Alpha

Day 312: Admitting defeat doesn't come easily to many of us, but eventually the truth of the matter becomes so painfully obvious that only a fool would persist in denying it. Today, I relinquished my alpha status with respect to the harpsichord, although I did insist on covering it with a thick and somewhat moth-eaten Pendleton blanket. My first attempt involved a quilt, and it didn't register with me that it had been stored in a trunk with a pennyroyal packet. The lingering scent of pennyroyal had the same (or even stronger) effect as catnip on my Wild Child who, at great peril to my skin, had to be stuffed in the Time-out Box until it wore off. Casting about for any other protection I could offer the wood, the Pendleton came to mind. It was also savagely attacked, although the novelty wore off after half an hour or so. However, a secondary problem arose, in that now paws could reach both a dangling Hoya vine and a framed needlework piece if he really stretched himself. The plant has been moved. The needlework may have to be. Little by little, I'm learning whothe real boss is around here.