C. Tonya Caputo
I am the wise one, the leader, the one in control. Scooter, on the other hand, is the child, the follower, the troublemaker. As much as I would like to run around, flip over on my back and talk incessantly to anyone that will listen, I have a reputation to protect. I am mature and I must act mature. I am a cat. My job is to sleep, fill my stomach a couple times a day, find the sunspot and sleep again. There is no time for playing like a kitten anymore. Those days are gone.
As I lie here in the far corner of the redheaded girl's room, Scooter has jumped up on the king size bed and is talking. He is looking straight at the redheaded girl and is meowing uncontrollably. I must stop him.
"Scooter. What is it you want?" I asked.
Scooter replied, "Hey, Lucky. So, you're talking to me today, huh?"
"Just long enough to get you to shut up so I can sleep," I complained.
"For your information, I would like to be petted. Is that so much to ask?"
Lucky paused, "You mean that when you talk, the redheaded girl pets you?"
"Almost every time," Scooter answered.
So, Lucky sat down and waited and watched. Let's see if Scooter is telling the truth, Lucky thought to himself. As he listened and watched Scooter continued to rant and rave.
"Meooooow…meeeeeeooooowwwww. ME-OW!" Scooter yelled.
"Oh my goodness you silly cat," the redheaded girl said.
And with that, she walked over to the bed, leaned over and started stroking Scooter from the tip of his nose all the way down to the end of his tail. Right then, Scooter flipped over, exposing his hairy, over-fed stomach. The redheaded girl then continued petting Scooter and then she started playing with him. This continued for several minutes. I couldn't believe my eyes. It actually worked.
I decided that I would not give in to that kind of nonsense to get noticed. I am, after all, a very attractive cat. All it should take is a little rubbing along the bottom of her legs while she's doing dishes or something and I will get my fair share of strokes. Or maybe I'll just climb up in her lap…she'll have to pet me then.
As the redheaded girl was standing in front of her mirror, I casually walked over to her and started walking in, out and around her legs, bumping my head strategically to get her attention. She leaned down and patted my hind end.
"I see you, Lucky" she said flippantly.
What? No long strokes? No playing? How unfair. This is discrimination. AGE discrimination. I shouldn't have to ASK for attention. I will not resort to talking and screaming all the time to get what I deserve. I should not have to do circus acts to get what is rightfully mine, a little stroking. I decided to take charge of this situation. Scooter was not going to be the favorite. Over my fat body.
I jumped up on the bed and I sat. I sat tall and proud with my chest sticking out and my nose in the air. The redheaded girl was going to notice me and see the mistake she was making in giving Scooter all the attention. I sat up straight for a solid five minutes. The girl didn't even look my way. At this point it was hard to keep my eyes open. I moved to the other side of the bed and took my original stance. Nothing. The redheaded girl was just walking around the room, getting ready for her day, not even taking notice of the sleek and beautiful cat that sat before her. Who keeps her lap warm when she's watching TV? Who perks his ears up when he hears a strange noise so she'll know if she's in danger? Who tries to throw up on the kitchen floor instead of the carpet so it is easier for her to clean up? Who? Who?
"ME! ME! ME! MEeeeeeoooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwww!" I screamed.
I screamed so loud that I startled myself. With that, the redheaded girl stopped what she was doing and laughed.
"Lucky, my word. What has gotten into you? I think Scooter is wearing off on you," she said.
"What? That cat? Influencing me? I think not," I proclaimed.
And before I even noticed what I was doing, I rolled over on my back and flipped my head upside down. I stared at that redheaded girl with my big eyes and my mischievous grin. And do you know what she did next? She lied down on the bed next to me and stroked me, for a long time. She petted me and talked to me and cuddled with me. It seems that Scooter knew a thing or two.
At that moment Scooter walked up to join us. He banged his head against the redheaded girl's hand trying to steal my strokes.
"Oh no, Scooter…this is my time. I stooped to your level and did my little act and this attention is mine," I announced.
"Oh Lucky, you never learn. This redheaded girl has enough love for both of us. Watch this," he said.
And with that, Scooter tucked his head underneath the girl's left hand. So now, the redheaded girl was petting Scooter with one hand and me with the other. In perfect rhythm, in one single motion, both hands starting with the tops of our heads and moving down to the tips of our tails. Oh, this is the life. Together we expressed our gratitude, purring in harmony into her ears.
"Oh, this is the life," she said out loud.
My name is Tonya Caputo. This is very short story about two cats in my life. I thought I would share it with you. I am originally from Georgia but recently relocated to California where I live with my husband, Tony, and our two cats, Lucky, 9, and Scooter, 7. Both were rescued from the "stray life" when they were young and both seem quite grateful. I just recently became interested in writing. I'm not sure if I'll continue but I enjoy it and it seems to be quite rewarding and satisfying. I have a lot to learn but I'm willing!
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Another story by Tonya: Lucky And Scooter