An Alley Cat Fairy Tale

On the windowsill of Mrs. Madison's kitchen window sat a large, beautifully blooming green catnip plant which was the envy of all alley cats in the neighborhood. Its bright purple buds drew each cat's attention each time they sauntered past. How desperately they wished to taste it! The window was open all day, and all any cat would have to do is climb the tree in Mrs. Madison's yard and leap in - a simple enough task for any limber cat.

"That would be trespassing. Any decent cat should know that Mrs. Madison freely gives out her catnip, with milk, if we go and meow at her front door," said Peter, the most respected alley cat in the neighborhood.

"But she don't give us enough! We can't get high off that, man," responded the less respectable cats. Only one female cat, an obedient and respectable tabby named Isabelle, disagreed with them, and stuck by Peter's decision.

"Gentlemen, please, you will each have plenty of catnip when we each get homes, and you must listen to me when I say that this will happen much quicker if you do not steal from poor old Mrs. Madison," preached Peter.

"Man, you been sayin' that since we got to this town but you ain't in a home yet! You and Isabelle been livin' in the dumpster by the wax museum! Now what's that all about? That ain't no home! We're through listenin' to you," retorted the less respectable cats, with a nod and an air of haughtiness. They weren't sure exactly why they thought this, but they knew that Isabelle and Peter were wrong, and were going to prove it to them.

The next day, as Mrs. Madison opened her window, three of the less respectable cats leapt through her window and each took a bud of catnip with their paws. As they writhed on the floor in absolute ecstasy, Mrs. Madison, out of her wits, got on the telephone and called animal control. Men in white suits came in her house and took the three cats away in a large truck. "Peter's been wrong this entire time!" thought the other less respectable cats.