The world is changing much too fast. It keeps getting bigger. Different smells. Different sights. Different sounds. Different creatures all around. Kitty was just getting used to that food from the can. She misses the warmth of mother’s milk. Those days are over.
At least she got to play with her brothers. At least she got to snuggle with her mother. Her little world was almost perfect again. The new smells and sights and sounds had finally become familiar. Those petty-handed creatures and their soothing voices could be lots of fun.
But one by one her brothers disappeared. Now it was just her and her Mama. Mama was sad, so Kitty played with her, snuggled up with her every chance she got.
And she didn’t trust those petty hands anymore.
Sometimes Kitty would have to run and hide. Loud, harsh voices came to the front door, that dangerous door which Kitty and her family were always chased away from. Those loud voices walked right in without a thought for how it might affect Kitty. Sometimes, when those loud voices left, one of her brothers would disappear.
Today was another day to run and hide from loud voices. Two new creatures to deal with, a tall one and a short one.
“Look. It’s so cute.”
Kitty ran and hid.
She could see those giant faces peering at her as she crouched low and tried to be invisible in the dark behind the sofa.
“Here, kitty kitty.”
How did they know her name?
She certainly was not going out there.
“Is that the one you want, honey?”
“Yes mama.”
“She’s the last of the litter. A little skittish. I think she’s the prettiest of the bunch but no one could get close to her. They usually just ended up taking one of her brothers.”
“I guess we need a closer look. Can you get her out from behind the couch?”
“Probably not … without getting her all upset.”
“I can get her, Mama.”
“OK, Holly. If she will come to you, you can have her.”
“I have some treats if you want to try one of those to get her out here.”
“I don’t think so. I think she will come to me.”
Holly may have only been five years old but she understood Kitty. Sometimes she wanted to hide too. But her mother always helped her through her fear.
Holly sat in the floor at the back of the sofa, looking into the darkness, barely making out Kitty’s bright eyes. She smiled knowingly, and limply held out her hands, resting her arms on her lap. Kitty’s mama joined Holly, sniffed her leg, looking up at Holly’s smiling face, then settled down close beside her.
Holly never said a word, never made a motion; just sat there with that sweet face and those outstretched little hands.
Kitty saw that sweet face and those little hands. Kitty was curious. Kitty wondered what those little fingers might smell like. Kitty begin to wonder if those little fingers might scratch her cheeks. She missed that.
Kitty inched closer.
Several minutes went by. Kitty kept getting closer and closer, inch by inch. Suddenly, Kitty stood up and ran toward Holly. Kitty sniffed those little fingers, then ran back into the darkness a foot or two and turned around, looking back at Holly.
Holly let out a little squeal.
“Is everything okay, honey?”
Holly nodded toward her mother and turned back to look at Kitty.
Kitty was trying to process what she knew now. Those little fingers smelled okay, different, but okay. And, close up, they looked very soft, perfect for cheek scratching.
Holly began to slowly wiggle her fingers. Kitty had an overpowering urge. She ran back to Holly but stopped inches away, staring at those wiggly fingers.
“Is she making any progress?”
“Shhhh.” With the quietest of voices, Holly’s mother whispered, “I think so. I’ve never seen a smile that big on my child’s face.”
Kitty stared at those wiggling fingers for a moment, reached out one paw, then the other, to touch them. She inched closer, so close that her head was in between the wiggly fingers. Instinctively, Holly moved her hands closer together, close enough to scratch Kitty’s cheeks.
That felt good, really good.
Holly turned over her hands, palms up. Kitty climbed up and laid down in her hands, going limp, purring loudly. Holly held Kitty up close to her face and Kitty began to lick her nose.
“Mama?”
“Yes, dear.”
“I think it’s time to take Kitty home.”