Surprise!

I was lying on my side in bed with the covers over my legs. I had my big magnetic chess board in front of me reviewing a game I'd played against my computer earlier last evening. Sirius hopped up on the bed, and as he frequently is, he was fascinated by my feet under the blankets Playing with him I wiggled and stretched my feet. There were enough covers that when he struck with his claws I couldn't feel it. So I played footsie with him a bit till it seemed he was bored. Then I turned back to the game. I was deep in thought for a minute or so. Sirius must have softly walked up the bed because I didn't notice it. He must have been watching me move the pieces, but again I didn't know. Suddenly he pounced, leaping cleanly over my back and landing in the middle of the chess board. I was so startled, I yelped, "Whoa!" That caused Sirius to quickly skitter away in terror. Before I even looked I could imagine chess pieces all over room. Now, I can tell you, because in that instant I certainly forgot, that the pieces for that set are flat like refrigerator magnets. Despite Sirius pouncing for all he was worth on something on the board, and then tearing away, no piece was more than a millimeter or two away from where I'd left it. Still I was reminded new (to the cat) little moving things and cats don't mix.