The Lamps Have Created More Chairs

Smokey would like to report a change in the sitting room.

This evening, I turned on the reading lamp beside the empty armchair.

The armchair was no longer empty.

This was immediate.

I explained that I had intended to sit there with my book.

Smokey tucked his paws beneath himself and looked at the lamp.

Apparently, once a chair has been illuminated, it enters his department.

I moved to the other chair and switched on the second lamp.

This caused concern.

Smokey looked at the new pool of light.

Then at his current chair.

Then back at the new one.

For several moments, he appeared to be calculating whether the cottage had produced a better chair and whether relocation was now required.

In the end, he remained where he was.

He is still watching the second chair with professional concern.

Smokey’s official position is that humans are unusually slow to understand illuminated furniture.

The lamps do not help us read.

They create more chairs.

— Maeve
Transcribed on behalf of management.