I am not proud of what I’m about to tell you. In fact, I debated whether or not to even record this tragic event. But I suppose every great cat has their moment of weakness, and mine came today… in the form of a paper bag.
It all started innocently enough. My humans had left one of those big, crinkly paper bags on the floor—the kind with the delightful handles that rustle when you touch them. Naturally, I had to investigate. After all, it’s my duty to inspect anything that enters my domain. Plus, the bag smelled faintly of something delicious. I’m thinking it might have been tuna, but we’ll never know for sure.
At first, everything was going according to plan. I slid one paw into the bag, testing the waters. It felt right, so I slithered in further, letting the bag envelop me in its cozy, papery embrace. I was halfway inside, savoring the feel of the crinkles beneath my paws, when disaster struck.
Somehow, and I’m still not quite sure how, the bag tipped over and the handles—those treacherous loops of doom—slipped over my head. Suddenly, I was no longer a sleek, majestic cat. I was a cat with a bag on my head. A BAG ON MY HEAD.
Panic set in immediately. I tried to shake it off, but the more I wiggled, the tighter it seemed to get. I flailed around the living room, blinded by my new paper prison, crashing into furniture and knocking over a vase (which I’m sure was ugly anyway, so no real loss there).
I could hear my humans laughing, and that only made it worse. They were witnessing my most undignified moment and finding it amusing! I’m convinced I heard one of them say, “Look, she’s a little paper lion!” as if that was supposed to make me feel better. I am a sophisticated feline, not some grocery store novelty.
After what felt like an eternity of struggle, I finally managed to claw my way free. The bag was left in tatters, a crumpled mess on the floor, and I was free but humiliated. I tried to regain my composure, giving myself a quick groom and strutting away as if I had meant to do all that. But the damage was done.
The humans tried to soothe me with treats, which I accepted only to maintain the illusion that I was unaffected by the whole ordeal. But inside I was plotting my revenge. Perhaps a strategic hairball in one of their shoes, or a sudden decision to knock over their favorite coffee mug. Yes, that should do nicely.
For now, I’ll pretend to forgive them and act like nothing happened. But let it be known that paper bags are now my sworn enemies, and I will never, ever trust one again.
With ruffled fur and wounded pride,
Gryzka, the Defeater of Bags (Eventually)