I was in the bag and was showing I wasn't happy about the situation by alternately demanding to be let out and shamelessly pleading to be let out. Neither was working and neither of them seemed to be even trying to comfort me, or as my 'The Him' calls it, "Getting the little blighter to shut up."
A new voice was added to the mix and from my, not such a vantage point, I saw a pair of Longlegs legs approach. Having a rough idea of what was to come I upped the pleading. A strange set of smells was attached to the legs which came right up to my bag. I knew they were not coming to my rescue when the bag rose into the air and I found my self uncomfortably close to the smells that attended this Longlegs . "Quite a vocal cat isn't he" she said to which my 'The Him' replied
"Oh yes, a real master of the caterwauling " which I didn't think as clever as he did.
My 'The Her' did at least come towards the bag as I was being carried away from my home to say she'd miss me and asked me to be good. GOOD! what's that supposed to mean?
I in my bag, found myself placed in the back of a box shaped chariot by the smelly Longlegs, who got into the front, started it going with a roar and shot off away from the house. At that point I knew I could give up the pleading and in an effort to assert my Superior dominance change to informing this Longlegs of my requirements regarding treatment. I couldn't quite believe it when she turned on one of those boxes that issues music which all but drowned me out. How rude.
Eventually we stopped and a clearway was opened. The smells I had caught from the legs were much stronger now and I could make some of them out individually from various quarters. Cattle, horses, goats and even some Superiors. My bag was lifted and I was taken inside a building and the clearway shut behind me blocking off some of the smells, but the Superior's one remained and was stronger. Through another clearway and my bag was placed on the ground and the top opened. I lifted my head and looked out. There was a row of cages at ground level and I was in one while from some of the others I was met with inquisitive eyes from other 'holidaying' Superiors. My bag was turned on it's side so that I fell out with no grace at all. The bag was removed, a hand came down and patted me on the head then was withdrawn and the cage closed. Away went the legs, off went the light and a clearway closed. There was momentary quiet until suddenly all of us started asking each other who we were and what we were 'in for.'
It was a long dark time and I admit I did sleep a little on quite a comfortable bed that was in the cage. There were old smells of other Superiors who'd slept on it too. Then the light time came and with a bang the clearway opened. A clattering followed as the Longlegs from before approached laden with a tray full of dishes. I knew it was she from the attendant smells which clung to her like a coat. She started opening cages and placing food dishes in with each of us. As my cage opened I started to make a break for it but a hand grasped my neck as she said " Oh no you don't my lad. You'll have to get up earlier than that to escape me." The food was placed beside me and the cage shut again.
It was beef, my favourite but before eating I set up howling at the indignity of being caged and my fellow prisoners joined in. I let them take up the chorus before I started eating and listened to the Longlegs try to quieten everyone down. As she couldn't she placed the food dishes down quicker and ran, closing the clearway behind her.
A little later she returned and opened a section of cage behind me which opened up into a run to give me some exercise. I took advantage of the opportunity to have a stroll and when I returned a little later I found my nieces Maddy and Millie in a cage next to mine. It seemed my Longlegs weren't the only ones going away for a few days. We greeted each other and I introduced them to our new companions.
You'll be pleased to hear I'm not going to bore you with events or lack thereof during this light time, the dark time that followed and the new light time, as they followed the same pattern. Food, exercise and the occasional annoying of the Longlegs who came with food by a concerted effort at pleading by us all. This was no position for Superiors like ourselves to find ourselves in. Instead I shall take up the story from later in the light when I heard a familiar sound. It was my Longlegs chariot drawing up. It has a very familiar sound to me, rather like the cough of an ancient Superior who can't quite catch their breath. Hrwch, hrwch, hrwch.
This was followed by the clearway opening and my 'The Her's' voice saying " Where's my baby boy, where's Oscar?" as though she couldn't see me in front of her, it was mildly embarrassing. There too was her kitten who'd come for Maddy and Millie and who was making the same strange greeting noises. Back into our bags we went and were carried out, all of us, to the chariot where I was placed on the knee of my 'The Him', Maddy on the knee of my 'The Her' and Millie on the knee of her kitten. Ugo, the kittens partner was driving the chariot. We all sounded our "Glad to see you's" and "why did you leave us there" at the same time and as Ugo took a corner a little fast my head shot up and the zip went at the top of the bag. My head poked out. "Freedom " I called and my 'The Him's hand descended and started stroking me. I couldn't help my reflex action which was to purr. Very undignified when I should have been telling him off but it was just so satisfying.
We reached home and my bag was placed on the ground so I could get out and check everything was OK. The kitten, Ugo and my nieces drove off leaving me alone with my Longlegs.I allowed them to fuss and feed me for a while before going off to find my own bed and settle down where I belong.