hidden in the closet just before a scheduled visit to the clinic. It took her Meowmie a long time to find her, but it had only delayed the ordeal. Lessa decided that hiding wasn't a good idea... especially since she really wanted to visit Grandmewmie. If only there was a way to make the trip go faster. Oh, how she wished they had a magic carpet instead of a car! Lessa's meowmie gave her a big hug and said, "We're going to have to leave early in the morning so we must go to bed now. I know you aren't looking forward to this long drive, but your Deowdie and I have a little surprise for you! We've decided to take...

...a stuffed kitty to put into your carrier with you, Lessa. It is nice and cuddly and warm. It should make your trip much more pleasant for you. See, it's in your carrier already." Lessa peeked inside her carrier and there was this fluffy thing laying inside. She decided she had better check this out. Never before had she shared her carrier. With great caution she put one paw and then the second into the carrier...

....and then her other 2 paws followed. Lessa looked at the other cat. "Hmm," she thought...it was big and fleecy...and pink!" She had never seen a pink cat before. "Well,"...she said to the other cat who looked at her unblinkingly..."are you a nice cat?"...

...But the pink kitty was silent and did not Meow once to Lessa. "Oh, well" said Lessa to herself. At least the pink kitty will be company for me. I will not meowr and make a fuss in the carrier so that my hoomans will take me to Grandmewmie's." Lessa showed her hoomans the next day that she was not upset about riding in the cat carrier. She brought her kitty leash into the backseat with her so that her Meowmie could stop on the trip to take her outside to do her "thing". Lessa was determined to enjoy the long drive to the country. She took a nap with the pink kitty for awhile and then woke up when she felt that the car had stopped. "Hmm, I wonder why they are stopping? Oh, that looks like a place to sleep...the sign says 'Heartbreak Motel'".  Lessa looked at her Meowmie and purred to her.

"No, Lessa," her Meowmie said, "Deowdie is only asking directions. Do you want to take a walk with your leash yet?" "Purrs, yes." said Lessa So her Meowmie hooked her up for their walk together. Lessa thought to herself that she would rather stay at Grandmewmie's home instead of here. Lessa and her Meowmie went back to the car after her walk. Deowdie was waiting for them. "It's only two more hours to Grandmewmie's", he said. They got into the car and Deowdie drove away onto the highway again. Lessa noticed many cows in the pastures as they drove by. "Hmm," said Lessa to herself, "they sure look friendly with their big brown eyes. I am going to like staying in the country for Thanksgiving." A few hours later...

...Lessa and her Meowmie and Deowdie arrived at Grandma's house. It was a beautiful house nestled in a green valley with roses all around the front porch. She immediately felt right at home and mewed to be released from the carrier. As she walked into the house she was greeted by an elegant black cat with huge green eyes who purred, "Welcome Lessa. My name is Jade and I will show mew around." Lessa purred back and Jade said, "Would you like to freshen up first?" "Oh, yes, purrlease", replied Lessa politely with a big purry smile. She thought to herself, "I am going to enjoy Jade's company, she is so friendly." Jade showed Lessa into a comfortable room with a large bed for the hoomans and a dear little cat house with pink cushions especially for Lessa. Then leading Lessa by the paw, Jade asked her what she would like to see first. "Ohhh, I would LOVE to meet one of those cows," she replied. "Very well," laughed Jade, who was astonished over Lessa's choice as she herself was so used to them. "I will take mew to meet Buttercup. She is what is known as a Jersey Cow, rather elderly now, but so lovable. She likes cats too. Though I must warn mew that Brutus the Bull can be a little tetchy at times." With that, Jade lead Lessa out into the fields where a dainty cow with huge soft brown eyes was peacefully grazing. Just as Jade was about to introduce Lessa to Buttercup, there was suddenly a furry loud noise and both cats jumped and looked around to see...

...Out of the trees came this big brown cow-looking animal,only bigger and with horns on his head. Lessa, who had never seen a cow before let alone a bull thought this was a different breed of cow. Jade did tell her that the first cow they met was a Jersey Cow so this other animal must be a cow with things sticking out of his head...strange but like different breeds of cats can look differently. Lessa started walking towards the new cow. Jade tried to pull Lessa back. Lessa could be strong when she wanted to, and she wanted to see this other new breed of cow. Suddenly this new breed of cow started running towards Lessa...

