“You might as well come down, ya stinking varmit,” growled the pack leader. “We’re going to eat you sooner or later.”

Jeffie the cat looked down from his perch in the tree. He’d been there three days. Despite the nagging hunger and thirst, there was no way he was going to fall for the leader of the pack, who came from the wrong side of town.

Jeffie leaned back against the trunk. “I never did want to die alone. Let’s all starve together! Whaddaya say?”

The coyotes growled and for the thousandth time jumped and clawed at the tree.

“Let’s see who can carve the coolest drawing!” called Jeffie. “I bet the leader couldn’t claw a decent butthole!”

The leader of the pack, who was tired of everyone putting him down (down, down), quickly carved a cat hanging from a noose.

“What do ya think of that, ya stupid cat?”

“Nice looking coyote! Which one of you is it?”

The coyote snarled, growled and walked away. One way or the other, he was determined the cat would die at noon.