How to Have Fun With or Without Help from a Grown-up
As told to Carol
By the Firefighter Fan
I have heard about three lovely and beloved cats who have been sharing some tips about how to manage their humans to do what they want so they can have fun. I respect my pet friends that prefer to amuse themselves in more calm and gentle ways, but for me, fun means excitement, motion, and adventure. I like the feeling of living dangerously and the sensation of adrenaline running through my whole body. I know we think of fun differently, but I have to admit that their experiences impressed me. They also inspired me to think about mine. Of course, like any smart child, I do have strategies to get what I want and to have fun. Here they are.
First step: If you are lucky like me, you were born with the advantage of having a very sweet and adorable face that leads people to think you are an angel. Just by looking at me, they start smiling and strike up a conversation with me. Some even play with me without being asked. When you see these signs, believe me, you have reached half way. In case your genetics did not help you with a cute face, do not worry, you can make some charming faces yourself. Try to smile and turn your head on your shoulder while your eyes are almost closed. If that does not work, do not hesitate. Send them a kiss. I bet you will receive that big smile back. Once you notice this, it is time to be more active.
Second step: Do not waste time. The sooner you start interacting with adults (and it does not matter if they are a complete stranger), the more engaged they will be, and the easier it will be for you to have playtime. My favorite activities demand some extra energy from the grown-up. I am thrilled when some cool adults make me jump from high heights, or when they throw me to the sky. I feel like I am a superhero who can fly. And, of course, I do not want to stop at all. I also like to play tag, but sometimes it is frustrating because I run faster than them and they never catch me, except when I run towards the street. In this case, they always manage to catch me, and I love it.
Third step: If you fail in the previous step, or if the grown-up was not available for playtime, or even if you did not have enough fun to supply your needs, you can follow this step. But, be careful. This is extremely dangerous and it should be your last option. So make sure you have really done your best at the second step. As you may have noticed, running is a good way to nudge a grown-up to play with you. When you have nothing to play with, you can just run away from your adult and find something interesting on your way, making this an exciting game. Children, in general, because of their height, have an advantage of reaching the most unpredictable things that can be used as a source of fun. I do not know if this is because adults make things we can play with accessible, or if we are too creative. I particularly believe in the first hypothesis, because some are obviously fun for a kid. I have already had lots of fun while running, such as pulling toilet paper from the roll all around the house or any other place; pulling any accessible cable and knocking things over along the way; and dropping something on the ground so that the grown-up can stumble or slip, fall down, and stay in an appropriate playing position. Those are really fun, but I have had one experience that I will never forget.
I was at my sister's friend's birthday party in a huge club, completely full of fun. There were people exercising, some doing sports, a few relaxing in a spa, and others at the outdoor swimming pool. I was very excited to be there, but I soon became frustrated. All the activities were for kids five years old and above. Not me. The only thing I was supposed to do was to watch big kids playing. I could not stand that. So I decided to explore the place, and when I saw a chance, I started running around. My dad came after me, but I ran so fast that he could not reach me. On my way I saw something on the wall and did not think twice: I pulled the handle. Then a loud and weird sound started playing everywhere and everybody had to evacuate the building. At first I was scared, but when I saw the firefighters coming in those big, red, noisy fire trucks, I felt thrilled. I love them and do not miss any chance to see them. While the firefighters checked everything inside the building to ensure it was safe, I kept admiring the trucks and thinking about how much fun that handle had provided. Since this event, I have been looking for those handles everywhere I go.
