A Confrontation

By Margaret Turner

The cat and the seagull stood eying each other on a manicured verdant lawn. The cat was a middle aged warrior with scars to prove his prowess, and the gull was a large sleek gray and white bird with a wary eye. The cat was certain he had the upper hand and kept approaching closer and closer to the gull, who was just standing on those two impossibly skinny legs, intensely watching the cat.

When the cat went into its crouch mode and was within paw distance of the gull, the bird spread its wings and rushed the cat with its bill, taking a hunk of fur out of the cat. The surprised cat decided that it would be wise for it to make a dash for a space under the stairs of the house. While the cat ran for its life, the gull continued to peck at its head and back, leaving a trail of fur in its wake. Finally, the cat made it to the safety of the stairs. The gull turned tail and soared effortlessly into the blue, thinking it had enough exercise for the day. The cat's companion appeared and a bedraggled cat emerged, ran to his master, rubbing on his leg and loudly purring, happy to be free of that flying menace.

This cat, I am sure, will never ever again stalk a large gray and white gull, as it just isn't worth the effort.

© 2003 Margaret Turner