Bella

by Joan Zawatzky

  ‘Happy birthday, Bella, you wonderful, spoilt kitty,’ one Human says.

  I do not like the sound of her voice. I am about to turn my back on her, when she pulls out a little, bouncing ball on a string. ‘A present for you, sweet, darling,’ she says.

  ‘Don’t you look gorgeous Bella, birthday girl,’ another says carrying a shiny toy with a long feather.

  Others come with birthday gifts for me too. They all laugh a lot about me, a cat, having a birthday party.

  I don’t think it’s funny! It’s my birthday, after all. Why shouldn’t I have a party?

  Karen brings more food to the table – salty, fishy things and a huge cake too. The smell is bliss. She gives me some fish on a plate. The flavour tastes strange, and I leave it. There will be more food to come. While they talk, I smell enticing, milky sweetness. I spring onto the table to follow the aroma. I find the source on the cake. It is soft, thick and white. I lick it quickly. It’s Yumow!

  ‘Oh no! She’s found the cream! Off the table, now, Bella!’ Karen says in her cross voice.

  One of the visitors says, ‘Come on Karen, don’t be mean to your kitty. Give her some cream. It’s her birthday after all!’

  Karen scoops a generous spoonful onto a plate for me.

  ‘There you are Princess, Enjoy!’

  Like all good things, it’s gone too quickly.

  Finally, they all leave.

  My birthday is over. I wish it would go on for longer.

  I find a gift of flowers and leaves from a friend of Karen’s in the kitchen. I enjoy shredding the leaves with my claws.

  ‘Naughty cat!’ Karen shouts. ‘Time for you to go into the garden.’

  I go through my door very slowly.

  Rat’s Poo! She’ll be sorry for talking to me in that tone... and on my birthday too.

  I am still peeved with Karen.

  When she calls me to the therapy room, I pretend I can’t hear her. After she talks to me kindly, strokes me from head to tail several times, I forgive her for talking rudely to me and follow her.

  ‘You can be so picky and sensitive,’ she says.

  A mother and her young child enter the room. The child is crying and clutches his mother’s hand. I listen to the mother’s voice. She is nervous and talks quickly.

  ‘Dane is five and an only child. He is bright, but shy and afraid of being left alone. Most nights he wakes with nightmares, and runs crying to our bed. He’s so tired and upset in the morning that he won’t go to kinder.’

  Karen listens to the mother and talks to the child in her gentle voice.

  Rotting Rats! The poor child is scared. He is seeking love and security. When I lie next to Karen at night, it is warm and cuddly. I feel safe. His bad dreams must be scary. No wonder he runs to his parents’ bed.

  My Karen is incredible. So patient! I don’t know how she listens for so long to each one of the distressed Humans who come to see her.

  She takes the child’s hand. ‘Come and see the kitty, Dane. Her name is Bella. She is so pleased that you came to visit us today.’

  The child approaches me with tentative steps.

  ‘Hello, Bella,’ he says in a small, scared voice.

  ‘Sit next to Bella for a while. She likes children and won’t hurt you, so don’t be scared of her,’ Karen says.

  Dane sits on the carpet next to my basket. Tears fill his eyes and run down his face. I know what to do. Slowly, I move from my basket, sit next to him and gently put my paw on his leg. Hesitantly, he touches me. I purr and look up at him. Gradually he stops crying.

  While Dane is with me, Karen asks his mother questions about him – when and where he was born, and if he’s had any illnesses. The questions continue about Dane’s behaviour at home, his family, and past experiences. She seems to ask all the Humans who come to see her so many questions.

  Dane’s mother looks down to hold back her tears. ‘I think that Dane is upset about the fire next door three months ago.’

  She talks fast, so I have to listen hard.

  ‘Dane’s friend Troy lived in the house next door to us. The two boys played together and were close friends. One night, there was a fire in Troy’s house. Though his father managed to carry Troy and his sister out safely, his mother was badly burned. By the time the firemen put the blaze out, the house was destroyed. We were lucky, our house didn’t catch alight’. She stopped for a moment to take a deep breath. ‘It was a terrible night. We all watched Troy’s mother taken to hospital in an ambulance. The hospital treated her for weeks, but finally she died. It was devastating for the family and Dane hasn’t been the same child since the fire.’

