The Window Shopper

Day 1:

I woke up in a different place this morning. Much smaller than I was accustomed to. There still was a bed, food, and water. But something felt different. I couldn’t find Mom. I stood from my bed and stretched. The room felt so much smaller. I couldn’t roam around like before. As I grew older, I didn’t have the drive to catch mice or feathers or even Mom’s black hair ties that I would carry around in my mouth from time to time. I couldn’t even hear a bird chirp. I could see through the big clear window, but no birds. Not like before.

I walked toward the window and peered through it. This wasn’t the outside. I could see the food I liked and some toys, but this wasn’t my house. No rugs for me to scratch or chairs for me to nap in. I sat down and scratched my head, perplexed. What the heck was going on here.

“Mom?” I began, staring out the window.

“Mom, Mom, Mom?”

Soon I began getting nervous and started to pace back and forth, hovering next to the window in case she showed up. Suddenly, I heard a rattling noise. I turned and looked behind me. Someone was looking at me. Not Mom. This lady had dark hair and glasses. Her skin was smooth and had makeup on. Mom was blonde and wrinkled. She was older like me. I made a noise and raised my entire body, even my hair stood up. I hadn’t done this in a long time.

“It’s okay, I’m not going to hurt you.”

“Where’s my mom?” I demanded.

“I know you’re scared,” the lady said, slowly putting out her hand.

“I want my mom.” I began backing up until I hit the window.

“Okay, I’ll come back later.”

The stranger pulled her hand back and shut the door and walked away. I began to relax, but only for a second. A tapping noise came from behind me and I quickly turned and saw a small kid staring at me. I jumped and backed up toward my bed. The tapping continued. I noticed a blanket that I don’t remember seeing before. I darted under it and hid. Muffled sound came from the glass, but I wasn’t about to look. I was staying here and waiting for my mom.

Day 3:

I still haven’t really left the comfort of my hiding spot. Only to get food or go the bathroom. The lady with glasses has come back a few times, but I still won’t let her touch me. More and more new people tap the glass and point at me. They are usually in groups. One always points then puts their hands together and jump up and down. Then the one or two others shake their head. Finally, they all walk away. I hope Mom is okay. I haven’t seen her in three days. Maybe she went on vacation.

As the day moved on, Mom still didn’t show up. But the lady with glasses came back yet again. She had something in her hand this time as she opened my door.

“Here you go. I brought you a friend.”

Soon, this small black and white thing was in my room. It was shaking. Initially, I saw it and stared. We locked eyes and it shook some more. It began to cry. I knew the feeling. I slowly crawled out from under the blanket.

“Come here, I won’t hurt you.”

Wow I sounded just like the glasses lady. Maybe she is being nice.

It walked toward me, still crying. As it got close to me, I began licking its head. Soon, it was nuzzled into my chest. Now I realized I needed to be the adult, even though I still wanted Mom.

Day 7

It now has been a week. I don’t think Mom is coming back. I think something happened to her. Something bad. She was older and sometimes didn’t feel well. I wish I could know for sure. My new roommate’s name is Max. He finally has stopped crying, but hardly leaves my side. The woman with the glasses told me it was my duty to keep him company. It’s not hard to do when the little shit follows my every move. I eat, he eats. I sit close to the glass; he sits close to the glass. I paw at the mouse toy; he paws at the other mouse toy. Some days I am about ready to paw him and tell him to stop, but most days it’s okay. I don’t mind the company.

I still have hope Mom is going to come get me, but the realization has set in as each moment passes. She took care of me for so long and now it is up to me to carry on her legacy and take care of Max. I realize now that maybe I should let the lady with the glasses pet me. She seems like she’s only trying to help. Maybe tomorrow.

Day 9

Max was up early running around, playing with a mouse. The lights were just beginning to brighten. I like to lay around for a while after I wake up. These old bones don’t like to move around first thing in the morning. Soon I was up and eating. The first wave of people began walking past Max and I. All of them pointing or waving. I was getting used to it. I didn’t need to hide under the blanket anymore. Max still freaked out a little and would run behind me. Apparently, I looked safe enough to be a hiding spot, even if I was just a big ball of grey fur.

