"Oh, Studmuffin," I called in a sing-song voice. "Guess whaaaa-aaaat?"

With my finger hovering over the computer mouse, I turned from my laptop to look for my familiar. I peeked under the kitchen table then toward the living room. Where was that fluffer-stinker? Surely he would know what I was doing and what I was about to do. He'd been pestering me about it for days.

"Studmuffin?"

Behind me, the softest little thud sounded. I whirled and nearly fell out of my chair. ...