The Red Tear Strip

I clamped both front paws around the little red tab on that heavy cardboard mailer and pulled with all my might! ZZZZZ-RRRIP! The perforated cardboard split open with a sharp, zipper-like rattle that buzzed right up my arms! Gasp—my paws slipped backwards from the sudden release, and I tumbled belly-up onto the wool runner with my feet kicking the air! For a frantic split second my heart went thump-thump-thump, convinced I had broken the whole world! But then out slid a sleek, glossy postcard with a picture of tall glass towers. I sat right up, smoothed my fluffy tummy, and tucked the smooth card right under my bushy tail.