* hot spiffer *

~ 29th October 2005 ~

Through half open eyes, I thought I heard Guzz whining strangely outside. I lay still thinking maybe he was looking at something outside the compound. Then I heard it again, a high whine like followed with a frustrated short bark. The bark turned into a frenzied few and I had to get out of bed to see why!

Peeping through the curtains, I saw Guzz peering above my car's front tyre. He stepped back and whined again. Then he goes around to the other side and I lose sight of him, hear him whine again before trotting back to the first one!

I tapped the window to let him know I was aware and he looks out the gate as if he saw something but I couldn't see anything. He looks in my direction and walks away from the car.

Niggling in the back of my head, " What if? " as I crawled back into bed. I didn't want to think about it, tried to ignore it until minutes later, I hear Guzz doing the song and dance again. I cover my ears but he decides to go in full mode....bark, bark, bark!

Sigh.....why me? I look out again and this time he seemed more frenzied as he knew he had my attention already. Think he'd been patient enough to wait till he was sure I was up and wanted me to help him get to his subject!

I take my time changing and washing my face as I wonder what could be that was bothering him. I had gone on my knees to look under the car ( at a safe distance from inside the house ) and there was nothing there.

I came out, closed the glass entry door - just in case! Guzz runs to the front tyre, his tail waving side to side like a sign, 'Follow me!'. He looked kinda different when I realised his face had black patches from sticking his head in between the tyres. I slowly bend to look but nothing. Mind you, my heart was racing because I was not in the mood for a reptile to jump out at me in surprise. Did the same on the other side, also nothing.

'OK Guzz, we'll see.' He was so excited with me there, almost tripped me few times. I went to get the car keys, opened the door cautiously - just in case! So I stuck the keys in and started the engine.

A loud, hoarse, 'Mee...ooowww!!!!' sounded from under the hood. Phew! What a relief! I smiled and turned off the engine. Finally.... for sure. I popped the hood and lifted it. And there was this little black kitty sitting on the top of my engine!

As I set up the hood, little fella runs down the middle. Guzz meantime was going nuts from behind the glass door. I had to shut him in cos he was causing such a ruckus, the kitty was too afraid to leave the car!!!

For 45 minutes, I tried to coax that kitty out of the corners it managed to get into. The driveway was right in sight for it to jump to and scoot off but no....not this fella. It seemed to feel safer in my engine than out!

Finally, I managed to get a good grip on it and bring it out from there. I was half deaf by now with its yowling and spitting sounding even louder as it echoed around the car hood and Guzz barking and almost breaking my door....

I carried it to the side gate and began to calm it by stroking its back gently and speaking softly. Poor fella, don't know how long it had been in there and imagine its fear of setting a paw down without my Guzz getting at it. It didn't spit at me anymore but howled in between my stroking. Probably to assure me it still felt scared.

Much as I felt sorry for it, I couldn't keep it because I was not sure how Guzz would react. So I urged it through the gate bars and guess what? It placed its front paws against them to prevent from going out!

"Hey Kitty, there's no way you can stay here!" I said while gently pushing it out through the bars. It turned back and was trying to get back in by the side. I had to bang on my gate to shoo it but it was one stubborn little critter.

Plan B: got Guzz and he went straight to it but I held him by the collar so that he wouldn't get it. That stubborn little critter stood its ground and curled its back and did a whole spit and spif dance! I could feel Guzz tugging forward - more curious than intending to attack! I had to pull Guzz back many times cos I was more afraid he'd lose an eye than hurting the kitty! Ha ha ha!

Nope, that black kitty is a fighter as it lunged forward with claws wide open each time Guzz moved. So I had to grab my stick and practically move the kitten with it and shaking it ( the stick not the kitten ) before it moved backwards and away.

Sad to do so but had to be done. It didn't go very far because i can still hear its meow nearby. I saw its mother earlier and I hope they'll be reunited soon.

Thus the mini adventure to my otherwise could have been longer sleep in morning.

P/S: At no time during this episode were any animals harmed in any way. Thank you!