Treasures
written by: Gabriella Balcom
Puss-in-Boots pranced around and around in his brand-new boots. Nothing had ever fit him so well before or been as comfortable, and although he’d always been fast on his feet, wearing the new footwear seemed to add an extra oomph, making him even quicker. More agile, too. He was reluctant to take them off, but knew he had to, and pawed them gently. They were a true marvel, hand-crafted from the finest leather, and he’d never seen anything so exquisite. So gorgeous. Buying them had taken every bit of his savings, but they were worth it. He’d wanted a pair like this forever.
A sense of well-being swept over him each time he wore them, but eventually he was horrified to see faint signs of wear and tear. The fading and smudges were to be expected, of course, but bothered him nonetheless. If only he had money, he could buy more.
He couldn’t help but notice the rich cats who lived in his town. Their things never looked worn out. Rather, they always looked brand-new, probably because they were. A huge difference existed in their homes, too. Theirs were in great shape, unlike his, which was drafty and leaked when it rained. Their lives were like dreams come true, and resentment festered inside him, growing by leaps and bounds day by day. He worked his tail off, mousing and chasing strays, but had little to show for it. The pampered felines lazed nonstop but wanted for nothing. They had so much: homes, the best cushions, collars, and attire, human pets, milk, tuna, cheese galore, and all sorts of other yummy foods. It just wasn’t fair.
Something had to be done about them, but what? That question plagued him nonstop, and he couldn’t get it out of his mind, dwelling on it repeatedly. But he eventually figured out a possibility.
The sorceress Perzhique lived deep in a nearby forest. According to rumor, she sometimes helped felines for free, especially if they had a good cause. Puss wasted no time in going to see her, pleaded his case with heartfelt fervor, and soon obtained a potion from her.
He visited Silva Siamese first, dripping some of the precious droplets he’d acquired on her. Her body shimmered, began to shrink, and she transformed into a bug, which he promptly crushed. With her out of the way, he helped himself to her fancy playhouse and multi-leveled cat tree. Her stores of catnip were his for the taking, also. He’d personally use some of it, but another portion, he planned to trade for other things he wanted.
One by one, Puss went to see other pampered cats. He acquired Manfred Manx’s collection of jeweled collars next, along with his large set of electronic mice, bugs, and other toys. They were nothing short of fascinating, and the new owner couldn’t wait to play with them. He looked forward to using the fancy state-of-the-art can opener he discovered; also, it’d come in handy for getting into yummy delicacies he hoped to find soon. He followed up with Bryce Burmese’s velvet-covered cat bed and redwood scratching posts. Discovering the other feline’s mega supply of gourmet cat food, he yowled exultantly. Tanya Tabby was suspicious when he showed up at her place, and refused to let him inside, but he caught her by surprise when she eventually went into her backyard. Her whack-a-mouse toy made him chuckle, and he happily helped himself to her play tunnel and sparkly, jingling balls. He frowned at her set of satin scarves, figuring he’d never use them, but carted them off anyway. They’d go with his other stuff for trading.
Nobody in his area knew why cats were going missing, but more and more did, with their absences being bemoaned by their people.
As time passed, Puss went out in public more, making sure those without pets now would see him, and one eventually took Puss home with her. He reciprocated her doting, secure in the knowledge he’d never go without again.
Now he had everything he wanted.
The End
- Treasures - April 18, 2026
- Where Could She Be? - December 22, 2025
- As Thanksgiving Approaches - November 27, 2025
