The Empress

She was an empress. Queen of all she surveyed. And if you didn't believe that, all you had to do was ask.

Hers was not an easy life. When she was young, she lived with another small creature who loved nothing more than to pull on her tail. Or run her over with his rolling chair. In those days, she also had to share her home with - of all things - another cat! The indignities! Really, it was not to be borne.

Is it any wonder that she became a bit cold? That she reserved most of her affection for the one who protected her from that other cat and the active child? She didn't like being required to share. She was the empress. How dare anyone tell her to be nicer? She was ruler here. She could do whatever she chose, could she not?

Then more indignities. She had to move - bad enough - but she also had to share the bed with a man! Really? The horror. Well, an empress can stand almost anything for a little while. It's only for a little while, right, she thought. But, alas, her mistress had gotten married. And worse yet, her mistress' husband was allergic to cats. Can you imagine? Allergic to an empress? Was he a peasant? At least she still ruled the living room, perched on the couch for hours and hours, watching and ruling over her environs.

A brief sojourn to Paris. A view from the balcony. An opportunity to look down on others. And her mistress to herself again. Life was good.

Then back to the United States. Seattle may be rainy, but here was a large backyard to explore again (Paris had no such pleasures). Grass beneath her feet. Territory to claim.

But what was this? What kind of creature invaded? At least she still outweighed him, that piddling little dog. Appropriate that her mistress named him Taiwan. She was, after all, the formidable China. He was a mere annoyance. A rival for her mistress' affections, perhaps, but she had been there longer. She ruled the couch. He understood that. She knew how to teach him not to eat her food. A well-timed scratch or two would put him in his place.

Another interloper? Bigger than she was? Oh, but she was so tired. She slept more than she was awake. Was another creature really so bad? It could be ignored. She wouldn't deign to even really acknowledge this new invader. She had her couch. She knew she was still loved. Still empress. Forever empress.

Rest in peace, China.