Old Charlie Boy

Max and I were having an argument about Sebastian the other day. Well it wasn't really an argument; we were sharing a difference of opinion. You see I said Sebastian was weird because he couldn't climb fences. Max said that was silly because he himself (Max) could climb up fences but had to be lifted off because he suffered with vertigo.

I thought he was pulling my paw until I remembered that he often sat on top of the side gate in bitter winds waiting until two legs came and rescued him. I was softening to his point of view when he told me a story about where he used to live with Sebastian miles and miles away past Tesco's and everywhere.

Apparently he lived next door to 3 other cats one of whom was called Charlie. now Charlie apparently was a young cat and quite physically well developed. Max said I reminded him of Charlie which I think was a compliment. You can never be quite sure with Max because he has this very dry sense of humour and he will say something and wander off leaving you thinking - what did he mean by that.

Anyway where they lived before Max and Sebastian had a cat flap so they could come and go as they pleased and they could invite friends in whenever they wanted and the two legs used to leave them at home when they went away and the man from next door used to come in to look after them. He didn't come in through the cat flap in case you were wondering.

Well it appears that Charlie was in the habit of popping over the fence and nipping in for a spot of food. Max and Sebastian always held back to let him have his food as the other two cats were he lived insisted on first portions. I have said before Max and Sebastian are selfless philanthropists when it comes to other cats.

Now it appears that Charlie could not climb up fences. He had no difficulty getting down, but up was a problem. He spoke with his personal shopper and arranged to have a set of staging ramps built so he could get up onto the fence OK. This was how he used to go into Max for his meal.

Well this particular day Charlie had just finished eating when two legs appeared and Charlie made a hurried exit through the cat flap. He ran at the fence, jumped and clung on half way up before sliding back down into the flower bed. Max said he laughed and two legs went to the door to watch. Charlie made another attempt and slid down again. He was clearly embarrassed and started roaming around in the gflower bed as if he was looking for something.

Two legs saw what happened and realised the predicament - in fact Charlie personal shopper had told Max's two legs about Charlie's inability to climb when he was building the steps.

Our two legs went out and lifted Charlie up and offered him up to the fence.

"Oi what are you doing to me? Are you looking at my bum? Where are you putting me? I never said you could put your hands on me!"

Charlie reached out his paws and hauled himself the last few inches onto the top of the fence. he looked straight at two legs. "I say old boy, I did you a wrong one there. You're pretty decent. Thanks for the helping hand. Dare say I could have managed but help is always appreciated."

Apparently whenever Charlie came over after that he used to go out when he had finished eating and wait for two legs and he would then wander up to him and rub against him and when two legs lifted him up he would say "No need fort hat old boy I can manage you know but now you've got me you may as well put me up on the fence. Thanks old boy!"

Two legs always went along with Charlie too and never let on that he knew of his inability to climb. Perhaps Sebastian has a similar disability.