In Love with Nature

 

 

 

(1)

 

Few years ago, I divorced my wife or rather she was the one who divorced me. She asked for a divorce and I asked why? But she refused to discuss it. We were doing fine but later on, for a mysterious reason, she wanted a divorce. I spent my energy in order to fulfill her sexual desires and wasted so much money to satisfy her other biological and hygienic needs. I did my best but my best wasn't enough. She insisted on a divorce so we ended up with a divorce. And soon after our divorce she got married to another guy! That really pissed me off.

 

Then, I felt I hate all females. I hated myself and I hated even my own house.  So I decided to move out hoping to run away from the past.

 

Fortunately, I found a smaller house with a smaller price in a quiet neighborhood. I thought, it was the reasonable resort to which a broken hearted man should resign.  

 

The only creature who seemed to be welcoming me there was an alley cat. She was sitting at the corner of my new house staring with wondering eyes at me and at the workers I hired to help me moving my furniture into my new residence. She was staring at us with big charming eyes and in those eyes I spotted a spark of sadness

 

 (2)

 

Next day, I came from work exhausted as usual and saw the alley cat sitting there on the highest of my door steps. I said to her Good afternoon kitty and while I'm trying to unlock my door she kept going around me rubbing her body against my legs and meowing with that tone of voice that can easily squeeze the toughest man heart.

 

Being an above average guy I thought I understood what she wants. So I said to her: Okay I will get you some food lady. Actually, I don't keep food in my house but I have orange juice and milk. When I wake up I mix them to gather and drink them before I ran like a beast to work. The cat should like my mix. Would the cat have a better taste than me?

 

 After I opened the door, the cat wanted to get in with me but I shouted at her: No… I can't take care of you … besides I hate all kinds of females since my wife left me.

 

To my surprise, the cat understood what I meant. She backed up while looking at me with those sad eyes.

 

Anyway, I got the cat a plenty of milk mixed with orange juice to make sure that she gets enough vitamins and minerals. But the cat didn't like what I offered her. She kept going around me rubbing her body against my legs. I had to raise my voice at her: please don't do that. This is my work uniform. Don't make it dirty please.

 

She simply looked at me with those sad charming eyes.

 

Then I said: Okay, may be you prefer protein rather than vitamins and minerals. Tomorrow I will get you meat, I promise.

 

(3)

 

Next day noon, I left the office for a nearby Indian restaurant. I ordered meat curry and rice. The food was delicious. After I got my fill I thought to take the rest to my cat so I asked the waiter to put what's left in a plastic bag. The waiter looked at me with wondering eyes and said: but there is nothing much left.

 

So I said: get me these 2 pieces of meat and those bones I want to make a soup out of them tonight, I believe in recycling, you see?

 

He laughed at me loudly but he satisfied my request.

 

I went back to office hiding my left over in my bag.

 

(4)

 

When I came back home I found my cat waiting for me by my door as if she knows exactly what time I come home!

 

I gave her the meat I brought and the bones. She smelled them but didn't touch them and she kept performing the everyday rituals, going around me and rubbing her body against my legs!

 

I said to myself: maybe my cat doesn't like Indian food or maybe she avoids red meat in order not to raise the level of cholesterol in her blood. So, I thought to get her fried chicken. After I got the permission of my cat I walked to the Kentucky Fried Chicken. It's not near but I thought if I walk it would be faster than using my car since there is a traffic jam this time of day.

 

When I got there I ordered a meal to go. After about 20 minutes I got my meal and ran away going back to my cat in hurry hoping that she doesn't give up on me and go away to leave me alone.

 

When I got back home I found her there still waiting for me.

 

I gave her 2 big pieces of chicken and some French fries with ketchup and stood there to watch her eating. But she didn't eat. She kept going around me, rubbing her body against my legs and meowing in that same tone of voice which made me raise my voice and shout: what is wrong with you cat? You are more mysterious than my x-wife

 

(5)

 

I then felt being challenged! What does this cat want?

 

Then a brilliant idea flashed in my mind. Cats, I know, like sea food. Why don't I get her a can of tuna? Yes, this is probably what she wants. So I decided not to go into my house until I know what this cat wants.

 

And I walked again to the super market.

 

There while searching for tuna I saw cat canned food and I remembered that I read that modern cats do not like our kind of food. They like their special canned food. But my cat is an alley cat how would she know about these things?

 

May be she was once a pet in a family house where she got the chance to get spoilt.

 

Taking into my account the 2 possibilities, I took 1 can of tuna and another can of what they call cat food and run back home.

 

(6)

 

When I came home, I found those charming sad eyes waiting for me. There on the highest of my door steps.

 

I opened the cans I got and offered them to my cat. She looked at them. She didn't even bother to smell them. She turned her face away for a while and then came to repeat the same ritual, revolving around me rubbing her body against my legs.

 

Out of fatigue, I sat down. The cat came and sat in contact with me.

 

While thinking about her odd attitude, I, spontaneously, stretched my hand to pat her gently on the back.

 

She then closed her eyes and started to purr. She seemed to feel so comfortable. And I felt I have no write to disturb her moment of comfort. So, I let up a cigarette and carried on thinking about myself, my cat and the wife I lost.

 

Soon, my cat fell into sleep while I was patting her.

 

Then, I got up to throw my empty pack of cigarettes into the garbage can and in the can I saw many types of food left over.

 

I realized, then, the cat was not in need for food. She needed patting!

 

May be this also is what my x-wife wanted, a little bit of patting, empathy, compassion, attention?

 

I was always too busy to think about that.

 

But too late now to give her that, she is now with someone else

 

Then, I thought to call her and to ask if her new husband give her what I failed to give.

 

But, I thought she may not appreciate me asking about her private new life.

 

I blamed it all on me. I felt so angry at myself. I blamed it all on me.

 

Feeling so guilty, I woke up my cat to let her into my house swearing to her in her innocent life to bring her tomorrow a cozy box to be a bed room for her and a litter box to be her bathroom.

 

 

 

(7)

 

 From that night on we became so attached to each other.

 

I used to take her for a drive in my car. And buy her Ice cream. She didn't reject it. We enjoyed competing to lick it rapidly to together to see who gets more than the other.

 

And when it's time for her to go to bed, I used to tell her stories and sing for her:

 

My cat

 

My dearest cat

 

Although you're mute

 

Your eyes with me chat

 

Saying to me:

 

Now you understand!

 


You old confused brat.

 

 

You may say to me: you lost your my mind!

 

Then I may tell you:

 

We lived happily ever after

 

Me with my cat and Nature with it's many manifestations.

 

--------------

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0YKAOao9Mo

 

Author's Notes/Comments: 

After I wrote this story and the one before (Reincarnation), I remembered a great short story I read when I was in the first year in college. That was a story written by Anton Chekhov, in the 19th century, entitled the Lament (Misery). I felt I was, unconsciously, trying to write with the same style as Chekhov's. of course, I will never be another Chekhov, but, the attempt makes me feel good.

Here is the link to that story, in case you happened to appreciate literature as much as I do:

http://www.readbookonline.net/readOnLine/1026/

View humanpulse's Full Portfolio