Why do I try???

The other morning, I rose from bed and my cat did his usual dance between and around my legs looking for his breakfast.  I fed him, so I wouldn't trip on him, and then I proceeded to make my own breakfast.  After cleaning up and straightening the rest of the house, I decided that, with the cat off napping somewhere, now would be a good time to clean out my lower cupboard. 

I opened the door and began pulling out old pans, cracked bowls, and useless covers for who knew what.  I tossed items in different piles, based on whether I was keeping or tossing.  I coughed continuously wondering where all that dust and cat hair had come from since I kept the doors closed at all times.  I had noisily pulled about half of the cupboard contents out when I turned and reached in for another item.  Fear filled me!

There were eyes staring at me!  Eyes filled with anger.  Eyes that caught the light and stared back at me. Eyes of, well, I didn't know what.  I slowly pulled my hand back and stared at the eyes wondering what in the world had gotten into my cupboard. 

Not knowing what else to do, I began to shove at the items that remained in the cupboard hoping whatever it was would crawl back into the hole from which it came and I would be able to see the hole and close it up.  The eyes continued to stare at me and I could hear a low, deep growling noise.  Oh, whatever could have crawled into my cupboard?

I finally got up and grabbed a flashlight.  I sat back down, hoping the eyes had gone while I was away, but the eyes stared out at me without change.  I hit the flashlight switch and aimed the beam into my cupboard.  I was afraid that I would find a large rat or a squirrel or something that would suddenly jump out at me and bite me. 

The beam  revealed only shadows at first and the growling got louder.  I was deeply afraid, but I had to get whatever it was out of my cupboard.  I couldn't risk letting it bite one of the kids when they came home from school.  I ran the light around the eyes again, moving deeper into the cupboard, determined to see what had taken up residence. 

Suddenly, the eyes moved forward and jumped at me!  I fell back onto my legs and screamed in fear!  My eyes were closed and I waited for the pain of a bite or scratch to begin.  There was no pain...  I slowly opened my eyes just as a friendly "meow" reached my ears.

I opened my eyes, and sitting on the edge of the cupboard purring and, I swear he was smiling, was my cat.  I had apparently found his napping place and he was angry at the interruption.  I don't know how he got in there, but how ever was I going to stop him from going back?!?!?!?

However was I gonna keep him from getting into my cupboard?
© Cheryl Simonds 2012