Sleeping?

Its midnight and I have a thousand things to do tomorrow.  I have been struggling to sleep most of the night.  I finally doze off and begin the most beautiful dream that I am lying next to a flowing stream on a hot summer afternoon.  The water is cool and clear and I can see frogs and small fish swimming about.  The gentle song of the brook is lulling me to take a nap.  I lay my head on my backpack and close my eyes, listening to the song swaying and whispering….I am attacked from above by monsters that have fur all over their bodies and yellow glowing eyes that seem to try to be digging into your brain!  I am suddenly wide awake and looking about my dark room for the source of the rude awakening.  There, sitting beside me on the bed is Cocoa.  He is purring and seems to be smiling up at me with those begging eyes.

“Go away,” I tell him gruffly, “I’m trying to sleep.”

I lay back down and try to find a comfortable spot so I can go back to the gentle brook.  Just as I am drifting off….Cocoa climbs onto my head, purring loudly and sticks his cold wet nose into my ear to get my attention!  I shove him off of me and roll over.  I feel a heavy fur-covered body walk over me and then settle down right in front of my face.  The purring is louder as he settles himself in.  Then, without warning, I feel a claw catch my lip.  I open my eyes to see a large black paw covering my eye! 

Irritably I shove him away from me and roll over.  A heavy body once more climbs over me and settles in front of my face.  Purring ever louder, he reaches up and slaps my cheek before catching his claws on my nose. 

“Cocoa, I’m trying to sleep, go play or something,” I say rolling over once more.

I feel a heavy body crawl on top of me and settle in like I am a bed.  A heavy paw, claws out, drags across my face (enough to irritate without cutting the skin).  Before I can react, I feel him grabbing the fingers I have raised to shove him off of me with his claws.  He draws them close to his mouth and he begins to suck on them!  His purring becomes louder and he nudges my hand and sucks on the fingers once more. 

How can I refuse that?  He then let’s go of my hand and curls up against my chest grabbing my hand once more to lick the fingers before nudging my hand with his head.  His purrs could wake up, well the Statue of Liberty couldn’t ignore them, and he is insistent that I pet him. 

*SIGH* Another night without much sleep, but at least I’m loved!  Purrrr!

He looks at me with those smiling begging eyes.....

© Cheryl Simonds 2012