That Cat

We sat in Nona's kitchen, my little brother and I.  

The old house had a tiny kitchen with faded wallpaper of hideous squares with patterns that looked somewhat like cliff monsters to my child-mind.  It had an old sink and tiny stove and a little frigidaire.

Mom had brought us to visit our Italian grandma.  Now she shuffled over to the frigidaire.  Nona had offered us lunch and we had accepted.  Our ancient grandma dragged her heavy legs across the floor while we children sat and watched.  Mom stood there watching.  Nona's feet shuffled as her slippers scraped the floor, carrying her heavy body.  She wore a floral house coat and elastic stockings to keep her varicose veins at bay.  Now reaching the refrigerator, she opened the door.

Our mouths dropped in astonishment as Nona opened the frigidaire and out strolled her little cat, a light red tabby.  Not the least bit upset at being locked up in the refrigerator, that cat walked out of that frigidaire like this happens every day.  Our eyes were glued to the cat as we watched what happened next!

Nona never saw a thing.  Her eyes were dulled by heavy cataracts, and she went on to take the salami out of the frigidaire and began to shuffle toward us, one heavy step at a time.

We watched in fascination as she pushed the cat along, one leg at a time, as Nona shuffled laboriously to the table.  She could not feel the cat, and with each step Nona shoved the little red cat forward against her thick elastic stockings.  

Now that cat had finally had enough!  She dug her claws into Nona's legs and through the heavy stockings!  Aaaaaagh!!!  Nona shrieked in pain, her eyes widening.  

The cat scampered off, and Nona rebalanced.  She continued her journey to the table.

I said it first.  'I don't feel like lunch anymore.'  Little brother agreed.

Nona was unhappy.  

Now mom started to explain in Italian.  I could only pick out a few words...'Gatto'....'frigidaire'....

'No!'.....'Si'

I love you my Nona.  As promised, I never forgot you. ❤️️❤️️❤️️ 

Cat 🐱 

Check out my newest book: Two Short Stories for two tales about love and magic.