;)
After thinking more about it, I decided that I would drop part 2 and just let the previous black and white post stand as the total "Images from the life of Royce series." I did not want to overdo it. But I had made two promises - one, I would tell the story of how Royce once saved Jacob from getting a ticket.
I could not break such a promise, and so, hoping to save time by doing copy and paste, I just spent one hour searching for that story, which I wrote down shortly after it happened. I could not find it. It is out there, on some disk somewhere, probably in paper form too.
Well, now that I have thrown an hour away, I'll sum it up:
Royce had a brother, a black cat by the name of Little Guy (not to be confused with my own Little Guy) whom Jacob gave to his friend, Angel. Angel and Little Guy now live in Phoenix, but back then they lived in Wasilla. One day, Jacob. Jacob put Royce in a pet carrier of the kind that fold and are made either of plastic or cardboard so that he could take him to Angel's house to play with his brother. Royce hated to travel in the car and howled and fussed all the way over.
I understand that once they got there and Royce went inside and saw Little Guy, he calmed right down and they had an excellent time.
When it came time to go home, Royce fought hard against the idea of getting back into the pet carrier, but Jacob stuffed him in anyway.
Again, Royce howled and screamed and clawed and fought, but he could not get out of the carrier... until he did. He went a little mad. Jacob then stuffed him back into the carrier, but Royce now had his escape technique down and just kept popping back out.
Jacob gunned the gas, hoping to get home fast. A cop pulled him over on Lucille for breaking 50 in a 35 mph speed.
Royce was out of the box, but now he wanted out of the car. The cop came with his ticket book pulled out and motioned to Jake to roll down his window. Jake partially did. Royce lunged for it. Jacob pulled him back and tried to get him back into the carrier, but Royce soon broke free and lunged for the window again.
This kept up for awhile until the cop gave up and told Jacob just to get that cat home as quickly as possible.
That's how Royce saved Jacob from getting a speeding ticket.
Of course, you could also say that Royce was the one who caused Jake to speed in the first place - but, knowing Jake, he would probably have sped anyway and then would surely have gotten a ticket.
So Royce actually did save him.
;)
Royce and Melanie.
;)
Caleb and Royce.
;)
Lisa and Royce.
;)
Charlie, Royce and the Oldsmobile Starfire.
;)
Charlie and Royce.
;)
On December 26, 2007, a new baby was born into this family. When Jacob and Lavina brought Kalib out, Royce was right there, hanging close. We did not know it, but an amazing relationship had just begun. This is the second thing that I promised to do in this post - explain something of this relationship to newer readers who might not know.
;)
Kalib and his family moved in with us for over a year so that they could save money to buy a house. During that year, Royce was always watching over Kalib and hanging out with him. He watched when ate his first birthday cake.
;)
He was there to coach him on when Kalib took his first steps and his mother cried.
;)
When Kalib went out to hunt Easter eggs for the first time, Royce was right there with him.
;)
The two were together most all the time.
;)
They would even go walking with Muzzy, out in the marsh.
;)
When Kalib laid down to marvel at the mystery of a fluffy white cloud floating through a deep, blue, sky, Royce gave him a soft pillow on which to lie his head.
;)
Kalib could be exuberantly rough with Royce, but no matter how rough he got, Royce understood and tolerated. Not once did he ever claw or bite him.
Not once. Martigny clawed once, but not Royce. Not ever.
Kalib could be caring and gentle, too, willing to share his food.
;)
Kalib would cuddle the cat.
;)
Royce did so love his little friend!
;)
When little Kalib would sleep, Royce would watch over him.
;)
Kalib was not the only one to ever use Royce as a pillow.
;)
Then he got sick and I had to give him medicine.
;)
I could go on and on and on. There's lots more, but I will just leave it here with Royce in the window, when he was good and healthy.