“I think life wanted to teach me a lesson,” Remi thought, huddled on the living room windowsill. I couldn't help myself; I just had to put on the first trinket I found in the grass... I don’t know what I was thinking, I was practically hypnotized by this collar—which, definitely, isn’t a replica! How on earth did I turn into a cat, and more importantly, how do I know how to jump and purr? And how can I even understand these furballs?“Poor Aeolus... good thing I didn't eat him!”“Tell me about it?” Aeolus replied. “When I saw myself in your claws, I nearly had a heart attack. Who else would have done your research for you? Sirocco?”Aeolus had plenty of camouflage in the fur of the house’s newest resident. After the initial scare, things had settled down, and it was actually quite comfortable to have a conversation with someone as intelligent and well-read as Miss Storm—except their friendship was sparking jealousy in the black tomcat.“Shh! Let’s hear what Anemo is saying to Mr. Trench!” Mistral whispered. “Tufty is at it again, she’s performed another baptism. She said his name is Daniel Frost, a detective.”“I heard... Mom reported me missing!” the white cat sighed.“Our scatterbrain actually thought that ‘detective-wannabe’ showed up because he posted on social media about finding a white cat. Can you believe how naive this guy is?”“Don't be mean, Mistral!”“Mean? You don't see he’s trying to copy Columbo?”“What’s a Columbo?” Eol/Aeolus asked. “Co-lum-bo... like a pigeon, one of Noel’s? I made friends with one, his name is Gogo. He’s sharp, that one—he’s seen it all...”“As usual, kid, you’re clueless...” Mistral cut him off. “Columbo was a lieutenant from an old police show. You don’t even need to look twice at Trench to see he has the same hobbies as our guy... a mystery novelist. I’m going to go eavesdrop some more; if he happens to mention his wife... I’ll faint.”Remi began to chuckle softly.“After all, a cat's life isn't so bad. How do you guys know about Columbo? I think he was popular in my grandmother's time... Does Anemo watch shows like that?”“You guessed it! If Anemo watches Columbo for inspiration... we watch too,” Aeolus replied, watching Mistral, who was faking a faint at the "border" between the hallway and the living room.“Does that mean Mr. Trench is talking about his wife? ... Honestly boys, you’re making me laugh despite all my troubles. Come on, helpme get this necklace off... this cursed collar. Maybe then I’ll turn back.”Remi jumped from the windowsill onto the plush carpet, letting herself be surrounded by the three "winds," who were far more skilled in feline matters than she was, having just "landed" in this new dimension.“Hold on, stay still... just a bit more. Your gorgeous fur isn't helping at all!”“Mon cheri, would you mind if... if I gave Aeolus a helping hand—pardon me, a helping tongue?”“Yes, Remi, Mi-Miss Remi, let Mistral smooth your fur, he’s an expert at it!”“You mean lick my neck? ... Go ahead, I’m not a diva, boys! Do I look like Daisy Queen to you?”Mistral, almost completely forgetting the humans' conversation in the kitchen, began to lick and "groom" the long Angora strands of the woman who used to insist that women cannot be tamed. Following this meticulous operation, Aeolus, with his well-known dexterity, managed to unfasten the collar, letting it slide onto the carpet.All four held their breath for about 20 seconds. And because nothing happened—absolutely nothing they thought would logically and normally happen—because Remi remained a feline, they stayed collapsed on the floor like deflated balloons.“Maybe we missed the window... come on boys, we’ll figure it out. After all, life with you might just be the adventure and the break I needed from all the chaos I was caught in.”