Maxwell, a long-haired, gray and white cat, destroys things. His eyes sparkle, his tail rises high and his whiskers twitch during every destructive spree. Maxwell pounces on the kitchen counter, bats a teacup with his paw, eyes it narrowly shattered and scattered on the linoleum. Proud is he, smirking near the canister set. Maxwell charges the Christmas tree, alighting like a gypsy moth on bowed branch, meows as tree leans, then as it’s crashing to the carpet, leaps from the branch in time. He looks at me like he’s the show, and criticisms lack the will to live. Oh Maxwell, sowing wild cat oats, incising back door screen with claws, like he can do as he wishes because it is there and breaking beckons. A Lazy Boy is no match; he finds opportunity to use it as a scratching post. Ergo, efficiency of paws as fast as chatter, makes mince of something whole. Knick-knacks arc from tabletop as Maxwell seems to take a bow. Delinquent feline he, atypical pet careening his way through all nine lives. Maxwell even bites the buttons off shirts, with folks still in them. 40 Lines Writer’s Cramp Winner 10-21-17 |