A Battle of Wills

Nikita and I continue to disagree over whether or not she should be allowed to cavort on the mantle.  Nikita's perspective:  I love to jump.  Jumping is sooooo much fun and I am incredibly skilled.  Surely you see that?  I have to be me!  If you make me get down, I'll just get right back up there.  You know it.  I know it.  Why waste precious time discussing this.  What?  You're really going to make me get down?  Seriously? Whoa!  You're coming over here!  I'll just skedaddle off of here and head into my fort.  You can't get me when I'm in there!  Ha Ha!  Now I'll just sneak back up there.  I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS!! You are telling me to get down again?  Let me put it this way...

 

I can't hear you! I can't hear you! 

My perspective:  If she breaks that clock she goes to Time Out for an indefinite period of time.  Take your eyes off that stuff, Nikita!

Nikita decides that it might be even more fun to sit on top of the antique quilts-- a higher vantage point.  YAY!  "I am the monarch of all I survey.  My right there is none to dispute!"

 

 Spots the rectangular lacquered vase with the sticks in it.  OMG, OMG I simply must chew on those.  Eyes wide, almost dilated.  Cannot resist:

Why are you looking at me like that, Mama?  I don't think I like your tone!  What do  you expect me to do, ignore those sticks?  Come now...

Leaps to the floor and rushes off to the kitchen for a quick nosh.  I scoop her up and put her in the bathroom so that I can take laundry to the basement.  She can open the door and has surprised me more than once by streaking by down there and then hiding.  Given the size, the darkness and the wide variety of things my landlords and I have down there, it is unsafe for her to be roaming around.  Knowing she is in the bathroom, I grab a couple of stuffed snowmen, thinking that I'll have just a little holiday cheer in the place.  I set them up in front of the famous apothecary chest and then let her out of the bathroom (after she takes a nice long drink from the faucet.)  

She strolls in and few minutes later.  Hi, Mama.  Yes, I am back.  Okay, where were we?  YIKES!  What is this?  How did they get here?   Geez, I turn my back for a second a look what happens!  I have to check these things out:

 

Closer inspection is required:

None too happy about this latest development, Nikita disappears for a while, no doubt at a Cat Council Meeting.  I am busy updating Facebook about her antics so fail to notice that she has come through the portal and is back on the mantle.  Rustle, rustle. Crunch.  Bang!  Thump!  She has managed to knock the red vase onto the floor.

 

 

I shout, "NIKITA!"   She turns and looks up at me.  Completely surprised.  "How did that happen?  Mama, what did you do?  I don't think these belong on the floor.  Who, me?  I did not!  No, I didn't!  I deny all knowledge.  Do you have proof?  I thought not.  Don't try to pin this on me."

I reset the vase on the mantle.  Nikita decides to look adorable:

 

Now remembers the open box in which the fudge arrived.  Hmm...maybe something is still in there.  Let's have a look.  Nothing yet.  Well, there is some crinkly paper in here...Let's delve deeper:

Now spots a bow I made to go on a present.  Cool!  Wow, now we're talking fun!  

 

 

Burrows under the quilt.  There is another portal under it.  She is a lump for a brief moment, then is gone.

 

When I arrived home today I found stuffing on the floor beside the snowmen.  Nikita was very busy rolling around on the floor, thrilled to see me.  "What stuffing?   What is that?  huh, I can't imagine where that came from!  Let's play stick!"

A few minutes after I lost interest in stick, Nikita resumed her attack on the snowmen, stealing the broom and trying to eat it.  

 

  Now she is curled up beside me, bathing furiously.  Such an exhausting day for kitties!