18f44de3c41a3c8943c05e9ff1c1336f

The only one who didnÆt look convinced was Dooley, but then Dooley tends to fret. I guess thatÆs what makes him Dooley, and why we all love him so much.

And weÆd all settled down and were enjoying the pleasant family gathering, when all of a sudden a loud singing sounded from a nearby tree.

ôHarriet, lovely Harriet!ö the voice caroled.

ôOh, God, not again!ö Brutus cried.

For it was indeed Jack the sparrow, who had returned to try his luck in love and fight for HarrietÆs heart once and for all.

ôIÆll duel you for her, cat!ö Jack now said, adopting a pugilistic stance and demonstrating some dazzling footwork. ôYou and meùmay the best man win!ö

ôIÆm not dueling you, bird,ö said Brutus.

ôRight here, right now!ö said Jack, flying down from his perch and walking up to Brutus. ôIÆm throwing down the gauntlet! Pick it up if you dare!ö

ôHe does have guts, doesnÆt he?ö I said.

ôOr a death wish,ö said Harriet without much excitement. She might like her suitors, but this bird definitely did not set her soul on fire.

ôLook, Jack,ö said Brutus. ôI donÆt want to fight you. So just buzz off, will you?ö

ôIÆll even let you throw the first punch!ö said Jack, and offered his right cheek.

ôWhatÆs that bird doing?ö asked Scarlett.

ôTrying to engage Brutus in a fight for HarrietÆs hand,ö Gran explained.

Jack now hauled off and gave Brutus a light kick against the paw.ôTake that, cat!ö he said. ôAnd that!ö

ôOh, for goodness sakesàö Brutus muttered, and placed his paw squarely on top of the bird, completely hiding him from view.

In spite of this harsh treatment, we could still hear Jack cry,ôYou canÆt beat me, cat! IÆm Jack the sparrow and IÆm not afraid of no stinkinÆ cat!ö

ôJust leave him be, Brutus,ö I said.

ôHeÆs so annoying,ö Brutus sighed, and removed his paw again.

Jack spent a few seconds catching his breath, then finally sank down onto his haunches, looking a little spent.ôOkay, so you won this round. But the next one is mine.ö

ôSure thing, bird,ö said Brutus magnanimously, then pushed some sausage in the sparrowÆs direction. ôCare for a piece?ö

Jack eyed it for a moment with suspicion, then relented.ôDonÆt mind if I do,ö he said.

Moments later cat and bird were sharing a meal in companionable silence.

ôThis is some pretty good stuff,ö said Jack finally.

ôIsnÆt it?ö said Brutus.

ôYou know, for a cat you ainÆt half bad.ö

ôThanks. For a bird I guess youÆre okay.ö

Hampton Cove, people. Probably the only place on the planet where cats and birds can live in peace. Then again, why wouldnÆt they? Brutus and Jack had a lot in common after all: an abiding affection for a certain capricious female feline.

More fascinating conversation was probably enjoyed by all, but at that moment sleep overtook me. Can you blame me? All this running around had seriously cut into my nap time and I needed to catch up. So I decided to get my napping in while the napping was good.

And IÆd just drifted off when suddenly Dooley piped up.

ôMax?ö

ôMh?ö

ôSo about that manÆs hairy assùö

ôDooley!ö