Anymews, my mum told me that this little kitten and her little girl, who was her main human, grew very close. As they got older, the girl entered Beauty in cat shows. One after another, Beauty entered into and one after another she came home with a blue ribbon for the ones she entered.

      The nice thing about Beauty was that she remained a sweet kitten, or cat, as she no longer was a kitten. My mum said she had no conceit at all. But people and kitties often judged her by her looks and not by any knowledge of her.

      However, there was a cat that used to walk outside the house in Charlotte and see Beauty sitting on the windowsill that overlooked the sidewalk. She was so pretty and looked so content that the alley cat was jealous. And jealous cats, like jealous people, usually start trouble.

      The alley cat walked across the yard one day to sit below the windowsill and talk to Beauty. “Beauty, you know you are indeed very beautiful but that is all you are. You are not loved for who you are, you are loved for the ribbons you win.”

      Beauty was not schooled in the mean ways of the world, so she was gullible enough to think that the alley cat might be telling the truth. Beauty began to cry.

      The alley cat saw this and was pleased but she did not let her true feelings show. Instead, she feigned sympathy as she mewed, “Well, I know something that will make you feel better. Why don’t you come out her and join me? I will show you the real world. Then you will feel better, I can promise you.”

      “Oh, but I am not allowed to go out.”

      “What! A cat who doesn’t know how to get out? Or isn’t independent? I wouldn’t call myself a cat if I were you.”

      At these words, Beauty cried even more. “But…my Mistress says all the most valuable cats are kept indoors for their own good.”

      The alley cat slyly replied, “She just says that to appease you. And you see that she used the word ‘valuable’ to describe you. Just watch if you get out if she doesn’t forget about you in a day’s time.”

      Beauty was not certain about this but she thought she DID need to learn about the “real” world. She couldn’t be pampered and sheltered ALL the time so she said, “Ok, wait here and I will sneak out and we will see.” Beauty was actually excited about the upcoming adventure.

      She joined the alley cat soon after this conversation.

      “What do I call you?” asked Beauty.

      “You can call me Your Highness, yes, that will do nicely.” Said the alley cat who could never remember anything but being a wild and who wasn’t about to admit that she had no name, as far as she knew. It didn’t really matter cause all cats give themselves their own names, anyway, she always told herself.

      Soon the two were wandering around the city and Beauty felt very worldly. That is, she felt worldly until dinner time. Then she felt hungry.

      “Well, I guess it’s time for me to get going home, it is dinner time, after all.”

      “Don’t be silly. Now you are in for a real adventure. Scavenging for food.”

      “Scavenging? What is that?” asked Beauty.

      “Just follow me. If we are lucky we can catch a mouse or bird. You have done that before, haven’t you?”

      Beauty was not about to admit that all she had caught were the toys her beloved Mistress got for her. So she nodded and said, “Why, of course.”

      “Well, then, this will be just like that.”

      Beauty couldn’t admit the truth that now she really wanted to go home. She also didn’t want to lose face to “Her Highness.” So Beauty just hoped she could keep up.

      Highness had a good ear, Beauty realized because they were soon stalking a mouse that she hadn’t heard. It was behind the garbage cans in the alley and not until she followed Highness’s gaze did she spot the little brown animal.

      Highness had a hungry look on her face as she hunted down the little furry creature. Beauty was hungry… but a live, squirming critter did nothing for her appetite. She still didn’t want to lose face in front of Highness so she did her best to hide her disgust and look interested.

      Within minutes the hunt was over and Highness, kindly, offered to share the kill. Beauty shook her head while sniffing out aromas from neighboring houses. Her nose led her to someone’s kitty dish with a nice tuna meal. Though Beauty knew it was stealing, she couldn’t help herself. She gobbled it down. Then she joined Highness wiping her face after her feast on the live kill.

      This continued for days while Beauty was getting to be more and more miserable. She would have headed back home, lose face or not, if only she had known the way, at this point. She fell asleep behind the garbage cans and snuggled up to Highness for comfort and to combat her loneliness.

      Beauty heard some kids the following day yell, “Hey, isn’t that the cat on the flyer?” “Yes, let’s grab her, there’s a reward.” And so they gave chase. Beauty’s instinct to escape pursuit took over and both she and Highness ran. They got away and hid.

      Highness said, “What do you think all that is about?”

      “I think my Mistress has put up lost flyers for me. Oh, I really want to go home. I am miserable,” Beauty said in all honesty. She could no longer pretend to enjoy her adventure or even be upset with her Mistress. She just wanted to go home.

      During this short time, Highness had learned what a sweet cat Beauty was and that her beauty was more than skin deep so she couldn’t help but feel sympathy for the sweet thing. Aloud she said, “ Let’s see if we can find your way back home.”

      Highness did know the city pretty well so finding Beauty’s home did not take long. As a matter of fact, they were there before nightfall. Beauty ran up to the door and mewed while Highness hung back on the sidewalk out front. Beauty beckoned to her but Highness shook her head, “This is your home. I should never have enticed you out. You belong here, I shouldn’t have been jealous. I don’t deserve a nice place like this. Rest assured your mistress loves you. Who wouldn’t? And next time, don’t just believe anything that any old cat or person says, ok?” And as Beauty was protesting, she turned her back to leave.

      Just then the mistress opened the door and scooped Beauty into her arms, covering her with kisses. “Oh, I missed you soooo much!…But wait…who’s your friend? I believe she deserves a reward.”

      “Highness!” Beauty mewed, “come back. Come back, you should get a reward. Deep down mew are a good cat, mew know?”

      Highness couldn’t resist a free meal so she turned back. Little did she know that when she bent down to eat some of the cat food the mistress would scoop her in her arms, too.

      “I think when I get you cleaned up, you will look quite nice.” And so she shut the door. Highness now belonged to someone. And she didn’t mind.