Cat Tails: A Secret Friend

On Tuesday afternoon LT walked by the garage and observed Rudy apparently talking to a wall. He thought about it for a minute and then decided to investigate. He quietly crept along the side of the garage to try and hear what she was saying. Unfortunately, he stepped on a twig and Rudy whipped her head around and saw him.

“LT, you startled me!” Rudy said.

“Who were you talking to, Rudy?”

“No one. I was just… thinking out loud. I do that sometimes.” Rudy shifted so that her back was to the garage wall.

“You sure you’re feeling okay today, Rudy?” LT was concerned because Rudy didn’t seem to be acting like herself, and LT would have said that he knew her better than anyone.

“I’m fine, fine. Just enjoying the beautiful day,” which was an odd thing to say since it was 90°, cloudy and extremely humid.

“Okay, well if you need me I’ll be enjoying the beautiful mugginess in a pile of leaves by the neighbors’ house.” LT shook his head and walked away.

After a few minutes a voice came from beneath the garage wall. “That was a close one, Rudy.”

“Yeah, it was. I wish you’d come out from under there and let me see you. I don’t see why you have to hide. We could sit on the porch and I could introduce you to LT and the Peep.” Rudy sounded wistful.

“Oh, I know who they are. I’ve seen them, but they don’t see me. Or to be more accurate, I don’t let them see me,” said the voice from under the wall.

“You were my first friend when I came here. I was scared and hurting and you talked to me and let me know the folks here were nice. I knew there were cats here, but I didn’t know if they would like me. You told me all about the Peep and Rudy and LT.” Rudy pleaded with her friend.

“You were so scared and hurting that night. You thought your legs were broken and you are in so much pain. I couldn’t just leave you alone in such misery. I may not want anyone to see me but that doesn’t mean I’m not nice,” said the voice from under the wall.

Rudy thought for a while. Perhaps her friend had been in an accident and was disfigured, or had been burned. She couldn’t think of any other reason why he wouldn’t come out from his hiding place under the garage. “Well, can you at least tell me what color cat you are?”

“Uhh, well, I guess you could say that I’m a black cat…with some white.” The voice was hesitant, and almost apologetic.

“That’s just like me! I’m black and white too. Do you have long hair or short hair? I’m a long hair you know.” Rudy was getting excited.

“My hair isn’t nearly as long as yours. My tail is bushier though. Rudy, I just don’t think this is going to work out. I love to talk to you and I like having you as a friend but you can’t keep asking me to come out or to meet your friends. If you keep doing that I’ll have to leave.” The voice almost sounded like it was crying.

“I never want to hurt you. I’ll stop, I promise. Anything as long as you don’t leave.” Rudy lay down by the wall and began to purr. She groomed herself carefully and sang a little song. She thought maybe by doing this she could make up for trying to convince her friend to come out. “It’s nice and cool here in the shade of the garage. I could spend all here.”

“If you do LT will really think that you’re crazy. He’s already wondering about you for talking to the wall of the garage. You had better go and find him and pounce on him or something. Distract him. I’m going to take a nap anyway.” She heard her friend move away under the garage.

Rudy went in search of LT. She found him in a large pile of leaves under the trees. She took her friend’s advice and pounced on him. “Banzai! I’ve got you!”

“Rudy, you’re nuts! First you talk to the walls and now you’re kamikaze cat. It’s a good thing I love you.” LT flipped her off of him and settled down next to her and purred happily. “I’m glad you came to keep me company. We’re all a bit sad because the Mommy left and I like having you with me. Lets just sit here and enjoy this beautiful weather, shall we?” And so they did.