CAT FAMILY - EMMA

CAT FAMILY – EMMA

Emma

I noticed the dogs first. They weren’t as large as some others around my neighborhood. Really, they aren’t much taller than me. Both of them were the color of the tree trunks that bring shade to the area. They looked alike. Sisters, I decided. They were older, too. I mean, they could have been my grandmas.

I used to live on the apartment side. When my family moved and forgot me, I found a way under the fence to where the people seemed friendlier. I wanted to find a real family of my own. It wasn’t so much that I trusted everyone. I was hopeful, but careful. I might be young, but I’m not stupid. I believed there was someone out there who would take me in for real. Someone nice. I was too young to live on the street.

I knew the first time I saw Tequila and Quetta and the lady who walked them that they would be my family. You might say I chose them.

Twice a day they passed me—early when the morning was new then late in the afternoon when the sky turned color. I wanted to be with them so badly. Finally I just did it. I ran up alongside them and trotted along like I belonged there. Tequila and Quetta shot me looks, but they didn’t bark at me like other dogs would. The lady just laughed, like I made her happy.

But then they reached the street. That’s when I had to stop. I wanted so badly to cross with them, but the street had cars that flew by. I didn’t have to see what happens when one hits a kitten like me.

So I sat at the curb and watched as they crossed to the other side. The woman stopped and looked back at me. She called out. I knew she wanted me to come with them, but I couldn’t move. As much as I wanted to, I didn’t dare cross that street.

This went on, day after day. Sometimes she would start to come after me, but I panicked, terrified of what lay beyond the other side. So I turned tail and ran back to what was familiar ground. Call me a coward. I couldn’t help it. I knew that’s where she and the dogs must live, but crossing the street and going where I’d never been was too horrifying to contemplate.

Then one day I missed them somehow. They didn’t come. Then I missed another day. What would happen if they never came back? I would never be a part of their family. That scared me – even more than the street. I knew I would have to find my courage and strength before it was too late.

I was overjoyed when I saw them next. I pranced alongside like they were already my family. Then we got to the street. I felt the horrible fear rise up inside me. I wanted to run back to what was familiar.

But I wanted my new family more.

The woman seemed to read my mind. She kept coaxing me, bending down to pet me, and finally, after crossing the street with the dogs, she turned back to me. Called out, “Here kitty, kitty. Come here, kitty.”

I kept my gaze on her, needing to trust that she wouldn’t let anything happen to me.

Then I dashed across. Her voice sounded so happy. She and the dogs kept going around and between the townhomes, making sure I was following. Her voice stayed steady and calming. When we came to her house, she opened the gate and let the dogs inside. When she took them in the house, I panicked again. I jumped over the fence so I wouldn’t be left out there alone, but I was in another patio. The wrong patio. I had jumped over the wrong fence. I curled in a corner, terrified.

She was outside then and tried the gate to get where I was. It wouldn’t open. Then she came to the fence that separated the patios. There was a tree on both patios. Somehow she coaxed me up the tree until I was within reach of her.

“Come on, Emma. You can do it,” she said.

She had given me a name!

Somehow that gave me the courage to jump. I landed right in her arms.

My lady kept murmuring soft words until I stopped shaking. And then she brought me inside her house. Both dogs came up to me, sniffing me all over to make sure I was all right.

“You’re safe now, my beautiful, sleek Emma,” she said. “You’re home now. You don’t ever have to go outside again.”

Before I had a chance to digest her words, she set me down and put food and water in front of me. I didn’t realized until then how hungry I was. Food had sometimes appeared on doorsteps in the neighborhood, but not often enough.

After I ate, I met new friends. Smokey and Sabrina came up to me and sniffed, but didn’t spit. I wondered where she found them. I didn’t recognize either of them from the neighborhood. Before they could tell me their story, I was shone a comfortable bed and soon felt sleepy, tummy full and warm. The lady’s words came back to me as I curled up.

I was home. I was never going outside again.

CAT FAMILY - SMOKEY

SMOKEY

I was supposed to be going to school with my human. That’s what I think he told me when we got into his car. He sat me on his lap and then the car moved us down the street. That was scary enough. The last time I remembered riding with him was when he found me and took me home. 

He kept mumbling words I didn't understand but gave me a bad feeling. He turned the car into a place with lots of other cars and stopped between two. I didn't hear the car sound after that. Then he grabbed me and we were outside. We faced a large building. I thought it must be the school.

We weren't alone. Others humans were getting out of their cars. I tried to burrow into my human's jacket. 

But I didn't expect what happened next.

He set me down, mumbled some more then turned and left. Seconds later he disappeared in the crowd. More feet rushed past me. One almost stepped on me and I ran under the car. 

I waited until all got quiet. When I peeked out, I didn't see anyone. The big building had gobbled them up.

Dazed and scared, I looked around. He didn’t even say goodbye.

Then I knew what he had tried to tell me. He couldn't keep me, and he couldn't take me inside with him.

But no! That's wrong. He had to come back for me. I had to believe that. He took me off the street after Mama left. He held me against him and fed me from a small bottle with a nipple. The milk almost tasted like Mama's. My tummy felt just as good. I felt loved and safe.

Who was going to feed me now? Who would love me?

After what seemed a long time, the ground started burning my feet. My body shivered even with the heat wrapped around me. I crept under another car to wait.

What did I do wrong? Doesn’t he know I’m still a baby? His eyes and his words made me feel sad. I’ll be good. Promise.

