I used to have a cat.
I can't remember a time in my life when he wasn't there. His name was Chief. He was orange and white, and I don't remember when he was a kitten. He's always been old, fat, and sweet, my whole life. I realize the impossibility of this. That, however, does not make it any less true.
He was my best friend when I was young. What a sweet cat. I never got a hiss, growl, or any manner of mean sound from him in my life.
My younger brother, Davis, and I used to play games with him as children that were maybe not the best things to do, but they provide memories that I will never forget. We have a playground in our yard, and the first week we had it was a week of experimentation. Chief did NOT want to be taken up into the clubhouse at the top of the ladder. That didn't stop us. Nor did he want to go down the blue slide, the fastest slide we had ever been on. That didn't stop us either. The blue slide still has scratches down it.
We really did love him, I promise. He used to sit on our laps and purr. He sounded like a tractor with a severe need for an oil change. *grumble rumble brumble.........* We loved to stroke him, not minding the ever-growing piles of white hair accumulating on our new clothes. He liked being scratched on the ears, cheeks, chin, and occasionally the stomach.
At night as I was going to sleep, he would jump up on my bed and lay next to me, purring like a jackhammer.
Every once in awhile, I'd wake up at two in the morning to a wail that sounded like a mix between a firetruck siren and a black woman belting her heart out. I'd run outside in my bare feet to see him and a neighbor cat staring each other down, wailing and spitting, with chunks of fur littering the grass. Fun experiences.....
A few months ago, he died.
My parents are getting older and don't want to deal with pets any longer. They will not be getting another cat. My dad doesn't really like cats anyways.
I find myself at my friends' houses, looking at their cat in longing....I miss having Chief in my life as such a great friend and family member. I'll get another cat someday who hopefully can fill his shoes (boots?) somewhat. In the mean time, rest in peace, Chief.
