Mark of Mimosa

Mimosa the cat scanned the living room with his chartreuse eyes. With a contented yawn, he stretched, arching his back and spreading out his white furred front paws. His gaze settled on the Lady sitting on the couch reading a library book.

                “It’s time,” he mumbled, which sounded like a quiet meow to the Lady.

                Mimosa effortlessly hopped onto the couch next to the Lady. As soon has his paws hit the couch, he bumped his head gently against the side of the hard backed book that the Lady was holding.

                The Lady laughed as Mimosa continued to rub against the book cover. He was bumping with such force that it caused her to lose her place in the story.  “Mim, what are you doing?” she asked, not really expecting an answer. She scratched behind his ear and scooped him up, placing him gently on the floor.

                Undeterred, Mimosa hopped back onto the chocolate colored couch and resumed his ardent behavior. He even padded onto her lap and rubbed the side of his face against the corner of the book, causing the pages to fan out.  Again, the Lady set aside the book and picked up the orange and white cat. Slinging him on one arm, she placed him on the floor, gently patting his bottom. “Now scoot!” she coaxed with a smile.

                 Mimosa looked over his shoulder, squinting at the Lady, who had resumed reading the book.  Keeping his dignity, he turned around, swished his tail regally and slowly sauntered back into the bedroom. He padded past Pepper the black dog that was lying at the bedroom door. Mimosa gingerly hopped onto the bed where Stanley the grey cat was lounging.

                “Mimosa, why do you insist on rubbing your face all over that book?” Pepper asked, rising to her paws. In order to refresh herself, she shook her head vigorously, her floppy ears resembling bat wings.

                “It is in the house, so I had to mark it so it would smell right,” Mimosa answered simply.  “Just like I’m doing right now.” He proceeded to rub his side of his face on the quilt.

                “Well, leave my side of the bed alone, and we’ll get along just fine.” Stanley yawned, stretching his front legs and wiggling his paws.

                 “Oh, yeah?” Mimosa challenged, hopping onto Stanley’s side of the bed.  “You’re not the boss of me!”

“Get off!” Stanley yelled, arching his back as his grey fur began to prickle.

“Stop it, you two!” Pepper cried, as the two cats squared off, staring at each other with scowls. “Help, Lady, help!!” she screamed, rushing out the door to the living room.

What the Lady heard was two cats hissing and a dog barking a warning. She dropped the book on the couch and ran into the bedroom to break up the impending fight.

 Pepper, with her duty done, decided to see what Mimosa meant by the book smelling right. She trotted to the couch and took a whiff of the book lying innocently on the cushion.  Suddenly, her nostrils were visited by all of the previous readers of the book.  She detected rose petal perfume, ketchup, and oatmeal cookie.

“I don’t know why Mimosa insisted on covering up these scents, they are delicious!” Pepper thought, gently licking the pages.

The Lady walked out of the bedroom, Mimosa draped in her arms. Pepper galloped to the Lady’s side, giving Mimosa a scolding look for causing trouble with Stanley.

“Now I have to put you in time out!” she announced, as the cat poured out of her arms into the other bedroom in front of the house. She firmly closed the door behind her and walked back to the living room.

Pepper whined through the door, “Mimosa, you shouldn't have done that!”

“Not a problem,” Mimosa answered. “There is plenty in here for me to mark! Now go away!” he ordered, sticking his paw under the door.

Pepper shook her head and as she trotted back to the living room, she heard the Lady shout, “Stanley! Quit bumping your head on my book! I’ll lose my place!”