blobcat BLOB
CASOON

Village nuisance, perfectly round

blobcat

It arrives smiling. The dumplings stop being accounted for.

blobcat, a round pale creature with big dark eyes and a small open smile
Courtyard regular Dumpling variance Mountain air
No visible pockets Tea left cooling Still smiling
blobcat standing beside a mountain tea stall stacked with bamboo steamers of dumplings
AFTERNOON DUMPLING WATCH

Lunch Patrol

Every afternoon, blobcat appears at the old tea stall before anyone rings the bell. It does not order. It does not leave. One dumpling vanishes, the tray shifts three inches, and the courtyard gains a witness with enormous eyes. Nobody has proved anything. Blobcat remains available for questioning, provided questioning sounds like lunch.

Known Habits

The village agrees on six recurring details, disputes every explanation, and keeps serving lunch anyway.

Ticker

BLOB

Usual Route

Gate to tea stall

Arrival

Before the bell

Favorite Evidence

Empty bamboo tray

Defense

Continuous eye contact

Departure

After second lunch

blobcat

Keep one dumpling where it can see.

blobcat, round and smiling