Tuesday 26 January 2010

Counsel for the defence


"The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth...."



Lottie's side of the story.... She wants you to know that she has been unfairly portrayed as the villainess of the piece, and that she pleads extreme provocation in the matter of that little swipe that accidentally caught Millie's eye.

She was, and says that she remains, very fond of Millie. She welcomed her as a tiny, bumptious, overactive kitten, and kept a watchful eye on her.



She was patient, although she got no peace.



From the start, little Millie took liberties.




She didn't want a big sister; she wanted a wet-nurse, a substitute mum. Lottie was only a youngster herself, but endured the endless drilling into her fur, to be followed by loud sucking sounds and even louder purring. Her chest fur began to become knotted and felted. 



Sometimes she began to look a bit put-upon, even fed up, but still she endured it all.



Sucky, sucky, schloop, schloop, purr purr purr....



She discovered that if she washed Millie, the drilling and sucking would halt, and the purring would increase in volume.

Lottie washed and washed.



And washed. Millie was the cleanest kitten in Newcastle.



Millie adored it all. She wanted to be glued to Lottie, but had to tear herself away at times to get on with being the naughtiest kitten the human had ever known.

And then Lottie would relax. Have some Me Time, space to breathe.



Millie always came back.



But Millie was also growing fast. Not a baby any more.




She began to take up a lot of space, in every way. Lottie was becoming slightly harrassed.



But she carried on patiently, tolerating the invasion of her personal space.



Still washing, although Millie was really no longer a kitten.



Lottie tried to escape. She moved from the radiator bed to a chair upstairs that could be her own. Or so she thought.



And still she was cajoled into washing a cat twice her weight.




But sometimes, just sometimes, she lets her demanding little sister know that she would like to be left alone, thank you. Sometimes she just squawks at Millie, and some times she gives her a swipe.

The human sees it all; how crushed Millie is when she is rejected, but also how Lottie had to stop being a youngster and turn into a pseudo-matriarch before her time, and what a persistent nuisance Millie could be. It's sad for them both.




But they still hang out together, indoors and out, and in the middle of the night, sounds can sometimes be heard at the foot of the human's bed, where they choose to sleep: lick lick lick, purr purr purr. No more fur-sucking, at last.

And Millie's eye is getting better. Lottie says it was an accidental injury, and can the record reflect this, please? She awaits the jury's verdict.



Millie hopes the jury will acquit her beloved Lottie. She's written a poem for them; it begins:

The quality of mercy is not strained. 
It droppeth like the tender tongue of Lottie
Upon the tabby beneath....

The human refused to print any more; it was too heart-rending. The jury knows its duty.

20 comments:

Fran Hill said...

Fantastic! I loved this story in pictures. And Lottie has such an expressive face.

Juror L said...

Not guilty! (no actual witnesses for the prosecution, only circumstantial evidence).

judy in ky said...

I was laughing and smiling as I saw each photo. You captured some priceless expressions on Lottie's face. I could never find her guilty after seeing those. She makes an excellent witness for her own defense.

BumbleVee said...

Hahahha..... man, I was laughing right out loud at the pictures of poor Lottie's facial expressions.... I think Millie is just a teeeeensy bit pushy and, well.... probably did finally deserve a shot..... I hope she is a bit less demanding of poor Lottie now... but, time will tell I guess.

Love the 'beginning'...

Val said...

Not guilty by reason of extenuating circumstances. Lovely story and pictures.

Anonymous said...

Oh poor, put upon Lottie, I knew she had been a surrogate mum, but did not realise the extent of Millie's dependancy. So, verdit guilty - sentence? some solitary? As for Millie, psychotherapy for her over-dependancy; now how do you counsel a cat for that. Over to you Rachel.
OllieV

Lesley said...

Guilty but with grave if unintended provocation and lack of malice aforethought (yes, as a solicitor I do know that this is obsolete terminolgy!!).

A conditional discharge and counselling??

So sweet.

Lesley x

rachel said...

Yes, counselling might be a good idea, but no matter what the sentence, Millie does just what she likes...

And as she is so friendly and lively, enforcement fails at the first attempt.

Paddy Paws said...

It just goes to show you should never judge without the facts. A fair result would be an acquital and to kiss and make up.

Anonymous said...

I'll go for acquittal! An accidental injury is not an offence. Perhaps she was stressed by Hamish and Scooter and worried in case they started any notions of fur felting schlooping...

SmitoniusAndSonata said...

Lottie has eyes like a '20s silent screen actress .... probably just as well otherwise she'd be ridiculously upstaged by Millie .
Meanwhile you seem to have really thrown yourself into your role .
Pure ham , the lot of you !!

Pam said...

I suppose it's twice blessed; it blesseth her who licks and her who's licked.

Hmm. I think WS's version was somehow, subtly, better.

Rattling On said...

I think you'll have to sack the jury on the grounds of bias...the judge as well.

_lethe_ said...

Wonderful photo report! Now you've made me think of Millie as a young cuckoo bird, forever demanding food of its much smaller foster mother.

Sorry, Lottie, for having been so harsh! I should have known there are always two sides to a story.

Marcheline said...

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

Marie Rayner said...

hehe, it all makes me giggle. Love your cat tails . . . oops tales! xxoo

Anonymous said...

What lovely photos these are, capturing beautifully the history of Lottie and Millie. Glad the eye is getting better quickly.

Susan said...

Amazing photos and such a lotta love I see shared between these feline sisters. Accidents do happen - love Miss Lottie's slightly cross eyed gaze and Oliver sends his truest love M. Millie biggest get well wishes ! xo les Gang

Lynda (Granny K) said...

Poor Lottie! Her patience must have been sorely tried!

Frances said...

That was a lovely story..and such great pictures..I am trawling back though your blogs, and loving it! Will be keeping a close eye on you in future!!

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