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15 July 20XX
A new neighbour had just moved in. He’s blond, very tall, and extremely clumsy. I’ve seen the man stumble over his own two feet more than 40 times in the last five minutes already. There must be an award for it in the Guinness Book of Records somewhere. With how accident-prone he seems to be, I’m half tempted to protect him by wrapping him up in bubble wrap.
I think my new neighbour should really leave the moving of the furniture to the movers though. He’s going to give them more work to do when (not if) he breaks the furniture while trying to move them into his home. I think I should give him some of the cookies I’ve baked to welcome him to the neighbourhood. I don’t want to seem like a standoffish neighbour.
18 July 20XX
It turns out that my new neighbour’s name is Donquinxote Rosinante, but he prefers to be called Rosi what with his name being such a mouthful to pronounce. I jokingly called him ‘Corazon’ for all the heart patterns his clothes seem to have. He likes the nickname.
Note to self: keep him away from fire and all things flammable.
I found out that Rosi owns 2 cats, one called Doflamingo—Doffy for short—and the other is Law. Doffy was his late mother’s cat while Law has always been his. He tells me that those two can’t get along; Law hates Doffy while Doffy merely tolerates Law’s presence. Rosi can’t bear to give either cat away so he kept them both in separate rooms.
I wonder if I should introduce my own cats to his and have a playdate of sorts. I’m sure Crocodile would like to have a friend of his own age for once after being a foster parent to so many kittens. Ace, Sabo and Luffy would also benefit from interacting with more cats other than Croc and each other. I’ll remind myself to ask Rosi the next time I see him.
20 July 20XX
So the playdate is a no go. Rosi told me that Doffy was out exploring yesterday afternoon and wandered into my backyard. Upon seeing Luffy playing amongst the flowers, he decided to attack him. Rosi assured me that Doffy means no harm to Luffy, he is just play-hunting.
Needless to say, Crocodile wasn’t pleased to see an unfamiliar cat attacking his foster kitten and fought back against Doffy. Rosi said that it was odd that his cat—whose name I guess came from the sunglasses that he wears—didn’t fight back when Croc swatted and hissed at him. He merely stood there, as if stunned by Croc’s sudden appearance. I can understand that, it’s not often one sees a three-legged cat after all. Doffy was still there after Croc had ushered Luffy back into the house and had only left when he had heard me returning home.
If Doffy’s a cat who likes to stalk and hunt other felines for fun, I can see why Law dislikes him.
25 July 20XX
He’s been in my backyard for the past four days now according to Rosi. Doffy would appear after I left the house and leave when I’m coming home. I heard that he spent the entire day staring at Crocodile. I don’t know if Doffy’s looking for a fight or is curious about my cat, but I do know that Croc, Ace and Sabo don’t like him with how much they hissed every time they see him through the french doors. Croc had even stopped sunbathing near them now and would usher the ASL trio away whenever Doffy came over.
I don’t want to have to do this to my new neighbour, but if Doffy keeps on harassing my cats, Rosi will just have to keep him indoors permanently from now on.
26 July 20XX
I had to throw away the two dead rodents I found on the side of the french doors today. I’m going to have words with Croc about hunting the local wildlife again.
27 July 20XX
It was three colourful birds today. So it turns out that Croc is not doing the hunting.
Was it you, Ace and Sabo?
28 July 20XX
Two squirrels, and four birds.
Luffy’s under house arrest according to Croc and his brothers had been with him the entire time so it ain’t them. Rosi told me that Law and Doffy hadn’t left his house all day so it wasn’t them either.
Seriously, who’s doing this?
29 July 20XX
I woke up last night to the sound of caterwauling. It was made by Doflamingo, sitting behind a pile of three rats and five birds. He was the local wildlife killer, and now he plans to sing the song of his people at my house in the middle of the night.
Rosi, you have some explaining to do.
30 July 20XX
We discovered that Doffy’s behaviour is what male cats do when they are courting. The noise he was making at night? A mating call. A mating call. Which one of my cats is he trying to woo?
Update: he’s back again, this time with two birds and oh Lord, please don't let that be someone's pet rabbit.
1 August 20XX
It was quiet last night and the porch was empty of his gifts when I checked in the morning. I guess it’s because Doffy didn’t want to leave his house when it was pouring last night. He did show up in the afternoon though, it’s been a while since he’s done that.
Poor Croc, he’ll have to stop sunbathing at his favourite spot if Doffy starts coming by in the afternoons again. At least he’s stopped hissing at him. The same can’t be said about Ace and Sabo. Luffy is allowed to roam in the backyard again but only under Croc’s close supervision.
2 August 20XX
The silence was too good to last. I swear that Doffy has gotten louder.
How are you sleeping through all this racket, Rosi?
4 August 20XX
IT WAS YOU HE’S AFTER?!
5 August 20XX
Alright, Crocodile, as much as you dislike Doffy, you gotta meet him and get him to stop his caterwauling for all of our sakes. I don’t know how much sanity I have left to listen to his horny cries again.
8 August 20XX
How dare you.
HOW DARE YOU.
HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN GOING ON UNDER OUR NOSES?! I THOUGHT YOU DIDN’T LIKE HIM!
14 August 20XX
This is the second playdate Rosi and I have arranged. Crocodile and Doflamingo are getting along great now that their feelings for each other have been revealed.
Ace and Sabo still don’t like the sunglasses-wearing cat.
Luffy seems to have placed Doffy’s past transgressions behind them for he actively seeks the other out to play with him now. My youngest appears to have taken a liking to Law as well to his brothers’ consternation.
21 August 20XX
I’m sorry Rosi but Karma’s a bitch. If I must suffer through your cat’s courting display it’s only fair that you suffer through mine. Good luck with Luffy. I hope he doesn’t eat all of your food. Keep him away from catnip though or he’ll be bouncing off of your walls.
Give my best regards to Law, he’ll be having his paws full with my youngest. I’ll try to keep Ace and Sabo from murdering him but no promises.