The Book Goddess Reads

Another week in the illustrious life of Smudge, documented for the record.

The Cuff Incident

It started with a trip to the vet’s. They wrapped something around my tail and squeezed it. Repeatedly. I have been informed this was a “blood pressure check,” though no one asked my opinion on the matter. The verdict: I now take medicine. Half a tablet, once a day. My human thinks she’s hiding it in my food with great cunning.

She is not as sneaky as she believes. I am simply choosing to allow this.

The Grandparents’ House (Now With Canine, Allegedly)

First visit of the year to Nanny’s and Grandad’s — though “visit” is generous, since they were away on holiday. A deeply disappointing turn of events. I had treats to negotiate for. Someone will need to answer for this.

Still, the house wasn’t a total loss, because there’s a new smell in the air. I won’t say it’s bad, exactly. I’ll just say it’s… canine.

Turns out the grandparents have acquired a puppy. I never actually met the thing — this was scent-swapping only, conducted purely through investigative sniffing — but my human has already been fretting for days about how “the introduction” will go, whenever it happens. Truly, no need. I found the puppy’s bed and took a nap in it, in absentia. A message, clearly delivered, ready and waiting for whenever the puppy shows up — I was here first, this is my world, you are simply living in it.

The Sky Did A Thing (Sort Of)

We knew it was coming — some kind of eclipse, the weather forecast had been promising it’d get cooler. My human and I spent an unreasonable amount of time outside waiting for the moment. The sky dimmed. Slightly. I personally felt no effects whatsoever — no chill, no drama, nothing worth interrupting a sunbathe for. She responded to this underwhelming spectacle by fashioning some kind of device out of a plant pot and tin foil, through which she attempted to photograph the sun. The resulting photo was, frankly, an embarrassment. We both stood there afterward looking distinctly let down. Anticlimactic all round — though the sun itself was still doing a fine job, so I made the most of it and sunbathed extensively anyway. Priorities.

The Bus, The Book, The Betrayal

My human has taken to leaving early for work now, catching the bus instead of driving, all so she can read her book. I want it noted that this means longer stretches of the day where I am left to my own devices.

Naturally, when she returns, I remind her of this injustice with the appropriate level of disapproval. But then — and I’m not proud of how quickly this happens — food is presented, and all is forgiven. Payment is rendered in nose kisses and head bunts, as is only right.

Until next Sunday. 🐾