The Little Black Cat That Took the Dare.
As I was crossing the alley on that dark night, a huge form
lumped out of the shadows. Instinct and Momma's words (Watch out for them two
legs, they're not too bright) took over and next thing I know I'm in the
bushes. I'm complete concealed, I'm as dark as the night. I peek out but the big
one stops, does nothing and then turns its head and looks me straight in eyes. How
can this be, I am
the night, but it's not just looking at me it's looking in
me. Then from it I scent humor with a mild flavor of scorn. The thought
(thought?) to me "Why you little chicken shit. Yes, I'm BIG
and you're SMALL,
but do you think that even as big as I am, I could catch you?" With a
shake of its head it moves off down the alley.
How dare it, how dare it think that (what's a chicken?) of
me. I'm not some helpless kitten. I Will Prove Myself. I begin to stalk the two
legs. Stealth is my name.
At the end of alley, where it opened to a field on one side
and the tree covered hillside on the other, it stopped. It stopped, turned and
looked at me. "That's more like it." What the "what the", I
freeze. I live with two legs, they feed me, and they pet me. And I do what I
want. But this one, not only can it see me in the dark but it knows where I am
without looking. The Mentor1 has hinted... Bah! Tales to
scare kittens.
"Well are you coming?" as it started up the hill.
I remember what Momma told us "when all else fails create havoc." And
Mentor "Do the unexpected."
The hillside had some brush cover. I ran ahead a little and
turned as if I'd heard something in the bushes. It came up and squatted down to
peer under the brush. Next is really, really stupid (as in not conducive to a long
life). As it squatted I ran around behind it and up its back. It made no movement,
but once again I got the scent of humor and… "OK, I take it back, In NO
way are you 'chicken shit', no other Cat I know would do that." At that
point my nerve broke, and having proven myself, with a leap and a bound I took
myself off to find something more familiar, like one of those nice lap places
(I really need a nap).
1 The Mentor
I was walking through the complex when here came two cats. These
cats were walking side by side along the walkway, the younger cat was leading
by a head putting the older cat in its blind spot. I had the feeling that this
was out respect for the older cat. We approached each other and stopped. The
cats then sat facing me. Being acquainted with the older cat whom I knew as Heeth'r,
I squatted down and offered a hand in greeting. This was accepted as Heeth'r
give it a sniff and after a moment's hesitation the young one followed suit. We
stayed like that for a moment with the cats sitting and me squatting facing
each other, but as I wasn't able to hear them I stood aside and let them pass.
Seemed like perfectly normal encounter to me so I wondered about the strange
look I got from a woman in nearby laundry room.
Oh well. Guess this
means that I yield for cats.
Anyway, I had the strong impression that Heeth'r was
mentoring the young one.
