Fred and I have reached an impasse.  He comes and goes as he pleases.  I enforce my authority by not letting him outside in the morning before I go to work.  He walks to the door and waits, confident that I will relent and release him to the outside.  But I cannot. Ten hours or more outside is too long in this current heat wave.  He must endure the day inside.  Into the cool basement with his friends, not a bad way to spent a day. I wish that I could stay down there in the cool semi darkness.  But someone must support this household and keep the inmates in food and kitty litter.  None of them have shown any inclination to get a job so the burden falls on me.