  ‘No wonder Dane is having nightmares. The fire must’ve been a terrifying experience, and for such a young child. Then the death of his friend’s Mum, must’ve been so upsetting for him...and difficult to understand,’ Karen says, looking concerned.

  ‘Dane doesn’t talk about it, but I see him sitting staring through the window at the open, black space where the house next door once stood.’

  Karen talks to Dane softly. ‘Are you and Bella making friends?’

  He nods. ‘She’s a lovely kitty.’

  ‘I can tell that she likes you too. She understands, so talk to her if you want to.’

  Dane nods again and pats me gently.

  I move closer and purr loudly.

  ‘You’re such a lovely kitty!’ He says.

  Dane’s mother sighs, ‘Unfortunately, Troy’s dad bought a new house quite a distance away, so the boys don’t see each other often now.’

  ‘I know Dane hasn’t wanted to go to kinder lately, but the routine, activity and being with other children will help him enormously,’ Karen suggests. ‘I hope he will go back soon.’

  ‘I will try to encourage him to go,’ his mother says.

  They begin to discuss ways to help Dane to recover. One of them is establishing a daily routine at home, so that his life is more predictable and he can feel more secure.

  While they talk about building his confidence, I fall asleep. By the time Karen wakes me, Dane and his mother have left. She tells me that there will be another child coming soon.

  Grrrrrrrrr! She is too busy today and I am busy too. I haven’t even had Cat Time to check my house and garden, or wash myself properly.

  Tony and Karen are arguing again. Tonight they have the worst of their arguments. Their loud voices yelling at each other scare me. I run to the other end of the house to hide, but I can still hear them.

  A wild, shouting storm has hit my house. What in Catland is happening?

  Later, when I creep out, Tony is sleeping in the second bedroom. Karen is alone in the big bed. I hear her crying and go to her. As I lie next to her, she stokes me. Gradually she stops crying.

  ‘You know everything, my precious.’ She kisses the top of my head and strokes the thick fur around my neck.

  In the morning, Tony comes back to the big bedroom and they talk.

  ‘I’m sorry I upset you, my darling. You know how much I love you,’ he says.

  ‘I love you too...we are both to blame,’ she says.

  He nods and gives her a kiss.

  ‘We are both overtired, working too hard, and too much. I am missing my dad and sisters. I would like to see them, and stay with them for a while. It would be a great holiday,’ she says.

  ‘I can take the time off work in about two weeks. It will be perfect for a break,’ he says, giving her another kiss. ‘Let them know we’re coming.’

  Thank Cats Above! The storm is over.

  This morning Karen is not working.

  ‘A lady is coming to clean today,’ she says, as she grabs her handbag and rushes out of the house. ‘Goodbye, Sweetie! Please be good!’

  She is in such a hurry to leave the house that she forgets to give me food. This is the second time it has happened.

  Withholding food is an extremely serious Cat Offense.

  Something important must be happening for a lady to come and
clean.

  Footsteps. The front door opens. A woman I have not seen before enters the house. I hide in a corner, observing her as she collects long sticks, brushes and bottles from the tall cupboard.

  She notices me. ‘Out of the way, Puss,’ she says gruffly.

  I watch as she sweeps and cleans all the surfaces with the stuff from the bottles, and uses a long stick with feathers, that must’ve belonged to a big, black bird. Then, she uses the noisy vacuum on the carpet to remove my hair. Later, she shakes the cushions to make them full.

  Please, don’t touch my favourite cushion. No luck, she shakes it too.

  Save Cat’s Ears! She sings out of tune while she works, and ignores me. The noise of her singing is awful.

  I don’t want to be noticed, as I have my own plans concerning the food cupboard. She leaves the door of the food cupboard in the kitchen slightly ajar. Karen always closes it. I am hungry, push the door open, and jump onto the lowest shelf. There isn’t anything interesting here. The middle shelf has little hard tins that smell of fish. I struggle to open one with my claws, but I am wasting my time. A box of my favourite biscuits – the ones Karen gives me for a treat is open. I push it until the box falls on its side. I eat quickly, delighting in a mouthful of biscuits, until the woman notices me in the cupboard.