Soon after lunch, I was laying down when the girl with glasses stood in front of the window. Very unusual. She was with this lady and man. They kept pointing at Max. He had no clue what was going on. He was too busy studying the water dish, while gently placing his paw in it. I used to do that all the time. Such a knucklehead. I looked back to the window and they were gone.

Suddenly, the door to the room was been jingled. Max looked up and instantly laid behind me. It was the girl with glasses. But the man and woman were with her too.

“What’s going on?’ I asked.

“I know. I just need Max. It’s okay,” the lady with glasses replied.

“What?” Soon, she was gently moving me to the side and had Max in her palms. He began crying. Crying really loud.

“Hey, what’s going on?” “You’re okay. You stay right there,” The lady said.

I watched as she shut the gate and put Max into this box with a smaller door. I ran up to the gate and yelled.

“Max. Max. Buddy, it’s okay.”

The four left and were in front of the window again. I got close to the glass as possible and watched. I could see Max looking at me. His pupils the size of nickels. The man and woman talked with the lady with the glasses. They all smiled and laughed. Soon they were walking away. I could hear Max cry. I watched as they walked to the front door and I couldn’t see or hear him anymore. My heart was beating through my chest. It was quiet. I went under my blanket. I needed to feel safe and calm down. I wanted Mom.

Day 20

It now has been over a week since I last saw Max. I made sure the lady with the glasses knew about it too. I stared at her a lot. Didn’t let her pet me. I began to gain trust toward her, but now I wasn’t sure. She would say Max was in a safe place and was happy. How would she know? Did she talk to him? Either way, the lady with the glasses was on my shit list for the time being. Life now is slow. It is just me still. People still look at me. Tap the window and wave. I’ll sometimes sit by the glass and give the occasional tap just to appease them. Mom would find it funny. She definitely isn’t coming back, but I still hold on the hope that she does. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s comfort; maybe it’s lack of reality. Regardless of what the reality is, the idea of Mom is coming back keeps be safe and hopeful.

Day 27

The lady with the glasses came to me with two new ‘friends’ after lunch. Both of them where pure white and had blue eyes. They were bigger than Max was. Both shy. At first, I was stern toward them. Trying not to get too attached like I did to Max so swiftly.

“This is Lily and Rosie,” the lady with glasses said. She smiled and gently plopped them into my domain.

The two stayed at the edge of the door frame after it was closed. I stood tall against the glass still trying to act tough. It wasn’t working. Rosie and Lily both had eyes as wide as nickels. Just like Max. They were scared, alone, and in a foreign place. Time for me to stop being a jackass. I lowered my arched back. My hair went back to lying flat on my body. I moved halfway between the window and doorway and sat.

“Everything is okay now. I won’t hurt you,” I said, reach out a paw.

Rosie stayed still, but Lily soon inched toward me. Nose out, she sniffed my extended paw. Then licked it. Rosie watched, but followed her sister. After a few more tense moments, the three of us huddled together. The sisters began to purr and I let my full guard down. It was time to make my new roommates feel comfortable.

Day 35

Lily and Rosie didn’t last too long. A family of two dads with a little boy and girl came to see them. They were swatting a jingle ball back and forth in front of the window when the taller of the two dads pointed to them. I sat on top of my ‘safe blanket’ and watched. The other dad said something to the little kids. Soon, they began bouncing up and down with extreme excitement. I continued to watch. I knew what was coming next. I stood and stretched before making my way to Lily and Rosie.

They saw me and stopped playing, becoming more curious. The family of four was gone from the window. I knew who they were seeing.

“You two are in for a special surprise,” I said enthusiastically.

Both tilted their heads to the side and looked at me funny. Before I could say anything further, the lady with the glasses appeared. I looked at her, then back to them. I smiled.

“Follow me.”

