The Cat and the Camel

who rode a camel

all the way across the desert.

The cat was black and white and named Pooki.

On the back of the camel Pooki carried

her food dish, velour cat bed, and a small television set.

When the camel stopped at the nearest oasis for water

the cat would jump down and join the other cats

traveling across the desert

and share their adventures together.

One tabby mentioned how he fell off his camel

after the camel was scared by a turtle,

another cat, a sleek Abyssinian told of her

run in with a pack of wolves,

and a third, a lovely Birman, said she

was tired of the desert life

and wanted to head north to Norway

where it was cooler, and plenty of fish for her to eat.

Pooki simply told the others her simple but incredible story:

"My camel actually came to my front door one day

when my owners were out

and asked me if I wanted to travel the world with him.

Being naturally adventurous, I replied 'Of course, let me

pack up my things.' Then I jumped on the back of the camel

and we took off, into the air, across the vast ocean to

distant lands. We traveled the deserts of Iran, Africa, even the Gobi."

The other cats found it hard to believe,

especially since the tuxedo cat implied that her camel could fly.

The Birman stopped laughing long enough to respond:

"How then, pray tell, did you wind up back here?" she said,

pointing her right front paw to the beach behind a waterfront condominium.

Pooki had an enigmatic smile on her lips, knowing they thought full well she mistook

the beach for a desert.

"The camel and I have seen more than just sand; we have seen

a cat's paradise: hordes of tuna, mice, even lizards to play with all day long.

Just like we do here."