  ’Get out of there!’ She lifts the broom in an attempt to hit me with it. I arch my back, bristle and snarl at her, ready to attack.

  ‘You nasty cat,’ she yells, drops the broom and moves back.

  Her lucky day! I’d have bitten and scratched her if she’d dared to hit me.

  She won’t worry me again now, but she’s tidied away the tasty biscuits. At last, the door bangs. She has gone.

  Karen is back. She sniffs the air and checks that the house is clean.

  I ignore her, and do not go to her when she calls, so that she knows and learns. She has left me without food all morning. Finally she notices my bowl is empty.

  ‘I’m so sorry my treasure,’ she says, as she pours pebbles into my bowl.

  I love her, and forgive her, but this is happening far too often lately.

  All is quiet again in Catland, but I sense that something is about to happen. Karen is walking fast, carrying sheets and pillows to the back room. Now, she is making the bed.

  I keep watch through the window in the front room. A car arrives. Karen’s mother, Liz walks slowly to the front door using her stick. Before she knocks on the door, she notices piles of leaves at the front of the house and shakes her head disapprovingly. Then, with her stick she clears away the leaves from the door. Once Liz is inside, she greets Karen and they hug and kiss. Karen collects her mother’s suitcase and a bag from the car.

  Oh no! She’s going to stay for a few days. Liz is not my favourite Human.

  Liz opens the bag, and out comes a present. Karen tears off the paper with a happy shout. Again she kisses her mother.

  Great Rats! Get on with it!

  I wait quietly for Liz to spot me in the corner of the room.

  ‘That cat of yours is here! You know I don’t like cats. They give me allergies. Can’t you lock her up somewhere?’

  ‘No Mum, I can’t...and I won’t. Bella is part of the family. Avoid her. She knows you don’t like her. Anyway, she has short hair and you won’t have any allergy problems.’

  I love you so much Karen. Liz will have to learn that this is my territory. But, I will try as hard as I can to get rid of her fast.

  Karen spends longer than usual in the kitchen cooking a special meal for her mother. While cooking, she gives me pieces of soft, juicy meat. Of course I want more.

  Then she says to me in her stern voice, ‘Bella, Mum doesn’t like cats. Please stay away from her tonight, or I’ll have to lock you out. You know that you won’t like it.’

  Rat’s Poo! My ears are back, my tail swaying wildly. My whiskers even twitch in annoyance. This is my house too!

  Tony arrives late and Karen makes apologises to her mother for him. I sense that Tony doesn’t like Liz either. He hardly talks to her and he drinks more dark liquid from his bottles than usual. Now he’s asleep on the couch.

  ‘Sorry about Tony,’ Karen says to her mother. ‘He works hard and his job is stressful. He is tired most nights.’

  Karen, you’re telling fibs! He is sleeping on purpose, like I do when I am bored with one of the Humans who visit you.

  At last they all go to bed.

  Happy Cats! This is my chance to get rid of Liz. I creep up to see what she is doing. If I can slip into her room she will detest it, and me. Hopefully she will leave early. But, bang – the door closes.

  The next morning, they all dress early, and eat breakfast hurriedly. They must be going out. Oh no, Liz has closed the door of the room again!

  This time, Karen checks that I have enough food and water, and they leave. Lovely! I have the whole house to myself, to place my mark all over the clean house, and to sharpen my claws. I can sleep as long as I desire on the big, soft bed.

  After eating I go outside. I have fun chasing a mouse around the garden, but it escapes. Then I try to chase a rat, a far bigger prize, but not to eat. I’m unlucky again. It has disappeared under the house.

  I sit in a sun patch wondering what to do next, when I hear a whirring sound. The duck is back to play. It hovers over me, teasing me. I turn about to use my claws to catch it, but I stop myself. I don’t want to hurt it. We play until the sun slides behind the clouds.

  Then, I hear the car. They are home. I greet Karen quickly and hide again.

  Great Happy Cats! Liz has forgotten about me. She leaves the door of her room open while she changes. I slip inside the room and stare at her. Then, knowing she will hate it, I brush against her leg.