I led the way to the doorway and let the lady with the glasses scratch my head. I stepped to the side and let her one-by-one grab Lily and Rosie. I continued to smile and gently rubbed my head against theirs before they left.

“Enjoy your new life.”

I walked back to my safe blanket after watching them get carried to the front door. I curled underneath it and slowly began to fall asleep. Mom would be proud.

Day 50

A few days after Lily and Rosie left, I met Tiger. A hefty orange guy. We would watch the people go past the window for most of the passing days. It became a hobby of ours. That, unfortunately, didn’t last long. An older couple came in one morning and decided to bring him home. I did what I had done with Lily and Rosie; said my goodbyes and the crawled under my blanket. Just another day’s work for me.

Day 52

I woke up not feeling right. The idea of food made me want to gag and moving from my bed seemed like a daunting task. So, I just stayed in bed. Nothing wrong with that. I’ll be fine.

Day 56

Still don’t want to eat, but had a few bites of food. The lady with the glasses told me she was worried about me and decided to call someone. I was napping when an older gentleman accompanied by the lady with the glasses came into the back. I looked up as they opened the back door, but didn’t have the energy to stand. The man had on a white coat that had some sort of blue writing on the left breast of the coat.

“It’s okay buddy. I’m not here to hurt you. Just want to see what’s going on,” he said, reaching for me.

I let him grab and hold me. Soon, I was on a cold white surface being gently held down by the girl with glasses. She had a pained look on her face. The gentleman took this silver circular thing and moved it up and down my chest. Later, a prick and sudden jolt of pain occurred. I hissed, but the lady with the glasses had a firm grasp on me and didn’t let me swat the guy with the white coat.

That was over with and to my joy, I was placed back on my bed. I looked at the food and water, took a little of each, then laid back down to nap. Whoever that man was, I don’t want to see him again.

Day 58

I woke up to the lady with the glasses opening the door. She had tears in her eyes as she grabbed me. I stretched in her arms and nuzzled into her chest. It was the most affection I had ever given her. It seemed like she needed it. She stroked the top of my head as tears rolled down her cheeks.

“It’s okay,” I said.

“The man with the jacket says your very sick.,” she began.

I continued to purr and nuzzle her chest. I wasn’t sure what she meant by being sick. I knew I didn’t really want to eat and was sleepy, but wasn’t that normal?

“You have cancer buddy.”

The girl with the glasses gasped and began crying more. She held me in closer and squeezed. I still didn’t know what that even meant. After a few more moments she placed me back into bed and shut the door. She looked at me as she wiped away tears.

“You’ll be okay,” I said.

Soon I was alone again. I really do like this girl with the glasses. She was been nice this whole time. I hope she feels better tomorrow. I took a drink of water and fell asleep. The new norm of my life. I still wondered what cancer was.

Day 59

The lady with the glasses came in early the next day. She hadn’t even turned all the lights on, just the ones by me. She had a cage in her hands. I watched her come to the door of my room. I was confused. No one else was in here with me. Why would she have one of those?

“Sorry to wake you sweetheart,” she said, grabbing me.

She pulled me through the doorway and put me in the cage. Just how she did with Max, Lily, Rosie, and Tiger. Was it really my turn now? Where was I going? Who was taking me? No one was by the window.

“You’re coming home with me.”

Soon, she was walking to the front door. Just like the others. I smiled.

“Thank you.”

Day 100

I took the plaque and hung it up adject to the window he loved looking through. I took a step back and stared. It still felt funny seeing the cage empty. We hadn’t gotten any strays in for a while. It was like they knew. Knew that he wasn’t here to protect them and help them grow before they found their forever homes.

I took off my glasses and wiped away the few tears running down my face. I placed them back on and looked at the plaque one last time.

THIS CAGE IS DEDICATED TO SMOKEY THE CAT. THE ONE WHO TAUGHT EVERYONE AROUND HIM THE VALUE OF EVERYDAY LIFE. SMOKEY WILL BE GREATLY MISSED. MAY HE REST IN PEACE.