The Slice: May the marmot be with you

Welcome to the world’s only “Star Wars” 30th anniversary salute with a Spokane theme.

Let’s get right to the quiz. The correct answers can be found down below my contact info.

1. Who was not a character in the movie? A) Princess Leia. B) R2-D2. C) Greedo. D) Uncle Owen. E) Bishop William Skylstad.

2. Which place was not mentioned in the film? A) Alderaan. B) Dantooine. C) Vinegar Flats. D) Mos Eisley.

3. Chewbacca was a…? A) Megamarmot. B) Wookiee. C) Conservative Republican. D) Pit-Wookiee.

4. What character never shows up in the eventual “Star Wars” universe? A) Boba Fett. B) Jabba the Hutt. C) Doda Bodonawieedo. D) Karina the Shagren.

“On with the show: My neighbor’s cat and I had rehearsed our act and we were ready.

But when the big moment came, well, I’m getting ahead of myself.

For some time now, the gray tabby next door has been barging into my house when she feels like a snack – which, as best I can tell, is 100 percent of her waking moments.

I used to resist. I would execute a few fast rumba steps on the front porch and try to dodge my way past her. Now I just let her in and get the snack.

I think of it as an early admission program.

We both know our parts pretty well now. I get her a treat and then head out the back door. Chloe – that’s her name – follows me. Her total per-visit time in my kitchen is about three minutes.

But there’s something funny that happens on each occasion. Just as I head for the back door with the snack on a paper plate, the previously silent feline meows up a storm. Maybe excitement about the impending feeding frenzy gets the better of her.

If I were an elderly woman, I would have no choice but to say, “Goodness! Such a fuss!”

Anyway, this gave me an idea. My mother-in-law was about to come for a visit. And I thought she would get a kick out of hearing this cat’s vocal stylings.

So my neighbor’s pet and I practiced. At just the right moment in our little afternoon routine, I started saying, “OK, Chloe – sing!”

And she would. Every time. Then out the back door we’d go, as if triumphantly exiting the stage.

So my mother-in-law arrived from Michigan. She met Chloe. We were all there in the kitchen. I got the snack. The big moment came.

“OK, Chloe – sing!”

Nothing. Nada. The cat just looked up at me. Her puzzled expression seemed to say, “Do I know you?”

I dejectedly took the snack out back and Chloe followed me, as usual.

I informed her in no uncertain terms that I was disappointed in her nonperformance. But I think the sound of tuna-chomping drowned me out.

“Today’s Slice question: Could you date someone who is a big, big fan of a TV show you utterly and completely disdain?