Mom says it’s 103 degrees out so we can’t go outside again today.

What’s 103?

I don’t know.  I think it’s a mighty big number ‘cuz even if I used all my toes and all your toes, I don’t think I could count that high.

What’s degrees?

That’s how humans measure how hot it is outside.  The bigger the number, the hotter it is and I think this is extra extra hot.

I had a terrible thought.

Now what?

Well, remember how you said Mom got her hair cut off ‘cuz it was too hot?

Yes……

What if she decides to cut off our hair if we get too hot?

That’s not going to happen.  I love my shiny black coat and I know you love your big fluffy tail.  Maybe that’s why Mom is making us stay inside so she doesn’t have to do something drastic like that.

I’m beginning to really like staying inside!!!

What happened to you yesterday?  I didn’t see you all day.  Were you hiding?

Not exactly.  For some reason Mom shut me in her room when she left for work.

I was wondering why I got a vacation from you.  Were you bad?

I don’t think so.  I was just my normal self.  Maybe she didn’t see me when she shut the door.  All I know is that it was rather boring.  Good thing I had two windows so I could at least watch the outside world.

Know why Mom wouldn’t let us out last night?

No!  I was kind of mad at her ‘cuz I wanted to go out again.

Well, she told me it was just too hot and maybe she’s right.  Mom got most of her hair cut off ‘cuz she said it was too hot for the summer.  We still have all of our fur and both of us have lots of it.  To make matters worse, my fur is black and when that sun hits it, I get mighty warm.  That’s why I like to go under the deck where it’s dark and cool.

I was wondering what you were doing under there.  It looks kind of scary and besides that, you come out with all sorts of things hanging off your whiskers and stuck in your tail.  You know I don’t want anything on my tail.  It’s too beautiful!

You and your tail.  It’s always in the way ‘cuz it’s so big.

It’s my plume!

Man, yesterday was so peaceful when you were shut in Mom’s room.  I suppose you’re going to bug me all day now.

Yep.  That’s what little brothers are supposed to do.