So, he brought me home. Carefully placing my cage on grass at stops. And driving me in between moves. Strange smells from earth and dead leaves - regret and cold. I like those smells to this day. He fed me the existing food first, then, dunno how he found it - the food that the first lady taking me to a doctor fed me. He’s slick: showed me both pouches and I picked the familiar one by pointing it with the muzzle and brushing against it. I was afraid to eat at first.
Most of the time I was hiding under the bed - or in various corners. I still do sometimes - I like a good den every now and then. He made me sit in the window - and I looked outside. It was awesome - but I still preferred safety.
After a while I discovered some good places: sun shines over the books in the library in the morning - so I nested on top of the books in the lower shelf for a few hours every January morning.
He tricked me into playing with him - and then he couldn’t get away. It started with a dust cleaner - that I totally embraced and kicked with my bunny legs - but then it went on toying with his activities: I chewed the tip of his pencil as he was writing - I still do that if I’m around. And when tired - I put my head on the hand he was holding the book with - and took a good, long nap. Didn’t dare disturb me too much.
With sleep patterns I figured out not so easy - he’s not sleeping like me. I got into my party disposition just about when he was heading to sleep - but we don’t let a nap wreck a good party. So I ran around the house, jumping here and there - and, if he was in the way of my trajectory - well, eh, I used him as a trampoline. I’m still the fastest cat around - and that’s what counts, right?
In the morning (he’s taking his time waking up) - I went several times and checked if he’s still breathing: smelled his breath. It smelled fine - still alive. When he sat on the edge of his bed for wakeup moments - that’s when I got my turn for the brush-and-cuddle session. I absolutely had to get stroked on my hips - all while reaching with my muzzle to get my cheeks brushed against his beard and my chin scratched for good measure. On the right hand side - then on the left hand side. Followed by a sprint to the food bowl - because with him rising - I also got my breakfast. Sprint with stops - checking if he’s following me.
After a while I noticed he rarely disturbs my sleep - and I did the same: sleep is important for both of us. These days I even allow chin and cheek scratches and timid belly rubs - without sleep break.