The slamming of the back door screen and the shrieking of
the girl as she tore across the yard woke Bob from his nap. Folding his ears
back as he yawned and stretched, his front legs then his back. Reluctantly he
slunk to the edge of the yard to crouch beneath the lavender bushes, leaving
his warm corner of the patio in the sun. His old joints were stiff and he was
on no mood for the crushing hugs and rough play the girl would force on him if
he stayed in the open.
The screen thumped closed again, calmer this time. Bob saw
Leigh moving a plastic chair. She sat, and opened a book in her lap, but
watched the girl for several moments before looking down to read.
Bob remembered how he and Leigh used to spend the whole day
together sometimes. He would sit in her lap as she worked at the computer or
pounce on the laundry as she folded. Since the girl had been big enough to move
around though, Bob had slept hidden under the bed most of the day. He learned
quickly that that was the only way to stay safe from being poked or his ears or
whiskers pulled. Now he only came out after the girl was in bed. To get a short
precious time in Leigh's lap again for proper, gentle ear and chin rubs.
He looked at Leigh reading , then at the girl who was now at
the far end of the yard screeching some sort of song as she ran in circles. He
stuck his head out from under the bush. Then crept a little further. Before
he'd thought things through he had covered half the distance to Leigh. He found
himself airborn, swinging in a circle. The girl held him under his front legs,
his back feet dangling as she flung him around in her dance.
"Caroline! Stop that!"
The swinging stopped, but he dangled still, his spine screaming
for some support. Then Leigh had him against her chest, one arm under him, the
other rubbing his ears. She carried him to her chair, and then set him in her
lap. He thought about jumping down and back to his hiding spot in the bushes.
"Caroline, come here. You pet him gentle, like
this."
Leigh ran her hand down his spine. Then a smaller hand hit
him, pushing him down, and followed the same path. "Gentle, gentle. See,
he likes that." The second time, the small hand was softer, but it plucked
at his fur before departing.
"I'm sorry buddy," Leigh said, scratching his chin
in the spot he loved. "She'll get better. I've got you now though."
Bob curled up and settled into her lap, purrs overflowing
out of him. Like old times.
No comments:
Post a Comment