Suzy Wanted A Word

 

 

            One day in April, I was doodling around the internet, listening to songs and looking at photos when Suzy hopped up onto the cat platform on the old Boeing desk. She tapped on my elbow politely, letting me know that she had something to say.
            “What’s up, Suzy,” I said.
            “I remembered something, while I was napping,” she said.
            “Oh, that’s interesting. Sometimes we do remember things while asleep,” I said. “What did you remember?”
            “I remembered my mother! I dreamed her. Then about losing her and being found,” Suzy said. “I think it was a long way from here because it was dry and warm. There were farms and no trees.
            “My mother was a plain tabby. She was very small and young. She didn’t look fully grown. In the dream, I saw her! She was sweet and took very careful care of us. She loved us, we could tell. She kept us for a few days in a barn, in a box where no one could see us. There were four of us. Me and Willie, and two others. One black and white and one orange tabby. Our eyes were still closed.
            “She would go out hunting small animals for food. We would hide, not making a sound. But one day, our little mother didn’t return. Of course, we waited for her for two days and nights. But, she was gone. We knew something had kept her from us. Because if she had been alive and able to move, she would have come back,” continued Suzy, rather dreamily, in fact.
            “What a terrible thing to happen to small kittens,” I said.
            “On the third day, we stopped being quiet. We cried and cried,” said Suzy. “We cried all one night, until someone heard us. It was a boy. I remember him too. He put us in his hat, still crying, with closed eyes. I remember he smelled like earth and sweat, and maybe a sandwich.
            “He brought us to his mother. Her kitchen smelled good, and she fed us droppers of milk. It was the wrong kind of milk, but it saved our lives anyhow. It was hard to digest!
            “When our stomachs were big and full, they took us, in a box with a towel which smelled like some strong soap, to their car and we got our first car ride! That was very scary. It sounded awful! But it was good because we went to a place where there were many other lost cats. They took care of us there. We got better milk in tiny bottles with rubber nipples and had our own little room to sleep in.

            “We stayed there, in farm country, for many weeks. We saw the doctor and had shots and all that stuff. We were getting bigger and learned how to use the litter box in our little room. For some reason we got another car ride. It was a very long ride! We went over the mountains. It was just me and Willie now. The others had gone to people who came looking for kittens. Willie and I could see a little bit outside of the car. There were big mountains, and trees! We had never known there were so many trees!” said Suzy.

            “Wow. I kind of understand why you are a little nervous sometimes, Sweetie,” I said, internet forgotten, while I listened to her adventures. “That’s a big dream you had!”
            “Some of it, I already knew. I remembered already, like going to the Cat Rescue in Seattle. It was a lot busier than the other one. There were stacks of cat cages, all full of all kinds of cats. There were lots of bigger kittens, like us, and even very old cats whose people had died, and stuff like that.
            “We were getting pretty bored in there. There was nothing for us to do but eat and sleep and try to attract attention. We wanted to go home with somebody, you know? But at least we had each other in the same little cat room.”
            “I’m glad you told me all this!” I said. “Where we come from really matters somehow.”
            Suzy gave me a wise look and nodded.
            “It was years ago, now, but I remember the day you and your girl came in searching for a kitten. I hid, because, well because I’m me. But Willie was right out there meowing for attention. You came to our cage and put your fingers in, and Willie smooched you as hard as he could! I think he fell in love right then. I finally came out to look too. You guys didn’t seem dangerous after all!
            “Then you took us home! They said to leave us in our cat carrier for a couple of days so we could get used to the house. Ha! You let us out as soon as we got there…and we were home! We didn’t hide or anything. We were happy! We could walk around and explore, and we weren’t afraid. I realize I am still a little jumpy, but I don’t mean anything by it. I’m sure you understand,” she said.
            “That’s quite a story, and you told it so very well,” I said.
            “I’m getting sleepy again,” said Suzy. “But I wanted you to know, while I was thinking about it, that I remember my sweet little dream mother. I will never forget her again, but we’re happy you brought us home with you. It all worked out pretty good for a couple of lost, and starving kittens orphaned in a barn in Yakima!”
            “You know, you and Willie have been nothing but little furry blessings, and we love you both. I’m sure it was meant to be!” I said, patting her little head.
            She hopped down and went to find her favorite napping spot on the back of the sofa behind the curtain, where nobody can see her! Lol!
            It’s just amazing the stuff cats will tell you if you pay attention to them!
Simply amazing!