Dangers of Exploring

I am not sure who will die first. Yuki or me.

She has been an avid explorer since her arrival. She investigates everything. I must look inside the washer and dryer before closing and starting them. She very nearly set herself afire testing the flame of the range. The toilet lid MUST remain closed. I have fished her out once already, her nose being barely out of the water.

This morning I could not find her. On usual mornings she is at my feet protesting her lack of food in her dish. I called for her and searched with growing dread all of her usual hiding places. With few other places to search I went outside.

I thought I heard a faint meow but could not find it. I looked all around. The sound was as if it were moving. I am certain I searched for 30 minutes at the least. Finally, a neighbor said for me to "Look up there!"

I looked and saw Yuki... on the roof! Perhaps you remember seeing my roof in this post?

I believe I screamed...... a little bit. Enough so that friendly neighbor called the local fire house to retrieve Yuki from her perch. The time for the fire crew to arrive was only a few minutes. Of this I am sure. To me, it seemed hours.

As I watched, she would look as if she were preparing to jump to me. As I moved up and down the yard she would follow. I found myself looking for a place that seemed softest for her to land. Soft? Really? How can something be soft when it is 14 meters high?

The fire crew seemed entertained by my frantic pacing but remained professional. After retrieving Yuki they were very polite and told me to call anytime I need them. Then I was given a bill...O_o It was not expensive... only ¥4000... but a bill?

I needed only to find her means of climbing to the roof. It was not difficult to find. It seems Lt opened a rear window this morning and forgot to close it. He did not notice the screen had fallen from the frame. There is a vine that reaches to the roof along the back wall of the house. I have replaced the screen. Yuki has tested my installation of it.

I called Lt to tell him of it. He could only laugh.