SUSAN LOESCH
CATS IN THE STACKS

Ahhhh! Being a winner. It is a hard job but somebody has to do it!

We are so proud of Alex who placed fourth in the Bissell Most Valuable Pet Contest for the first week’s competition! We thank everyone for voting and hope you will keep your fingers crossed as he goes to the finals after the weekly contests have ended.

Alex is enjoying all the extra attention that goes with his honor. As soon as we emailed staff and students that he was in the top 5 he began getting congratulations!

“You are so cute, Alex, and this is such a big accomplishment,” said one of my seniors as she gave him a scratch behind his ears. His friend Ms. Mindy, our speech teacher, brought in a can of Fancy Feast Appetizers, which he practically inhaled.

He is wearing his new skull-and-crossbones bandana, which I have kept handy just in case he won.

Everyone who comes in the library wants to give him treats. Mary was the first, and he kept urging her to hurry; she couldn’t get them out of the package fast enough to suit him.

We have kept the announcement of the winners, pictures and all, up on one of the computers so everyone can check it out.

Everyone wants to show it to Alex.

I read him every email. “Congratulations. Way to go, Alex!” “Awesome!” “You go, Alex!”

We have even heard, via Facebook, from former students who knew Alex as a baby. “You are still as cute as ever,” wrote Joy, who helped bottle-feed him so long ago.

When he has had enough attention, food and praise, Alex retires to my desk, turns upside down and snoozes next to my keyboard. Such a life!