Queenie was the fiestiest cat you ever saw! She was born in the country, and how she loved to run around outside! All day long she would hunt mice, chase birds, climb trees, nap in the sun, and climb up to the roof of the barn to survey her Queendom. When her human looked for her to bring her in the house at night, she would hide. She wanted to stay out under the stars in the mysterious, black night. Sometimes the human could not find her, so she did.

As Queenie got older, and her creature comforts became more important to her, she began to notice things. Horrid fleas would jump on her and bite her. Horrid dogs would chase her and frighten her. Horrid stickers in the grass in Autumn would get caught in her long fur, and her human had a terrible time getting them out without hurting her. The sun seemed hotter in summer and the wind seemed colder in winter. And she hated rain. But she would not give up her freedom, and if she was forced to stay inside very long, she would howl at the back door for hours!

Then one day her whole world came apart. She found herself trapped in a carrier and driven for many hours to another house she never saw before. When she was released from the carrier at the new house, Queenie had a fit! She didn't like it there at all. There were extra humans in the house carrying furniture around, and she wasn't fond of extra humans, either. She spent a miserable night. And in the morning, when someone opened a door, Queenie bolted for freedom.

Ah, to be outside again! But what outside was this? Deep woods and a dirt road and no other houses, except that strange looking one she ran out of. She headed for the woods. And for a day she had a wonderful time. Being a fine huntress, she caught herself a good dinner. But then it began to rain.

Queenie wandered deeper into the woods, looking for shelter. She could hear voices calling her but now she was afraid. When she tried to get her collar off so the bell would not warn her prey, her front leg got caught in it. Then she couldn't hunt or run. The days went by and Queenie got very hungry, confused, and more scared. This outside was not nice.

Finally one evening Queenie limped toward the strange new house. Her leg and neck were very sore by now from the collar rubbing, and she was very weak. Was that her own human's voice she heard calling? Yes, it was! But she stopped and lay down on a pile of old hay and just meowed. She was too frightened to go closer. Was that her own human coming toward her? Yes, it was!

Queenie stayed on the hay and did not try to hide. Her human came toward her carefully, talking to her in low, familiar words. Finally, her human picked her up and carried her into the strange house. The human was crying so much that Queenie's matted fur was getting wet again.

Oh, my. It was good to be inside a warm house, and get a big dish of food to gulp down. It was good to get the collar cut off of her and to be held and brushed and comforted. And Queenie was so sore and tired. For days, she didn't even think of going outside again.

But when she did want to go out, her human said no. There would be no more outside for her. It was very hard to get used to, being an indoor cat. Queenie howled at the door for a long time, and she howled all night. She did not give in easily. But some time later, as she realized she was comfortable, had no fleas and no stickers, never got chased and couldn't get lost again, Queenie knew something else.

She had made a very important and very good new beginning.

NEXT: Pasha Nails a Dognapper

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