She was halfway through her sewing project when a terrible ruckus erupted outdoors. First came Boo's loud screech, followed by a yelping dog. She ran out the back door wearing the witch's hat she'd just completed. At the same time, her neighbor flew out his door yelling so loudly he drowned the dog's howls.
"Get out of here, you rotten cat!" He swung a broom at Boo's fast-retreating backside. The dog, a brown Boxer with a black face and pointed ears, stuck its head around her neighbor's legs and let loose a deep ferocious bark.
Dora stifled a giggle at the dog's cowardly act.
Boo jumped the fence and scurried through the kitty door to safety.
Then Mr. Grinch stomped to the fence. He waved his arms, his hand still gripping the broom. "I've warned you before to keep that blasted cat out of my yard!"
Good grief. All this hullabaloo over a tiny black cat. Her neighbor's face had contorted into a mask that resembled his ugly dog's.
He shook the broom at Dora. "I don't let my dog trespass on your property. Now I'm telling you for the last time. Keep your cat in your own yard. Or else!"
How dare he threaten her? She narrowed her eyes, giving him her best teacher glare, and jammed her hands on her hips. "Or else, what?" She stuck out her chin. If he dared touch her cat, she'd ... well, she'd tie pink bows on his dog's ears.
His face turned the color of her late-blooming red roses. "Lady, what kind of nut case are you?"
"Me?" Her thoughts flew to the doll on her sofa. Mentally, she plunged another pin right into the spot where his heart would be. "Mister, I'm a witch." She raised her hands, curving her fingers into claws and stepped closer to the fence. "You better not hurt my cat. Or else."
For a second he seemed to cringe, but he recovered quickly, sputtering a string of obscenities.
Dora pointed a finger in his face. "I'm warning you now. Watch your mouth or I'll put a curse on you."
He threw up his arms and stomped away, pumping the broom up and down while muttering something about a crazy lady with a crooked hat.
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