Maggie, aka "K.B. Bittens"
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As I've said before, I'm convinced there's an underground movement among
the stray animals out there in the world, keeping track of those of us
who take in the lost or abandoned and, when there's an opening (and often
when there's not) we are soon graced with the sudden appearance of a
potentially new member of our families. And so, one cold, winter night a few weeks after my long-time friend, Shep, passed on, I heard a noise in the garage and when I took my flashlight and scanned around in the dark, I saw a small, huddled, multi-colored lump of fur nestled deep-down on a pillow I kept out there just in case some poor animal should come inside seeking some protection from the cold, so they would have some protection from the cement floor upon which to catch a nap. |
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The young cat opened her eyes wide and stared, unblinking at my
flashlight, afraid, but motionless. I backed out, closed the door and
came back with bowls of food and water, then closed the door and let her
have her privacy. It was warm in the garage, and I left her alone until
the next morning. At daylight when I checked in the garage, much of the food and water were gone, and I saw a multi- colored flash exiting through the cat door. Thus began our get-acquainted time. After a few days she let me pet her and even bring her into the house. She quickly became a member of my little family. My housekeeper suggested the name, "Maggie," and, as it reminded me of Maggie the Cat in Tennessee William's play, "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof," I felt it was the perfect name. Maggie fell in love soon after that, a long-haired male friend hung around for days, and I would see the two of them racing off into the woods, oblivious to the cold. Ah, young love, what's a father to do? But young love is notoriously short-lived and so it was with Maggie. Soon after her young friend stopped coming around, Maggie visited the vet, had some surgery and returned home with a new outlook on life. Maggie is so young, so full of energy, that she makes even Harry seem old by comparison. She still loves being outside and even in the coldest weather, is the last one to come inside for the night. She's learned from the other cats how to, "bang on the blinds" of my bedroom patio door when she wants to go out, though she's yet to master the climb up onto the second-story balcony when she wants to come in. But, as I've said, she's still young. Update: Due to Maggie advancing from kitten hood to become a graceful young lady, her new name has been changed to better suit her catsonality. Jim writes: She's an absolute doll, and her new aka is, "K.B. Bittens," a spoonerism for, "Baby Kittens." Written by Jim- |
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