A funny thing happened on Saturday while I was outside exercising in the world’s smallest swimming pool.

When I’m in the pool I lay my iPhone face down close to the edge. And I do it all the time. But that day, something was different. Little girl Zoë came out to check up on me and spied something unusual on the lanai. All the cats have free run of the lanai. It gives them a taste of being outside of the house, while staying within the screened in area of the lanai. It’s like a huge cat TV to them, where they see lizards and frogs and birds, all on the other side of the screen. With the interior surface clean of junk, that seems to make them very aware of any changes inside the screen.

Zoë slowly walked around until she was close to my iPhone. I’ve had this iPhone since 2019, long before she came to live with us. And the case as been on it for two years now. I’m always using it around the house, so it’s not like my iPhone is that unusual. But today, it became a Mystery that demanded she check out.

Zoë dropped down into a crouch to give it a closer inspection. I could see her little nose wiggle as she gave it a good sniff. Then she finally came to a decision.

Zoë reached out and slowly touched the edge of the iPhone. As the iPhone didn’t react, she kept her forepaw on it until she decided it wasn’t really going to do anything. At which point she stood up and walked to another spot to watch the outside world.

All photos taken with my Pen F and the m.Zuiko 75mm/1.8

With the world awash in wars and climate catastrophes, it’s always nice to appreciate the little loving things such as cats. Outside of food, water and shelter, all they ask for is love and attention, which they are always the first to give. If you can’t give love and attention (back) to the least of these creatures, you are indeed a dead soul.