  She screams, ‘Karen, Karen get this cat of yours away from me!’

  Meeeow wow! That was the best fun I’ve had all day!

  ‘Bella...you’re a naughty, naughty cat,’ Karen says in her cross voice. ‘I know exactly what you’re up to. You’re trying to freak Mum out.’

  Cat Punishment. A day of being locked up in the tiny room with the soap powder and dirty washing. I’m in prison with just my food, water and litterbox.

  In the afternoon, Karen opens the door to my garden to let me play, but makes sure I can’t come into the house.

  Meanwhile, I’m making plans.

  Tonight in the laundry again, I smell wafts of their dinner and hear them talking. I can tell a lot from my laundry prison. It’s Liz’s birthday, and they are singing. How absolutely dreadful it sounds. To celebrate, Karen has bought a cake. Their glasses clink and their voices become louder.

  When Karen comes to feed me, she strokes me all over and calls me her precious. She smells strange from all the food and drink, but I ignore that. I am focussed on the laundry door. After stroking me she forgets to close it.

  Now’s my chance! I slip out, hide and wait. While they are eating cake and drinking, I slink along the floor so they won’t notice me. The door to Liz’s room is slightly open. What a thrill! I push the door open. Now, I search for the perfect spot. I leave a dark, smelly present for her on the carpet next to her bed. Then, I return to my laundry prison to sleep.

  I have accomplished my aim.

  A loud scream wakes me. It’s Liz screaming.

  ‘That evil cat of yours has made a huge, stinking poo on my carpet! I think I’m going to faint.’

  ‘Sit down Mum, and don’t get upset. I’ll clean it up,’ Karen says calmly. ‘I’ll make you some tea.’

  ‘She’s a nasty cat. You should get rid of her.’

  While Karen cleans away my poo and sprays disinfectant on the carpet, she talks to her mother in the soft voice she uses for me.

  ‘Mum, Bella knows you don’t like her. She doesn’t like you either. While you’ve been here she was locked in the laundry, and hated it. This is her way of paying you back.’

  ‘I don’t care, it’s utterly revolting...disgusting! I’m going home tomorrow!’r />
  Happy, Happy Cats! It worked. Wonderful!

  I eat, and then hide again. Karen will be very cross.

  The next morning, there’s a lot of noise. From my prison, I hear Liz packing her suitcase. Karen is helping her. They eat and drink together, and talk. Then, Karen carries the suitcase through the front door.

  Ecstatic Cats! Liz has gone.

  Karen lets me out of prison. I forget my time spent locked up, run to her and roll over on my back for tickles.

  ‘You’re a naughty, naughty cat, but I love you so much,’ she says. ‘I’m glad she’s gone too. I’m so busy, and I couldn’t do a thing with her here.’

  ‘Where are you, Bella? Time for work,’ she calls, and I follow her.

  Dane and his mother are back to talk to Karen.

  When Dane sees me, he runs towards me. ‘Hello Bella’, he says, stroking my coat. He takes my paw and kisses it.

  Happy to see him, I purr and touch his leg with my paw to tell him that I am returning his affection.

  Dane’s mother says that the routine they have been following has given him a little more security, but he is still having nightmares, and he won’t talk about the fire. She looks worried, as she tells Karen that Dane still refuses to go back to kinder.

  Karen turns towards Dane. ‘While your Mum and I are chatting, Dane, talk to Bella. She understands everything.’

  Karen tells children that I understand everything to encourage them to talk to me, and they seem to believe her. I don’t mind if it helps them. Helping is my job.

  I hoped that listening to Human’s troubles in the therapy room would increase my understanding of them, but from my Cat View they still remain inexplicable. I sense their joy and sadness, and I feel concern for them. But, even when my whiskers turn grey, I doubt I will have deeper insight into their true Humanness.

  Dane moves closer. As he strokes me, he tells me about the huge flames, the smell of burning and the screams during the fire. Suddenly, he stops talking and begins to cry again. I put my paws around his neck to give him a Cat Hug.

  Poor Dane! Perhaps next time he will tell me the rest of his story.