CAPITOL CAT.

Maryland already claims bragging rights to black-eyed Susans, Oriole birds and Chesapeake Bay retrievers so isn't it only fair to add a cat to the mix? Thanks to five Maryland fifth-grade girls, the calico is not the state's official cat. Why did the calico make the cut? Simple--its patches of red, cream and black imitate the colors on the state flag. The girls had been studying state governments in school, prompting them to write Md. Delegate Kevin Kelly a detailed letter explaining why he should introduce a bill to the Maryland General Assembly to adopt a state cat. They signed their letter. "The Cat Club." While working on bills involving the death penalty and prescriptions for the elderly, Del. Kelly read the letter from the girls and thought, "Oh, boy!" Nearly a year later, 10 days into a six-month legislative session, Kelly was going over the bills on his desk. "I got to the cat bill and realized I hadn't heard back from the girls. That day, I received another letter from them explaining they'd been fo llowing the Assembly on the Internet and were very disappointed I hadn't brought up the bill. I took it down right away." Despite snickers from fellow Delegates and Senators, Kelly passed the bill--with the help of the girls, whom he describes as "superb, wonderful and delightful." Impressed by their determination, poise, and organization, they won over the entire Assembly. And since only one in 3,000 calicos is male, we think their choice is purr-fect!