There is a world outside this house.

I can't even begin to describe the sounds and the smells and the movement and the smells and the birds and the sounds and the grass.

It is AMAZING.

The only problem is , Mom and Dad won't let me out by myself. 

I can only go out when they do and I have to stay on the wooden walkways beyond the doors. The one at the back is called the stoop. At least that's what Mom calls it. Dad says it's a bridge. Mom says it's a stoop and laughs, saying that only in Newfieland would it be called a bridge. 

I don't know what they are talking about. 

It's wood.

The stoop is not very big but there are flowers there that attract all types of insects. Dad don't like keeping the door open because the insects and bugs and crawly things get in the house.

Are you crazy Dad. That's my playthings. 

I think what gets him upset is when I chase them around the house at night. I have a tendency to knock things over and wake Dad up. Never seems to bother Mom. 

And he gets really mad when I get my claws hooked in the window screens and pull them out. Like that is my fault. 

He says he don't want me getting outside by myself.

But that is the whole idea Dad.

The front wooded walk thing is called a veranda. It's really noisy out there and there are these big things that go by and they make all kinds of noises. 

Dad says there are too many and the city should do something about it. 

I have no idea what he is babbling about. 

But he did say they are dangerous and they could hurt me. 

So I guess he means well.

Out front there are lots of winged things called birds.  

When it was cold outside and there was white stuff all over the ground, Mom and Dad used to put a bowl out and put some stuff in it and those birds used to come right up to the bowl.  

Mom and Dad put a stand in the window with a blanket on it so me and Uncle Shadow could watch them.  

It was so exciting. 

Uncle Shadow used to always fall asleep. He can be so boring. 

I could lie there all day and watch.

The only bad thing about going outside is that if I leave the wooden veranda or bridge/stoop, they yell at me and if I don't listen I have to back inside. 

I don't understand it at all. They can go outside anytime and even the woman next door, who has cats, I growls and hiss at them, but she lets her cats out. 

So why can't I.

Mom and Dad say its because I don't listen. Uncle Shadow only comes out for a while and then he goes in. They never yell at him. But then he doesn't leave.

I went far away from the stoop one day, all the way next door. Mom was so mad. She put me back inside.

I guess they are just worried that something might happen to me, but I really want to go out.

They keep saying.... 

When you learn to stay you can.

Sigh.