Story of a Friendship
Years ago , I lived near a large empty field in a city , which meant that many stray cats found their way to my back porch and often too quickly , into my house and heart . One of those cats was a cat named Fred . He was a dapper tuxedo gentleman and a very sweet boy for a cat without a home . He spent an entire summer on my porch , for I felt that I simply had too many cats in the house and small shop . He was so understanding about his position in the household and did not try hard to get inside .
He arrived a couple of months before another gray and white guy , who we named Jack . The plan was to have these two boys , who seemed to like each other , as sheltered outdoor cats . But Fred had other ideas . He could be an outdoor boy , but as far as he was concerned , Jack needed to be inside . He would hold the door open when feeding them so that his buddy could scoot inside . Fred was insistent … Jack was to be an indoor cat . I ’ d never had a cat that worked so hard to get another cat a good home when he did not have a home of his own . Normally , cats take care of themselves first , and usually are not happy about the addition of another cat in the house after they get a space . Week after week … Fred wore us down . And Jack got his home . With that , I felt guilty . Fred was still not in the house . But I had a friend that ran a sub shop who needed a cat . He had a minor mouse problem , and a cat would keep the mice out of his shop , simply by being there . Fred was such a gentleman and loved people . Why not re-home Fred to the sub shop ?
Shortly after his big move a few blocks away , I missed him . Within a week , I really wanted to get him back and add him to the indoor cat group . Meanwhile , he was making friends with the college kids that ate at the sub shop . His favorite sub became a cheesesteak , and he loved to lounge in the window to see all the kids .
That was his undoing at the shop , for the health inspector walked by and saw him . Cats are not allowed at sub shops ! Barry called me with the bad news that Fred was fired . The students would miss him , but I was so happy to have him home . His service to Jack and to Barry ’ s sub shop earned him a forever home in the bookshop .
Sadly , he had one bad habit . He loved to chase trucks . He survived being hit by a car on the street and it took him months to heal . But he did not learn his lesson . He was hit in the back alley , next to the empty field that had brought him to the little bookshop . When we found him , he had died of his injuries and had a surprised look on his face .
- by Linda Roller , Bookseller , Writer , and Owner of Liberty Book Shop in beautiful downtown Avis , PA .
LIBERTY BOOK SHOP Linda Roller
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Pawsitively Pets -- July 5