The Cat Cafe Series:

"I am Esmerelda the Gypsy Cat. created from many different materials, I am a full 36" long, stuffed with pantyhose, and dressed in real vintage costume jewels and clothing. Actually, every part of me is real - if you know what I mean. I even have a rhinestone garter belt, but I'm not gonna let you see it. There are days when I regret that Diabella breathed life into me. All would have been fine had she not placed me by an open window for the paint on my face to dry. You see, there was this beautiful butterfly outside and... Oh, well. Doesn't matter. It didn't take long to learn that the life of a street cat isn't easy, but each day did bring a new adventure. By the time I met up with King, I'd already been on the streets for a couple of years. However, I had never heard of Brooklyn until that misty Autumn day. Come a bit closer. Let me tell you all about that night, and about my adventure with King Kat. Here's how it all started."

CHAPTER I

The heavy glass door of the office building swung out onto the sidewalk with such force that it knocked me off all fours.... A woman stepped through the doorway and scooped me up. I sensed that she was sorry and meant no harm. "Poor kitty-cat, I was in such a hurry to leave the office and get home that I didn't notice you sitting on the sidewalk." She held me close. "Poor kitty-cat," she kept repeating. It was apparent that she was torn between returning me to the sidewalk and taking me home. "Poor kitty... I can't keep you. Already have two at home." Suddenly she grinned widely and stuffed me in a Macy's shopping bag. Through the glass door and up an elevator we went. Once inside a tiny office she looked around and quitely locked the door behind us. She sat me on a desktop and laughed excitedly. "KITTY-KAT, I HAVE ONE HELL OF AN IDEA!" "Esmerelda!" I replied. "My name is Esmerelda the Gypsy Cat!" She didn't understand. She broke a cookie in two and set the larger piece before me. I sniffed at the chocolate. It sure was no burger. I devoured it anyway. After a couple of years on the streets, you learn to take what you get when you get it. She laughed again. "I HAVE ONE HECK OF AN IDEA, KITTY.... AND IT IS GOING TO WORK!" We are going to exchange favors: I will find you a home and, in turn, you will be a Christmas present for a friend." She opened a desk drawer, pulled out a bandaid and unwrapped it. In tiny letters, I watched her write this message on its surface. $1,000 REWARD IF I AM RETURNED TO: Melissa F. --- 5008 Brown Street--- Brooklyn, USA BY CHRISTMAS She pressed the bandaid firmly against my fur and apologized for not being able to keep me. Once again, into the Macy's shopping bag, down the elevator, out the glass door, and into the street. As she reluctantly lowered me to the sidewalk she wished me good luck and assured me that I would reach the destination on the bandaid by Christmas. Couldn't remember where I had been headed so I walked towards 5th Avenue. The mist gave way to rain, which loosened the adhesive on the bandaid and robbed me of the promise of a home. Such is life in the big city. I didn't dwell on it.

CHAPTER II

The chill in the air and the cardstore windows filled with black paper witches and smiling jack-o-lanterns hinted that Halloween was near. I loved Halloween. It was always a fun night in the streets and sometimes the kids would feed me candy. I wondered how close it was. Crawling through the fallen leaves I spotted a newsstand and pounced atop a stack of papers to learn the date. The New York Times headline read: "TYLENOL KILLER STALKS CITY." ... The date above the headline told me it was Hallows Eve. The 42nd Street garbage can held no treasures that misty night. A yellow, crumpled coupon with the words "Buy One Get One Free" glared up at me from the trash. Being a cat, I was curious. What do you get for free if you buy one? I jumped onto the rim of the can, steadied myself on my hindquartes, dug in and uncrumpled the coupon. Hmm, I thought to myself. The one on 34th Street isn't far. Crouching low to the ground on all fours I went full speed ahead. Within minutes the sign was in view: BURGER KING - HOME OF THE BIG WHOPPER. My instincts for survival were sharp. The trash can overflowed with the day's leftovers. The moonlit streets were still except for the haunting sound of a newspaper dancing in the wind. I pounced on the trash can and dug in. Before I had a bite of anything, out of nowhere appeared a fat, bald, tomcat decked out in purple satin shorts, a royal blue cape and a gold paper crown bearing the words "BURGER KING - HOME OF THE BIG WHOPPER." "Good evening, fancy feline ... and a happy Hallows Eve to you," he bellowed as he bowed deeply. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is King Kat the Third." His cape swayed in the breeze revealing a huge bulging spare tire about his waist. He lit a cigar and the smoke hovered over his head forming a halo. I was quite stunned by his size and overpowering presence. "And why is this fancy feline digging in the trash this Hallows Eve?" The cat's diamond pinky ring flashed in the night as he spoke, and his broad grin became even broader, revealing perfectly pointy white teeth. He sneered at me approvingly. Something in King's twisted smile made me uneasy but being a streetwise cat I saw my golden opportunity. This hadda be one rich dude. Fluttering my whiskers and widening my eyes seductively, I gazed up at him. "Hello, King ... I am Esmerelda The Gypsy Cat - and I just love your Halloween costume." "This is no costume," he replied. From the expression on his face I could tell that he wanted me. "Follow me to my castle, fancy feline, and I will shower you with jewels and silks, champagne and satin, lace and furs." His eyes sparkled like iridescent mounds of hot coal and for one fleeting moment I imagined that he was the devil in disguise about to ignite 34th Street with the flames of hell. "Right now I'd settle for a juicy burger and fries," I heard myself replying. "Not to worry, fancy feline. Follow the King and you shall have your juicy burger - and so much more. My castle lies just beyond the bridge in a place called Brooklyn. Let us begin our journey." "Brooklyn? Why, that's where I was headed, King. You see, I met up with this kind lady earlier today and she ... " "Forget the past, Fancy. Follow the King." I can't lie. I knew what King wanted. But I was so hungry that I didn't care. Guided by the stars we walked side by side across the Brooklyn bridge and through a maze of darkened streets for what seemed like hours. I was hungry and tired, and a bit scared. Just when I thought I couldn't lift another paw we arrived. So this was King's castle. The abandoned old warehouse filled the deserted tree lined street. I gazed up and silently counted 38 stories. Once inside the musty building we climbed the cobweb covered stairway to the top landing. King took out a rusty iron key and unlocked the heavy mahogany door to the 38th floor...... PLEASE CONTINUE WITH THIS ADVENTURE AT YOUR OWN RISK BY CLICKING THE NEXT BUTTON BELOW.