I ordered Chinese food tonight. This, in itself, is unremarkable.

When the delivery man arrived, I was reading something online and Cricket was curled up in her bed near the desk. While we waited for the very slow elevator to deposit the delivery guy on my floor, Cricket got up and stretched. Indoor cats don't have exciting lives; even food delivery is something to be explored. And while I was signing the charge form, she slipped out into the hallway.

The delivery guy, looking a little flustered, tried to head her off before she ran down the hallway. She picked up some speed and dodged his leg. He looked helplessly at me, dismayed. Once she's in the hallway, she could go anywhere. But you can't chase a cat. You'll lose every time.

I dropped to my knees and whispered, "Psst." Cricket turned around. I made eye contact with her and added a kissy sound as further encouragement. And she trotted right back up the hallway and into the apartment.

When I stood up to hand over the charge slip, the delivery man looked amazed, as if I'd performed magic.

What can I say? I'm her human.