From the windowsill, Filbert and Socrates chatter with excitement as they watch their feathered friends peck at sunflower seeds. Our cats are always on the lookout for an open door to make their great escape into the outdoors. They expect to meet up with their good friends, the birds, and have a cup of coffee while discussing the state of the world.
One day, Mr. Squirrel made a surprise visit, scaring the birds away. Our most argumentative cat, Socrates, said, "How very rude. I don't think you even had an invitation to the party." Mr. Squirrel responded, "Quite the contrary. I was invited at the last minute. The Blue Jay put me on the guest list." This didn't quite settle the matter, and a lengthy dispute ensued.
Another time, the neighbor's dog visited our deck. The fur rose up on the cats' tails. "There ought to be a law," Filbert told me, "especially a law against a big ugly dog walking on our deck!" Socrates nodded in approval.
"But there is," I replied. "It's called trespassing. But I don't really mind if the neighbor's pets visit us once in a while. Do you?"
Cats have firm beliefs about private property rights and a rather strict interpretation of the law. I'm afraid that if they took over, my liberal views would not survive the new regime.
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