...And Lessa did not like the look of anger in his eyes so she quickly ran and jumped over the fence surrounding the meadow. Jade was right behind her. "Whoo!" said Jade, "that was a close one. That bull's name is Brutus and he is a very mean bull. Please Lessa, stay away from him. I do not want to see you get hurt and ruin your visit here to me and my Meowmie, your Grandmewmie. Let's go back to the house now that we are rested after that run." Lessa eyed the bull named Brutus who was snorting at the two cats. "Don't worry Jade. I will stay away from that mean bull. Maybe the cow that you wanted to show me is in that red barn there in back of the farmhouse." So the two cats walked over to the barn and stepped inside and saw Grandmewmie talking to the Jersey Cow. "Grandmewmie", said Jade, "that bull Brutus was being mean to us two kitties and chased us out of the pasture." "Oh fiddle," said Grandmewmie, "he would not have hurt you two. He was upset because I took the Jersey Cow back into the barn to let her nap in peace. He would not let her get any rest in the pasture. All he wanted to do was play. If we are to get any milk in the morning for you two kitties, she needs her rest." "Oh," said Jade. "Then let us go into the house because I smell something yummy cooking in the kitchen. It must be the Fancy Beast that smells so good." Grandmewmie, Jade and Lessa went into the house where they saw...

...that Lessa's Meowmie was busy in the kitchen. She had on one of Grandmewmie's old-fashioned aprons and her long hair was tied with a pink bandana. She was using an egg beater to whip cream in a big yellow bowl. When she saw the kitties, she smiled and said, "You're just in time to sample the whipped cream!" Grandmewmie put two china saucers on the floor and Lessa's Meowmie ladled a generous portion of fresh whipped cream in each of them. Lessa and Jade ran to the dishes and lapped up the cream. "Yummy," said Lessa. "this is much better than canned evaporated milk!" Jade replied, "You'll have to thank Buttercup for that; without her we'd be buying milk at the grocery store too." As Grandmewmie picked up the empty saucers, she said, "Jade, you and Lessa must be tired after your adventure. Wouldn't you two like to take a little nap before dinner?" The kitties agreed that this was a good idea. Lessa followed Jade down the hall to the bedroom, wondering if the pretty pink cushions were as soft and comfortable as she imagined they would be. As they entered the bedroom, they heard a very strange noise...it seemed to be coming from the closet. Lessa asked anxiously, "What on earth is that?"...

...Jade erupted into giggles. "That's George our Pekingese puppy. He is always wandering into strange spots to take a nap." By that time there was barking coming from the closet. Jade ran off to get Grandmewmie. Lessa was frozen in place. She had heard of dogs, of course. Most of what she had heard hadn't been good. Yet Jade seemed so nice and she knew Grandmewmie wouldn't let anything happen to her. She decided to, stand her ground and meet George. Just then Jade came back into the bedroom followed by Grandmewmie. Grandmewmie told Lessa to not be frightened and opened the closet door. George came...

...out of the closet with a ball in his mouth. Lessa liked him right away. George must have liked Lessa too as he asked her to play fetch ball with him. They were having great fun together when Jade came upstairs and told them that they were to join the family in the dining room. Dinner was ready. George, Lessa and Jade scurried downstairs furry quickly. Everyone gathered around the table where the turkey was giving off a wonderful smell. Grandmewmie asked Lessa to give the meal's blessing. Lessa mewed, "Thank you for my new furiends George and Jade. Thank mew for Buttercup the Jersey Cow who gave us such wonderful cream. Thank mew for my Grandmewmie, Meowmie and Deowdie who love me so much and let me come here to share the holiday wif them. Thank you fur this wonderful family time together." Lessa knew then what Thanksgiving was all about. It was sharing a wonderful time with family and furiends. She was a very happy contented kitty and purred and purred and purred.

The End

The story of Lessa began on November 16, 2000, and ended on December 14, 2000.
It is dedicated to Queek, Baroness of CLAW, a sweet soft-spoken kitty.
Queek passed over the Rainbow Bridge on May 23, 2000.
 

        
 

Credits

Beethoven composed Bagatelle in A minor aka Fur Elise ca. 1810.
Several versions are available in the Classical Archives.

Image of Pekingese from Free Clip Art Now

Navigational buttons created by The Crowley Cats

© Older Cats Society