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“Good idea,” Chase grunted as he carefully set me down on the ship’s metal floor. Odelia offered Dooley the same courtesy, and we both vowed to stay close to our humans. If we ever got lost I wasn’t sure what we’d do. Look for the Lost and Found department, presumably?

“This looks just like one big giant hotel,” Odelia said, marveling at our surroundings.

“A hotel and a shopping mall,” Chase said as we looked in on some of the shops.

“I can’t wait to see the pool,” said Odelia happily as she checked out a bathing suit and Chase eyed a cowboy hat with some interest.

The honeymooners shared a sweet kiss. I looked away, of course, as I always do out of respect for their privacy. But Dooley, who didn’t have the same qualms, eyed the kissing couple with breathless anticipation. “They’re making babies, Max,” he said in hushed tones.

“Shh—they can hear you,” I said.

Our humans had finally been able to resist the allure of the colorful shops, and we arrived at the bank of elevators destined to whisk us away to the upper floors. Soon we arrived at our designated level and the doors zoomed open, spilling us and several other giddy tourists into the section of the ship that would be our new home for the next ten days.

“I hope they have plenty of kibble,” said Dooley.

“And I hope they have a soft couch to sleep on,” I added.

“I wonder if they have a gym,” Chase grunted.

“And I hope they have that bathing suit in my size,” Odelia said.

We found our cabin without fail, and after Chase had let us in with the key card he’d received, it proved as spacious and nice as the pictures on the cruise line website had promised, and much to my relief it contained a very nice couch, which immediately I took possession of, as did Dooley. It was soft yet firm and deep enough so I could fit whichever way I chose to stretch out on it. I’m a large cat, you see, and I need my space.

After the ordeal of traveling to Barbados by plane, then taxi, and after having gone through the experience of our arrival and undergoing the noise of the crowd, the peace and quiet of the cabin was like a balm to my harried soul, and I expelled a sigh of relief.

Odelia and Chase were too busy checking out the cabin and uttering cries of delight to take much notice of us, and after they’d inspected the bedroom, the bathroom and the balcony they both collapsed on the bed in a flutter of giggles and for the next five minutes spent more time kissing and hugging and generally doing what newlyweds do.

“They’re making babies, Max!” Dooley repeated his earlier statement. “It’s happening!”

“I doubt that very much, Dooley,” I said, having closed my eyes and assuming my favorite sphinx position.

“No, but it’s true. People on honeymoon always make babies. It’s what they do!”

I hated to contradict him, for this time he just might be right. People on honeymoon do frequently engage in baby-making activities, and even though Odelia and Chase were fully dressed, and all they were doing was sharing a couple of loving kisses, who was to say they wouldn’t progress into some more heavy petting or necking later on?

I just hoped they’d be discreet about it and not wake me up.

“Let’s go on deck,” suddenly Chase suggested.

“Yeah, we can’t miss the boat taking off,” Odelia said.

They both hopped off the bed with the kind of alacrity I was only able to muster up when fresh kibble was being poured into my bowl.

“Are you guys coming?” asked our human. “The ship is sailing, which is a big deal.”

“Party time,” Chase said, rubbing his hands with glee.

“No, I think I’ll stay here,” I said.

“Me, too,” said Dooley.

Odelia frowned.“You’re not going to stay in this cabin the whole trip, are you?”

“Maybe not the whole trip,” I said. Only about ninety-nine percent of the trip.

“Suit yourself,” she said with a shrug. “Let’s go, Chase. We don’t want to miss this.”

And then they were finally off, carefully closing the door behind them. For a moment, I was too stunned for speech, then I bellowed,“Hey! You forgot about our kibble!”

2

The door flew open again, and Odelia reappeared. Which just goes to show: we have the best human on the planet. A human who never forgets about those all-important things in life, such as there are: kibble, kibble and of course… kibble!

“You’re coming to see off the ship, whether you like it or not,” said Odelia as she took three big steps in our direction, and gave me and Dooley twin prods in the rear.

“Hey!” I said, as I hadn’t expected this.

“You can’t miss this, you guys!” she added. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and you’re going to spend it lying around on the couch? No way!”

“But—”

“No buts. You’re both coming with us and that’s final.”

And to show us she meant what she said, she even proceeded to place a well-shod foot against my rear and gently nudged me in the direction of the door!

“All right, all right!” I said finally. “I get your point.”

“Good,” she said. “You can lie around and be lazy at home. We’re here to have a great time, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to—”