Alternate Title: Alfie the Amazing and the Artful Dodger.
This happened on 18Nov, when I was still in the midst of computer and connection woes.
Rats! Chas is an artful dodger, he waits until someone is going out of the studio and turns into Speedy Gonzales. (Chas is in the 2nd photo).
I could not find him *anywhere*. Looked up and down in my studio, nothing. More to the point, Alfie (First photo) woke up and couldn't find him. So, I go looking elsewhere. The cats are all hanging out, not showing any sign that Chas is out and about.
Head back to my studio, and Alfie keeps running to the door into the bathroom. So, I decide to let Alfie out and see if he'll act as a search rat. Alfie sniffs all over and starts running along. He stops now and then, runs back to check me, then off he goes again. Led me everywhere, including downstairs. We did this three times.
No sign of Chas. The last time I took Alfie out, he sniffed around, barely ran anywhere, turned around and started digging at the bathroom door (which leads into my studio). I let him in, he sniffed around and ran right over to the futon, dug under the covers and found Chas.
Apparently, Chas did artful dodge, but at some point ran back to the main studio door and squeezed under the door. I fixed the door gap and both boys are safe and well.
Two things: Alfie makes a great search rat and this is the first time I've honestly heard the "patter of little feet".
I have no idea where Chas was while we were out looking; but Alfie found him in the end. Alfie was seriously distressed when he couldn't find Chas. They sleep at different times, and the first thing Alfie does when he wakes up is to run around and find Chas.
The boys are now allowed out and about in the house several times a week; they love going on 'house journeys' and have all the cats suitably intimidated. They do enjoy playing with Lint & Dust.
Edited to add: I just can't get over how much Alfie reminds me of
Bruce.
