Pet me!  Pet me!  Stop petting me!

     [ It digs its teeth into my hand ]

     “NO!  Stop it!  Damn cat!”

     Don’t yell at me!

     [ It runs and hides. ]

     “Bloody cat!”

     [ Minutes pass. ]

     Pet me!  Pet me!  Stop petting me!

     [ It smacks at my hand, wraps all four paws around my arm, and cuts nice and deep. ]

     “NO!”

     Don’t yell at me!

     [ It runs and hides. ]

     [ I wash it out, and bandage it as best I can ... jagged little scars. ]

     [ Minutes pass. ]

     Pet me!  Pet me!

     “No.  You bite.  You scratch.  Go away.”

     Pet me!  Pet me!

     “No.  Go away.”

     [ I ignore the cat ]

     Pet me!  Pet me!

     [ It forces itself in my lap.  Everything's good. ]

     [ Minutes pass. ]

     [ It growls and hisses, forewarning of yet another bite or scratch. ]

     “Get off me!”

     [ It won't budge, and continues to growl and hiss. ]

     [ It bites ... ]

     “F$*%ing cat!”

     [ It runs and hides. ]

     [ Minutes pass. ]

     Pet me!  Pet me!

     [ I ignore it, and walk out the door. ]

     [ Its terms only. I wonder why I let it stay? ]