It was treat time. I had just given Annabelle her nightly treat of kibble, Meow Mix, Greenies Hairball Treats, Shrimp Temptations, and Greenies Dental Treats. It sounds like a lot, but she only picks at it, and Stella and she finish it between midnight and 6:15. Thatch patiently waited while I prepared Annabelle’s treat. His is much easier: his favorite dried shrimpy snack and dried wild salmon bits. I had poured some shrimpies from the tupperware container where I keep them, when I put the lid back onto the container. He had been waiting in the shelter between my chest and arms while I handed out his treat, and when I closed the lid, I accidentally closed it on his tail. His scream was loud, painful to hear, and he immediately ran off and hid under my bed.
Oh, no, Thatch! I cried. Baby, I am so sorry! I would never hurt you intentionally. Come back, Thatch!
Elvis had left the premises. He wouldn’t respond, and Stella ate his treat. She’s got no couth, none at all.
Annabelle looked up from her treat choices. He’ll be back when he calms down.
Annabelle, this breaks my heart! I started to cry. I cry at everything these days, and so did my dad when he reached my age. Poor little Thatcher! I would never hurt him.
After a few minutes of watching me, Annabelle remarked, You never carry on like this when you step on my tail.
I do! I do! You just shrug it off, Annabelle.
Well, it does hurt, you know, but I know it’s because you’re maladroit.
I am not! You’re just careless and in the way.
She gave me a long look. I pity you, she said. Then, she turned her back on me to enjoy her treat. Stella ran to join her.
Thatch? I called. Thatcher, will you come out?
There was no word and no sign of the baby, so I poured a glass of water, took my nightly meds, and settled in to watch an Agatha Christie mystery on DVD. Annabelle climbed on my lap and watched it with me. When it was over, Stella climbed onto my bed and the three of us found our places for the night. Usually Thatch takes the spot next to my pillow, but he never joined us. As I turned off the light, I thought, we’ll see how he is tomorrow.
Around 5:00AM, Stella began her usual pestering for breakfast. She walked all over me, settled beside me, tried to burrow under the sheet, bit my fingers, and generally kept me awake for the next hour and fifteen minutes until the alarm rang at 6:15. As soon as I sat up, she and Annabelle ran to the bathroom where they waited until I showed up to wash my face. Stella rolled around the bathtub while Annabelle sharpened her claws, used the litter box, and screamed FEED ME, SEYMOUR! at me.
Once I sat their breakfast dishes on the feeding mat, Thatch came out from under my bed, and cautiously walked to his bowl.
It’s seafood this morning, Thatcher, I said to him.
He gave me a look, went to his bowl and voraciously consumed his meal. He had to be starving; he had missed his nightly treat, and I wanted to reach out and pet him, hold him, cuddle him, but I knew any move on my part could be disastrous. He had to come to me. That had been the result of his fear and distrust when he moved in as a semi-feral three-month-old kitten.
After I had cleaned their dishes, cleaned the litter, had my second cup of coffee with some breakfast, and taken my morning meds, I lay down on my bed. Annabelle retired to the cat tree to read her latest Backstage, Stella played with her toys, and Thatch remained distant. I dozed for a while – the court show I was watching had changed to another judge and another show – when I was awakened by a cat brushing against my face.
Daddy?
Thatch? Is that you, baby? Are you okay?
I think so. Yes, I am.
I’m sorry I hurt you last night. That was not intentional.
I know. I over-reacted.
Well, I’m so sorry.
As soon as the pain hit me, I was back on that Bronx garage roof, and I panicked.
Oh, Thatcher, I thought we’d removed all memories of that previous life by now. You were so young then, less than three months old.
No, no . . . It was really frightening. He began to cry. I miss my mother! I still miss my brothers and sisters.
He curled up in the space between my armpit and chest and cried. We’re your family now, baby, I whispered. I hope I never let anyone hurt you again.
Those humans at the garage were awful to our colony. They set out poisoned food, they caught and tortured us. They threw rocks and metal things at us, they killed my mother and most of my brothers and sisters before I was rescued with my sister.
I met your sister when I picked you up at your foster home. She looked just like you.
I wonder where she is now.
Do you think about that garage roiof often? I asked.
No, not often. It just all came back when you closed the lid on my tail where it was broken-
Broken? I interrupted.
Those workers at the garage broke my tail. That’s why it bends at the tip, and all of a sudden I was back on that roof running for my life.
I let him lie there and cry. He seemed happy to stay there and soon his little moans became purring as he drifted off to sleep. Annabelle climbed onto my chest.
Thatch asleep? she whispered.
Yes, I whispered back. I think he’s okay now. He was back on that garage roof-
Ugh, it sounds like hell, poor baby.
Do you ever miss your mother or father? Or siblings?
My mother threw me out as soon as I was old enough, and I didn’t mind. I was ready for stardom.
And waiting for me to take you in.
Well, you are better than living in a cage and waiting to be discovered.
I discovered you, Annabelle.
I guess you did, and now I have a personal manager who will make me a star.
And a great apartment and wonderful family, Missy! I prompted.
I am grateful. I’ve been very lucky. Poor Thatch, he feels too much.
You think so?
Yes, but what do you expect? He’s all heart and soul.
She walked around my chest several times before she relaxed, settled her head on the top of my rib cage, and drifted off to sleep. I was soon asleep as well. Thatch crawled out from where he had been lying to move to a place near me where he could stretch out. I have no memory of what I was dreaming, but I was wakened by Stella’s jump onto the bed. Annabelle sat up and jumped off me. Stella stuck her face into mine, then turned and walked down the length of my body. As soon as she got to my stockinged feet, she jumped onto my right foot and bit my toe.
Stella! I yelled. She jumped off the bed and scurried away. Thatch sat up and started to laugh.
That’s not funny, Thatch! That hurt. She’s got sharp teeth and claws.
He continued to laugh. It’s good, Daddy! It’s just so good to be home and safe.
©2020, Larry Moore
Annabelle & Thatch 