Cat Eyes

“Out of sight is out of mind,” snickered the cat.

Marvin was the village stray, and he liked to watch the villagers come and go. “I know things. I see what is not meant to be seen, and I remember,” said Marvin.

Mr. Coggins passed by the cat’s hidden place. “Time for my breakfast,” the cat whispered.

Marvin slipped out of the bucket and crept into the Coggin’s home. Fresh from the frying pan, a large trout sat on a plate in the middle of the table.

“Coggins doesn’t like to eat his morning fish hot. He walks to Mrs. Bulter’s and buys bread, then returns to feast on cooled fish,” said Marvin.

The cat ate only the middle of the fish, taking care not to crunch its edge. “I’ll flip it so the old codger won’t notice anything missing,” said Marvin, then cleaned his paws and left.

Next was Miss Petterbill and her bowl of cream left out to curdle. “I never take more than five drinks. Her eyesight is poor. She can’t tell if the farmer cheated her or someone took it,” said the cat.

Finally, it was time for the main course, beef tips from the butcher’s. “Randy the butch has eyes of widow Smith,” said Marvin.

“Every morning, the widow fetches milk and bread. When she passes the butcher, he is waiting to say good morning,” Marvin said.

In through the back door comes the scoundrel. Grabbing a mouthful, Marvin vanishes like the wind.

“Like I said before. Out of sight is out of mind. The fools never suspect me. I’m the stray who eats the rats and sleeps in the barn,” said Marvin.

The cat slipped back into his bucket and propped his head on its edge. “Time for work,” said the cat as he watched the people come and go.

For More Fun: https://folksburywoods.com/