Tainted Pages

Chef Kitty

"Feed me!" I yelled at the cook through the window.

"Gato, ya te comiste hoy! Guárdalo para después!" The cook inside told me.

The cook was the grandmother of the family inside and her food is mighty fine, I'll tell ya!

The family had a perfect window garden for me to hop on and yell at them. It was so convenient.

I used to bother their neighbor for food, but he's since died and I needed to find another source of easy food.

His death wasn't easy. The family enjoyed his presence and were clearly sad when they found he had passed.

"Lung cancer es una puta ." The granddaughter of the cook had told me.

I was also sad when he passed. I really liked the old man even if he was annoying at times. It was sad to see him go.

But enough of all that sad stuff! This is about my new family!

Ever since the old man died they've been feeding me and treating me like the man of the house. I won't deny that I am either. I even slept in the treehouse that used to belong to the little granddaughters! They never used it anyway, someone had to. Why couldn't it be me?

It was well over 3 years when the family decided to make me an official part of their family. I had often tried to sneak into their house so it was gonna happen one way or another.

One day the granddaughter put me in a small prison and took me to the vet where she made me get shots and all kinds of stuff. For some reason she didn't get me a collar but instead put a chip inside me. That was weird, why put food inside a cat? These people...tsk..tsk.

"See we never gave you a name. Plus you're a free typa cat. I don't want to restrict you by giving you a collar that you might not even like." Chismosa, the other granddaughter, explained.

They had a small dog but I didn't mind. I'd see her around a bit and we never fought. Actually, now that we lived together we got along better than before. She rarely ever used her dog bed so I often stole it. I noticed she slept on Chismosa's bed a lot so I just had to try it out. When I tell you that was the best thing I've ever slept on, I mean it's the best thing I've ever slept on!

I was glad they didn't try to give me a new name. They still referred to me as "El Gato" even though I was clearly a girl but it made things easier to remember. They didn't keep me inside at all times. They let me out almost all day unless I wanted back in. The cook was always there to open the door and serve me food so I was very content.

I had been living with them for about two weeks when Chismosa started noticing something strange about me.

"Look at her tail. It looks a little bent we should get that checked out."

So they did know I was a girl!

I was brought to the vet the very next day where they explained that the tip of my tail was broken. I didn't mind though. It had been broken for a while and I was used to it. I had surgery to get it removed and was bandaged afterwards. The whole day was focused on pampering me and seeing to all my needs.

The day after I started acting really weird. I suddenly didn't feel like eating anymore which was strange because I LOVED eating. Everyone grew worried so I was rushed to the vet. No one could see what was wrong with me, so they suggested changing my meal plan and that was it.

But the next day I got worse. I had a random seizure that caused everyone to freak and I was rushed to the vet yet again.

I was diagnosed with something called FIP. I didn't know what it was but it had everyone crying at the mere mention of it's name.

"You're a strong girl you know that? Screw FIP, you'll get through this." Chismosa told me.

That night I cuddled up close to Chismosa and the dog.

"I'm sad." The dog told me.

"Why?" I asked.

"Everyone else is sad. I don't know why they are, but it still makes me sad regardless." She told me.

"Oh...it might be my fault." I admitted.

"No. I know what's happening to you. I notice a lot of things. It's not your fault." She assured me.

"Thank you."

It was weird, I never said thank you. I never even had basic manners but here I was.

"I'm gonna miss you." The dog said.

"I'll miss you too. When I leave I don't want it to be far away. I want to be close to you guys. Do you think that's possible?" I said, sneezing real hard.

"If it isn't I promise to sniff you out."

"With that old nose of yours? Sure." I purred slowly.

"Your scent is practically imbended into my memory. I'll never forget how you smell. So I guarantee I'll find you."

We didn't speak for the rest of the night and it became eerily silent.

In the morning we celebrated my "birthday." I didn't have a birthday, or at least I couldn't remember. They made a cake just for me and ate some slices themselves. I sat in the cook's lap while she watched her favorite show. She stroked my back slowly.

"I'll make sure to leave out some food for you every night. Just in case you get hungry." She whispered to me.

I purred. I missed them already.

I fell asleep next to the cook that night. I didn't want to leave her all alone.

I found myself sleeping with the cook on most nights and soon 6 days had passed. I had only gotten worse.

I knew tonight would be my last. I fell asleep on the cook's lap while she watched her overly dramatic show in the evening. During dinnertime I ate alongside the family in my perfect little spot on the window. I loved that little window garden. At night I spied on each member of my family.

The father was texting someone on his phone. The granddaughter was playing a game. Chismosa was petting the dog.

I curled up next to the cook. She was my favorite person no doubt. If I died I wanted to die next to her, because that would make me the happiest. I tried to stay up to watch her show with her but I felt myself drifting off to sleep. Everything grew dark and I didn't get to see Monday. I was fine with that, I never liked Mondays. Sundays were my favorite so I was glad I got to spend that time with the ones I loved most.

I was only an official part of their family for 24 days, but I'll have forever been their cat.