Hello? Are you listening? It's me, Mini.

Meow! Meow! Can you hear me now? MEEEEOOOOWWWW!

It's me, Mini, and I'm speaking to you.

For years, all I could do was meow, and then, somehow, the spirit of speech took over, and voila, now I can talk, and boy do I have a lot to say. (You will note that occasionally I have a slight French accent, what whatever.) You will be also surprised to hear such interesting stories from me, a cat, who doesn't get out too much. I'm keen-eyed and I watch a lot of TV, so that's how I learn things these days.

Before I landed here, where I live with another cat and two older adults, I was a stray in the philosophy department of the local university. They weren't too nice to me, a mere cat - no, not a meerkat (you idiot) - I'm a small, black and white "tuxedo" cat: graceful, patient, somewhat understanding, and lonesome. The PD (philosophy department) wasn't a good place for a cat with my sensibilities, so I wandered over to sociology, not great, but better, but I decided to move on one night when nobody was looking. I finally landed in IT, where things began to pick up, cat-wise. Then I got picked up, literally, placed in a wire cage of all things, and tossed into the backseat of a VW with the word "meek squad" on the side.

I wasn't there long, the geek I was with had an appointment, to fix a computer of course. He bribed my present owners, telling them he wouldn't fix their computer unless they gave me a good home. He also threatened them with bodily harm if I didn't continue to remain in good health in their care.

Well, let me tell you, it worked. My new companions, dimwits that they are, certainly do love me. They absolutely smother me with affection, including the dimmest bulb of all, their "other" cat. I'll tell you about her later, but for now, let me assure you that you are in for a rare treat. No, not a cat treat, a rare treat.