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Topic: Pets (09/13/04)
TITLE: A Place to Call Home By Annette Bury 09/15/04 |
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What strange creatures will I find on the other side of that door? Will they be friend or foe? Am I a visitor or a permanent guest?
Submerged in my fears, the door yanks open and I’m flung down. Yikes!? What’s that? I cock my head as strange high-pitched sounds echo through the house, sounding like sick song-birds.
Suddenly, something touches my nose, like a pinch—no, more like a poke. My instincts rear into place, screaming for me to stay back, and to trust no one. I retreat to the far corner, curling myself up into a ball. With my head away from my intruders, several fingers touch my back. Ignore them, my instincts scream, perhaps, they’ll go away.
But I feel I’m suffocating now. I lift my head up as I gasp for air, taking in short breaths. With my mouth open, my breathing has escalated to panting. I need water! Quick! I turn around as five sets of eyeballs peer at me between the wires. I let out a loud, “Meeeowww!”
The door is open as fingers and hands twirl in the air, clapping and patting the floor. Crouching, I take two slows steps to the door. I stick my head out, but when a sticky hand swipes my head, I retreat again. My space is dark and tiny, but it’s familiar and safe.
I’m panting harder and water is now a necessity. I stick my tongue out. Water lies just ahead, outside my trusted space. In my desperation I creep forward. The eyes and hands of the children are seated away from me now, all staring, but not moving. I stick my head out again and slink to the water. I lower my face and lap up the cool refreshing water, wetting my parched tongue.
Looking up, the children continue to stare, pointing and laughing. Feeling like a spider caught in a web, I want to recoil again, but something swells up within me, pushing me to explore. Low to the ground, I continue forward, while keeping my secure space nearby. Pheww! Something hits my nose as a dingy sock is stuck under my face. I scoot backward. Thump! My rear-side bumps into something large, but soft. I look way up. It’s something I can jump up on later, and stretch out on – A sofa.
One by one, the children shuffle forward with their hand outstretched. I take a few whiffs; some sweet, some strange, and some downright nasty. Slowly, they lift their hand to my head and pat it. As this continues, and no harm befalls me, I take a few deep breaths as my heart returns to a patter. Finally I summon the courage to venture across the room, sliding in between the wall and the big sofa.
I soon realize I’m the newest addition to the Bury household. They name me Tigger, and I usually come when I’m called, unless I’m doing something important like sleeping. I’m an answer to prayer for the kids asked the Lord for a cuddly, lovable kitty. I spend my days lounging in the living room where the sunlight streams through the windows, playing catch the string with the kids, and capturing the countless bugs and spiders that manage to squirm their way in through open doors and cracks. The house is noisy with on-going chatter, talking, and even an argument or two, but it’s the hum of my new home and it’s all familiar to me now.