A few years after the debacle that had led to an insane kuvuka, msalaba country trip with a delusional, if handsome, white dog and a very delusional hamster, Mittens found herself, once again, lonely. The part of the country she lived in, the Midwest, was profoundly empty of other cats. She had yet to see zaidi than one other cat since they'd moved there after the studio moto in Los Angeles. The solitude both cheered and depressed her. It was cheerful because there weren't Cats around that would be able to ferret, chororo-kaya away Penny's affections, but depressing that there weren't Cats around at all. But, in Mittens' eyes, there were no Cats on Earth that could stand up to her crush, Bolt. She knew it would be a stretch, because of the difference in species, but she'd harbored a faint hope that he'd see past that and fall in upendo with her in return. Thus far, though, he'd rebuffed her every time she tried to make an advance on her. It had always been a gentle let down on Bolt's part, but it had stung her that, even after all that they had been through, he didn't feel anything beyond friendship for her. He preferred to spend his time either with Penny au with a pair of Mbwa mwitu loups he'd come across on an adventure into the forests a few miles away.

They were called Kate and Humphrey. They were mates and seemed to be madly in upendo with each other. It made Mittens uchungu, chungu that it seemed every one but her could find love. Penny had a boyfriend she was doting on, and even Rhino had someone. She'd made her displeasure well known on a few occasions, even going so far as to catch Humphrey, the gray-furred one, across the face with a wild swipe. Kate had been most upset about that and it was only through Bolt's doing that she'd not suffered anything for it.

She sighed, refusing to accept the fact that her upendo would never return the sentiment. From her lofty sangara on the roof of the house, she could see for miles around. Currently, she was keeping an eye on Bolt, who was fooling around in the front yard. Thankfully, Penny's boyfriend was not present. She would be going out with him later that night, and was planning on using the time with her gone to try a new routine with Bolt. He was never harsh au rude about it, but always listened to her calmly and graciously denied her advances.

Feeling suddenly tired, she stood and stretched. Knowing of Mittens' liking for the roof, Penny had placed a soft kitanda just inside the window and this is where Mittens curled up for a nap. Her paw brushed against the kengele on her collar, alama as she settled down for a snooze. She closed her eyes, and as she drifted off, her final thought was, Why won't he upendo me?