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.