~~~
Gim showed up a bit sulky,
Her fur was unruly and head was bulky.
I asked her, “Hey Gim, haven’t seen you around in six long hours!
You look terrible! Did you get soaked in one of those Tennessee showers?”
She complained, “He scolded me out of here…quite a cold place to be!
I didn’t see it coming, but he could have, couldn’t he?
He does this for fun, I have no doubt;
Knew it was raining, but he still sent me out!”
I said, “I hear your loud shout,
But who are you talking about?
Do I know him?”
“Of course”, she replied, “It’s my good-for-nothing master, Jim.”
“…and that’s not all. He shut the door and chased me off,
As if it was my birthright to hear him scoff.
It’s Christmas season, and all year, I’ve been good.
All I know is that I deserve my food.”
“When I ask for a small treat,
He does not even budge from his seat.
When I ask for tilapia or salmon, he avoids me,
Looks at me in disbelief, and says, “We’ll see…””
“The other day, two fish from his fish-pond disappeared.
The blame was on me, and that’s what I feared!
I’m no thief, I’m no liar. Please believe what I say,
It was a bird that grabbed the fish and flew away.”
“He tells me I’m inflating like a gas balloon,
And says, “Gim, go to the gym or you might take off soon.”
Now, what does a cat care about a slimming diet?
And that’s the main reason for this fight!”
“But there are other reasons that make me mad,
I tell you, I’m the best cat anyone’s ever had.
Sure, I laze around and drink from the toilet,
But then, no one is perfect.”
“Gim!? What kind of a name is that?
The neighborhood cats roll on the floor, asking, “Gim? You sure you’re a cat?
We don’t mean to be rude,
But your name sounds like Chinese food!””
“Sometimes, when I hang out by the lawn floor
Or by the garage door,
I’m partially fed. Food’s not on my mind like before.
Some pampering and a nice rub is all I ask for.”
“I have a shiny black coat, green eyes and cute paws.
I’m so peaceful. I even have blunt jaws.
Gim and attention. Gim and food. It’s an obvious link.
I deserve some pampering, don’t you think?”
I said, “I think you should run away never to return.
A cat like you isn’t meant to kvetch and burn.
I hope you don’t die on the way and do get lucky with a master someday…
Well, if it helps, you have nine lives anyway.”
She exclaims, “I thought all humans were dumb but I’d say,
Your idea seems to be good. I must leave right away.
If you’ll excuse me, I’ll pack up and soon be gone,
I might take the Greyhound to Pittsburgh or to Sierra Leone.”
I ask, “Gim, before you leave, an answer to my questions can you give?
It’s not you, it’s me. You see, I’ve always been very inquisitive.”
“Sure, go ahead…but if you do, promise me that
you’ll buy me my ticket. You see, I’ve always been a very poor cat.”
“Sure”, I affirm. “Errr…how long have you known Jim?
What on earth made you stick with him?
If he doesn’t feed you well, how is it that you’re putting on weight?
And what about your religion, salvation and fate?”
She replied, “It’s been over 600 days
Since fate crossed our ways.
I was pathetic, homeless and lonely,
And thought this would be a decent place to be.”
“I know it was radical, and it was risky.
It was like mixing vodka, rum and whiskey!
But I felt right, happy and rich, though he didn’t give me any money.
Loneliness is a strange thing…It is scared of company.”
“I am lucky actually. Most cats are not. Their luck doesn’t last.
Say, with this running away thing, I might’ve jumped the gun too fast.
The meals were not frequent but they were full.
Was I complaining about them? I am such a fool!”
“Before I met Jim, I was a sinner.
My faith was thin, and my religion was thinner.
Now, I get to meet my spiritual side that helps me cope.
I’ve become a holy cat, and that has renewed my hope.”
She walks away, and says, “As for the Greyhound, I might pass.
Keep the ticket money. I think I am thinking clearly at last.
I’m not going anywhere. You must be out of your mind,
Jim’s a kind of friend that’s very hard to find!”
~~~~~~~~~
