CLAW I

So many people keep asking me about my user name, “nineclaws”. The first person who asked me was @aagabriel. He also mentioned that 9 should be 10. Then @hiveqa chimed in with a second inquiry, which was rather strange to me, since he helped me decide on my user name. Rather suspicious in my mind. Later on, @hiveqa admitted he was in possession of my 10th missing claw!!! He confirmed that he had it mounted as a trophy, after I questioned him about it. I thought, great, just great, I’m going to be missing my 10th claw forever now.

Soon afterwards, @failingforwards asked me, “How did nineclaws come about?” I explained how my user name, nineclaws originated. He then says, “That’s cool, but I was really hoping you are a cat and each time you used a life up, lost a claw.” I responded, “Actually, I am a cat and this is my 9th and last life, so you're accurate. About the missing claw, well, @hiveqa has it.”

CLAW II

All of a sudden, @stayten contacts me and claims he has stolen my 10th claw. He staked a claim on it, called it his “precious” and refused to relinquish it. I tried bribing @stayten, but he ignored me completely.

A day later, @failingforwards tells me, “Hey! Also I have the 10th claw!” I was in shock and said, “WHAT?! You have the 10th claw? Now 3 people have my 10th claw!” 😭 @failingforwards says, “Ten hive and its all yours.” I told him I didn’t have enough Hive to give him the price he demanded. He was absolutely heartless and said, “Guess no claw for you.” I said, “That’s why I’m always nineclaws, missing one.” @failingforwards said, “To cheap to buy back your last one.” I had no idea he had this ruthless streak about claws, since he’s always been so kind and fun to joke with.

Next day, I’m trying to savour my coffee and @stayten chimes in with, “Claw tasting?” My response was, “I can't, you, @failingforwards, and @hiveqa have my 10th claw, how am I supposed to claw taste when I'm missing an essential claw?” At this point, I’m so lost as to who has my claw, where it is, and wondering what the obsession with my 10th claw even is. What is a cat to do? 😿 Limp along on nine claws.

CLAW III

A couple days pass and I hear from @jamesrussell about my 10th claw. Before I could respond, @failingforwards jumped in and said, “Thanks James I dropped that, I'll take that now.” @jamesrussell replied, “I think nineclaws said 3 people had it, but I just found it. Maybe we can leave it with @stayten, he’s trustworthy." Then, @failingforwards comes back with, “But do you really want to trust it with someone so careless?” At this point, @jamesrussell laughs and wisely says, “I think I'm staying out of this one, lol.”

I contacted @jamesrussell and he showed me a photograph of what he found that he was sure was my 10th claw. He was very kind, even offering suggestions of how to repair it so I could be fully clawed again. alas, it turned out not to be my missing claw after all. 😭

CLAW IV

A new friend, @generra-abraham, while in the process of chatting, says this about my missing claw, “I really was going to ask....”

Then today, @brittandjosie asked me this, “Nine, when does it become 10?”

Everyone needs to know, I have my 10th claw back now!!! I have found it and it is in my possession as of a week ago today. I’m not going to say what lengths I had to go to, both in locating and retrieving it. It took all of my remaining nine claws to do that and I’m not giving up my secrets!!! My user name is going to have to stay “nineclaws” though, because that’s how my Hive account was set up. This should answer all questions about “nineclaws” and my missing claw (I hope).

CLAW V

All photos taken by Nine with a Pentax digital 35mm camera and 90mm Tamron Macro lens.