Sneaky Pie for President Read Free Page B

there are predator and prey animals. Too many of one or the other and everyone suffers. It’s yet another example of an imbalance of power.”
    A murmur attended this.
    Art inhaled deeply, his mighty chest pushing out. “Cat, you got my vote. Good luck.”
    The birds chirped, Sneaky thanked the Red-shouldered Hawk, and the two cats headed back up the dirt road to the barns.
    “How can you get our human to understand, much less all humans?” asked Pewter. The gray cat thought Sneaky Pie might just be losing her mind.
    “I don’t know,” Sneaky answered frankly. “But that doesn’t mean I won’t find a way. The more animals we talk to, the more ideas I’ll get. I’m convinced dialogue is necessary.”
    “Sneaky Pie, we’re old friends, but I think you’re crazy.”
    “Maybe we have to be just a little, you know?”
    As they reached the top of a small hill, from above the cowbird suddenly swooped, pooping right onto the tiger cat’s back before flying away.
    Pewter couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, there’s a vote of confidence.”
    Sneaky Pie laughed, too. “That cowbird is making her opinion known. I suppose it’s a form of free speech. I just didn’t realize politics would get so messy so fast!”

Of Mice and Men
    The human had left the television on before disappearing into the kitchen. Seating herself directly in front of the noisy machine, Tally grinned as she watched a dog driving a Subaru. It was her favorite commercial. The rambunctious Jack Russell sniffed the screen but didn’t smell the car-driving dog. Madison Avenue admen were using dogs to sell cars.
    “People trust a dog more than they trust a cat,” Tally concluded.
    “Ha. That dog is driving that car only because he’ll work cheaper than a cat,” pointed out Pewter, highly offended by the ad. “It’s like the entire species has no pride at all.”
    Tally growled. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. I heard all those dogs have agents. And the film crewcan’t overwork us any more than children. Furthermore, cats are too small to drive. You couldn’t see over the dashboard.”
    “I can drive.” Pewter was sitting on the sofa as she watched the TV, but she now jumped down to squarely face Tally. “Porsches were made for me.”
    “If you two start a fight, we won’t get to go up to Monticello,” Sneaky Pie reminded them.
    “She’s right,” Tucker agreed. The corgi wanted to go to the big house on the hill.
    “She started it.” The gray cat peevishly glowered.
    “I did not.” Tally growled again, and everyone was reminded how excitable Jack Russells could be.
    Sneaky wearied of both Pewter and Tally being so touchy.
    “You said people trust dogs more than cats,” Pewter grumbled.
    “They do,” said Tally. “Man’s best friend. Fido. It’s Latin or something, meaning faithful. Has a cat ever been named Fido?”
    “Tally, no cat would endure it.” Sneaky smiled. “Still, I agree, for some reason people trust dogs more than cats. What’s your point, Tally?”
    “You should turn over your campaign to me.” Tally wagged her little tail. “I’ll name you my running mate.”

    Pewter exploded with laughter. “No one in their right mind would vote for a Jack Russell. And by the way, Tally, no one believes you speak Latin.”
    Although she agreed with Pewter, Tucker kept her mouth shut. Jack Russells lived for excitement. Finding none, they’d create it. Washington, D.C., didn’t need any more frenzied yapping. It needed level heads making informed decisions. Tally thought with her nose, and was unfit for office.
    Tally was getting worked up right now—not a formula for profitable dialogue. “They will so vote for me. Don’t forget: I kill vermin. I protect humans. I, I, I chase delivery people. I mean, how do you know that delivery person isn’t actually a thief? And I’m small, so I can get places other dogs can’t. I am the most useful and helpful dog any human could want,” Tally