Well, here it is. Feline Friday on Saturday. Somehow the week got away from me, along with most of today as well.

Yesterday I took Romeo out for a late afternoon walkabout. We went out on the deck, and this time he insisted on heading out into the yard. Okay, I grabbed my slippers and followed, leash firmly in my hand. He wanted to smell some plants, sit in the ferns for a few minutes, then we walked across to the other side of the yard, moseyed around the side of the house into the front yard, sniffed his way along the hedge, and then he wanted to get over to the little patch of shell ginger along the top of our driveway.

All was well until the unexpected happened. A man and his young daughter came running up the street, passing about six feet from Romeo’s hidden spot. He apparently had not seen them coming, and they startled him. Seriously startled! He took off at the speed of light back down the driveway and alongside the house, heading as fast as his furry legs could carry him. Or he would have gone as fast as his legs could carry him, except that he was firmly trapped in the harness which was hitched to the leash which was in my firm grasp. And I couldn’t keep up. At this point he was a puffed up, eyes wide, whirling dervish of feline fear. We raced towards the back, Romeo well in the lead, as he rolled and skidded and tried to get under the house, and when the leash didn’t allow it, rolled in battle with the leash until I was finally able to scoop him up off the ground into my arms, around the deck, up the stairs, and back into the house. Luckly he hadn’t managed to injure himself, except perhaps his royal dignity. I snapped off the harness and he immediately retreated to a bedroom to collect himself.

I don’t know how long he’s going to remember that misadventure. Perhaps he’ll be satisfied for a while to just sit on the deck and watch his little world without exploring its boundaries. But I guess I wouldn’t bet on it.

We’ll see what happens.

Oh, click on that little photo to see the rest of the week in pictures.