The sun moved again and the air got quiet. A few humans came out of the building and went to their cars. My human wasn't among them. After they were gone, I tucked my feet under me and dozed off again. When I awoke my stomach felt empty and my mouth dry. I ventured out to look for what I could find. I nibbled on some grass and drank from a puddle.

While I lapped up water, a shadow fell over me. I peered up. A new human. This one was older than the others. Older than my human. The man bent down and put out his hand for me to sniff. Good vibes. He scratched my head. I couldn’t help but purr.

“What are you doing here?” he asked. “Did you run away? Or did someone stupid drop you off?”

I purred some more, tried to tell him I needed to find home. I rubbed against his knee and pushed my face into his hand.

“Ahhh,” he said. “You poor boy. What am I going to do? I can’t just leave you  here.” 

To my joy, he scooped me up in his arms. He strode over to a car, opened the door and we got in. I huddled close to him as we moved out to the street. The next thing I knew we were getting out of the car. I dug my claws into his jacket and hung on. He wasn't going to drop me on the street if I had something to do about it.

I worried over nothing. He brought me to a house, opened a door and carried me inside. The room was cool and quiet and dark. He brought me a bowl of water, which I lapped up thirstily. I looked around. I was ready to explore.

Another human came into the room. A woman. Next to her ran a little black kitten. They both stopped and stared at me.

The man spoke, but I didn’t pay attention. I checked out my new surroundings. Everything smelled good. The woman bent down and picked me up. She examined me, felt my paws, which were the biggest part of me, and set me down again.

“You’re going to be big,” she said to me.

Whatever that meant. Guess it was good because she brought me and the black kitten some food. I scarfed it down. I never ate anything so good in my life.

“He’s the color of smoke,” the man said. “ Smokey?”

“That’s a good name for him,” She picked up the black kitten. “Sabrina, say hello to your new friend, Smokey.”

Sabrina and I touched noses. She was  female and smaller than me. I meowed a hello. Sabrina hissed. Tossed her head and pranced by me. I followed. We were going to be friends.

I hadn’t seen the dogs yet.

CAT FAMILY - SABRINA

SABRINA

I did not kill the rat.

My brothers and sisters think I’m the guilty one. I don’t like rats. They scare me. They got big teeth. Only this time the rat was missing his head. I tell my siblings it had to be Big Max who killed the rat. Big Max is twice my size. He’s yellow and can be mean. Really, they don’t call him the Mouser for nothing. But he’s not all bad. He sometimes protects me from dogs and other dangers. I guess because I’m the smallest of what’s left of our family.

I don’t know what happened to Mama. After we couldn’t get more milk from her, she wandered off and left us with the big machines. Big Max says they are cars and we better not get in the way of their wheels. The cars come and go, but we pretty much stay there, because where else would we go?

Because I am curious, I notice things. Like, for instance, the cars bring people to the building with the morning sun. People leave in them with the sun goes down.  Sometimes one of the humans will stop to look at me and my brothers and sisters. But mostly they just ignore us. Big Max makes us stay away from them. He’s so mean. Whenever I want to run up to a human, Big Max stops me.

On the other side of us are different buildings but the people who live there are the same ones I see every day. They don’t bother us. The little humans—Big Max calls them children—are fun. They sit and play with us on the sidewalk or on the grass. Their hands feel good when they pet me. They bring food sometimes. I hurry and eat what I can before Big Max shows up and gobbles it all. I get so hungry sometimes and it’s hard to find food and water.

When it gets dark and cold, I huddle up with my brothers and sisters. When the humans arrive to get their cars, I stare at them the longest. Big Max hisses at me and swats with his paw when I venture too close. But I’m curious. Where do they come from? Where do they go? Their eyes look toward us, but don’t seem to see us. Big Max says I shouldn’t try to make friends with humans. He’s so bossy, and I know he killed that rat. Finally, I give up and run back to the others and we hide until all the cars are gone. As I curl up, I wonder what else is out there that I can’t see.

Then one day, when there’s almost no cars around, a human appears. She is carrying a box. I stare at her while she puts the box in the car. Instead of getting inside, she turns her head and sees me. She has the nicest face with her lips wide and turned up. She’s smiling. Like the children I play with. But different. She’s smiling at me. Nowhere else.

I can’t help myself. I don’t feel at all afraid. I run to her! She has music in her voice and she bends down so her face is close to mine. She reaches out and strokes me. I’m in heaven! I love her!

Then she stands and her face gets all sad and she shakes her head. I don’t move, but I feel hope leaving me. She gets into her car. No! Wait! Take me with you! Come back!

The garage is empty now. Big Max circles me like he’s the lion king. “Told you so.” He thinks he’s so smart. I turn my tail to him and return to my brothers and sisters.

I can’t stop thinking about her. Day after day I wait and watch. Big Max laughs at me, but I know she’s coming back. I just feel it in my little bones to the tip of my black tail.

I’m right! I’m right! It’s her car. She getting out. But I wait this time. I watch from the side. I’m not sure anymore. Will she drive away without seeing me? Or worse, she’ll see me and still turn away.

She faces in my direction, not seeing me, I think, but making sounds like she’s calling out. Hardly daring to breathe, I hop on top of the car next to me. I’m easy to find this way. I sit there and watch her.

She sees me! Her face gets all shiny and bright and she leans down and opens her arms. She calls out, “Here kitty! Come here, kitty!”

I can’t help it. I leap off the car and I race to her. Her car door is open. I’m not taking any chances. I jump in. She laughs and climbs in beside me and closes the door. I’m so happy I could burst.

As we drive away, I look out the window. There’s Big Max watching. He’s got something in his mouth. Probably another rat. But I swear he’s grinning at me.