for now, you're going to stay.

[constance]

A conversation:

[My mother and I are pulling into my driveway on our way to lunch, on account of I have to go home to let the dog out before we eat. There's a grey tabby cat sitting on the stepping stones laid between the driveway and the front walk.]

Mother: There's a cat sitting on your stepping stones!

Me: Yeah, it's one of the strays B [my next door neighbor, but not the Miss B. whose life I ruined a couple of years ago] feeds. Her car was gone for a while, and this guy looked hungry, so I fed him, and he visits sometimes now, so I just kept feeding him in case B's gone. This is the first time he's been waiting for me, though! The bowl on the porch must be empty.

Mother: ...

Me: What?

Mother: You know that's your cat now, right?

Me: No, it's not! He's B's, if he's anyone's. I just feed him sometimes.

Mother: Cammy, it's waiting for you to feed it. Do you feed it Rachel's food?

Me: Uh, no. I bought him his own food because Rachel's on indoor formula weight control food.

Mother: Uh-huh. What'd you name him?

Me: I didn't name him, because he's not my cat!

Mother: He has his own food. He eats on your porch. He sits in your yard and waits for you to come home. He lets you pet him. I got news for you, babe. He's your cat. So name him.

So. I guess I got me a cat. I'm thinking up names now.

Comments

[resonant]

I hope at least he's a nice cat?

Like most cat-lovers, I've got a million names for potential cats, but actual cats seem to come with their own names. I've always wanted to name a cat Nineveh, for instance, so that when he acted up, I could tell him that he had to change his ways or he would be destroyed.

[constance]

He's very nice, or at least he seems that way for the little we know each other. He's sweet and friendly, a little wary but not the least feral-seeming. When he and Leory met, he politely let Leory sniff him for a moment, then rubbed up under Leory's legs. An excellent sign.

I think he's going to be Foss (after Edward Lear's cat). He's the right color and kind, and Foss is ungendered enough that if he turns out to be a she, the name'll make the transition smoothly.

I have cat names in stock too! I've always wanted a cat named Jeoffry, after the Smart poem, but this just didn't seem to be the right one -- some names suit, and some just don't, you know? I know you do.

Hahahahaha, Nineveh's a great name!