THE FASHION SHOW Roly Poly decided that he needed a change of scenery.
He was feeling frustrated and flummoxed after the clocker debacle.
It is not something he would normally have gotten involved with,
The night walking and the wet weather had not agreed with him,
But he was glad to have solved the mystery of the crazy clocks,
Especially for Delita's sake.
She had been so grateful for his support.
He had been to pamper heaven when she saw him last,
Claws clipped,
Coat clean,
Ears trimmed,
Tummy tickled,
Eyes shined and teeth brushed.
By the time he had left,
He was fit for the catwalk,
Which as it happened,
Was exactly where he was heading.
MILAN FASHION SHOW Long ago,
Before he had settled in Fairfield,
Roly Poly had been a city dweller.
He had spent some time living with Jeff and Floof over in Italy.
They had kept in touch over the years and Roly Poly was keen to meet up with them again and to see their new accommodation,
A fashion house,
Owned by the famous designer,
Kevin Feline.
The top designer never went anywhere without his furry friends.
His latest collection had indeed been inspired by the cat community,
Including tortoiseshell hats,
Tabby trousers,
Ginger dresses and the classic tuxedo embellished with fur collar and cuffs.
Kevin had something extra special in mind when it came to the launch day.
All of the models were fussing with the costumes,
Making sure they looked their best.
They were,
However,
Not going to be the stars of the show.
Kevin had planned something far more headline-catching.
Each of the models was going to be accompanied by their own matching cat,
With Roly Poly leading the way.
The paparazzi couldn't get enough of it,
All the cameras flashed into action when Laomi Soup stepped out in her full-length,
Curly cream-coloured coat,
Accompanied by an embossed leather choker with Kevin's name printed out in gold.
Roly Poly looked up and couldn't help but roll his eyes,
What's with this obsession of putting your name on everything?
Floof and Jeff followed on,
Everyone remarked how clever and well-behaved they were.
The papers were filled with their photos the next day.
The night could not have gone any better.
After all the excitement,
Roly Poly suggested that they get away.
Lucia's was the obvious choice.
Her beautiful villa in the Tuscan hills ticked all of the boxes.
Big soft couches,
Excellent food,
Lots of snuggles,
But above all,
Discretion.
All three of them needed a break,
With no demands on their time.
Now you're probably wondering how three cats can travel through Italy without interruption.
All I can say is,
It involved a lot of Roly Poly's charm,
Jeff's slick sleuthing,
And their secret weapon Floof,
Who's not known for her charm or subtlety.
Floof always dealt with sticky situations with a glare and a don't-mess-with-me attitude.
When they were all questioned about sitting in first-class carriages on the way to Alua,
She made it clear that they were not going to move.
Roly Poly also gave one of his loving looks to the weary attendant,
Who wasn't really in the mood for an argument.
Lucia was waiting for them at the station,
And within no time at all they were all curled up in front of the log burner,
Content and purring,
Having been fed and fussed.
Lucia played the handpan,
Jeff laid in the sun,
And Roly Poly went for a walk down to the monastery and sat for an hour listening to the monks discussing the forthcoming papal visit.
Floof spent most of her time looking down from the swinging pot rack in the kitchen.
Everyone just got to do what they wanted.
Mealtimes were a chance to catch up on old times and discuss all of their creative projects.
According to Floof,
Polka dots were on trend,
But Jeff was not so convinced,
Having been privy to Kevin's new tweed collection.
It was definitely making a comeback.
Roly Poly had no interest in fashion,
But was kind enough to listen without interruption.
Floof sometimes had the habit of ignoring Jeff,
But deep down she appreciated his eye for detail and willingness to push the boundaries.
For their last evening together,
Lucia had organised a big bonfire outside.
Steak and salmon was on the menu.
Some friends from the neighbourhood joined them as they all sang songs and told stories snuggled up under the stars.
It was just what they all needed.
All too soon morning came and it was time to head home.
Lucia had organised a special surprise for them all,
A classic red Shelby sports car,
With a smart chauffeur to drive them all the way to the airport and then a private jet.
Can you believe it?
Well,
They all agreed,
If you have to travel,
It's always better to travel in style.
Roly Poly had time to think on the way home.
He felt refreshed and renewed.
He was very grateful to be able to spend his time doing things he enjoyed and making a difference to the people he met along the way.
His greatest wish is always to encourage others to do the same.
Taking care of yourself is never a waste of time.
I hope that is something you will always remember and follow Roly Poly's example for yourself.
The End For now,
At least.
