. you build the ark, i'll gather the animals .

 Everything is wet. Or muddy. Or both. Mostly, both. It's been pouring rain for days and the winds are whipping it everywhere. They closed the park because of falling trees. Mother Nature seems to be having a tantrum and even the ducks have gone inside to wait it out.

So, I opened the front door in a hurry tonight because the kitty bell was ringing. Far too wet to leave anyone outside in such weather, I grabbed the door open without really checking which cat. With towel in hand I hurried to get the poor thing inside quickly and shut the door. Okay. Here's the lesson. You know how your mother always said, don't open the door unless you look to see who is there first? Mom was right.

Lets just say I wasn't the only one startled.

I perhaps should back up and explain. I have hung a small brass bell outside each door of the cottage, front and back at kitty height for them to ring when they wish to be let in or out. It works like a charm. Anyone new to the family learns from the others what it means to ring those bells and proceeds to copy. And perhaps it works too well. 

By way of explaining what happened last night, I'll tell you a story. One of a typical sort of thing that happens here at the cottage. (Seriously, the place is a like some sort of mecca).

This past summer I became the friend, of a little girl raccoon that all to soon proved to be expecting a visit from the stork. I named her, Josephine. Every night separated by the window screen we spent time together chatting while she munched her food. Still only a baby herself, by midsummer Josephine's belly was all to clearly full of her own babies, she was near popping. I could hear the storks wings.

Having grown to feel safe here she would come at dusk and spend the night outside in the grass under the big pecan tree, near my bedroom window. From there like Pooh's Piglet, she would often stand up to the screen, reaching out towards my silhouette to be sure of me. I would whisper to her that everything was fine and she would wander back to her patch of grass only to return and check on me in an hour.

One hideously hot July afternoon a restless Josephine was in her spot far earlier than usual. Late that night she granted me the honor of being present for one of the most incredible miracles I have ever witnessed. With me there, Josephine gave birth to five gorgeous offspring out under the trees in the garden. Only a few feet from where she labored, I sat on the porch steps talking to her and snapping dozens of pictures.

After disappearing afterward for a couple of weeks, Josephine appeared once again, under her tree with a waddling brood of five at her heels. I was a godmother.

You know where this is going don't you.

Yes, last night I opened the door and grabbed Josephine. Or maybe it was Elizabeth the smallest of the cubs of whom I am enamored--I mix her up with her mother. At any rate the bell sounded and neither of us was expecting the other in such a disorderly speed.

 

My point to the story is not that one must always listen to the wise teachings of their mother (although it is unquestionably a good idea to do so, case-in-point), but the moral here is this: If you have a large gray tabby cat that is trained to ring the doorbell, and it is a drizzling dark night out & you only half glance at the cat when you hear the bell ring ... Be sure that what you see on the porch is The Cat before you grab. 

Not to worry. All misunderstandings have been settled and Josephine (or was it Elizabeth?) seems fine with the whole ordeal behind us. As well she quite enjoyed the extra treats received for not biting me.

I bet Noah knew to turn on the porch light.

-^..^- love, zUzU

 

Comments

[Ajae McCain]

Hey zUzU.... First of all thank you for being one of the first people to take the time to leave comments on my new blog. It meant quite alot, as I am just gettind started.

I looooved your story about Josephine! How honored you must feel given the amount of trust she has in you. We grew up with a brood of coons near our house and also spent alot of time feeding and watching them.
The cat part is so funny!! And I agree, amazing you didn't get nipped. Maybe it was Josephine and the trust issue came into play.
I also am a crazy naturefreak, and have befriended many a critter. I plan to share my stories along with my art on my blog.

Thanks again, and nice to meet you! xo ajae

[naturegirl]

ZuZu it makes my heart sing to read this story and your compassion for this young mother. Many in my neigborhood shoo the racoon family away but deep inside I have respect for them and I allow them to graze on the seeds below my bird feeders!