Cats on Tuesday: Dear Henry

Dear Henry,

Last week Tuesday morning, you woke me up from sleep. It was so unlike you. I felt loved and couldn’t resist playing with you before going to the office.

You were on my mind all day at work. On my way back, I got you your favourite treat – mackerel in tomato sauce (popularly called geisha in these parts of the world). I knew you loved it. Yes, it was written all over your face.

I don’t know why I had to spoil the fun by letting that girl have you for the night. She came to me asking that she needed one of you guys to stay in her kitchen for the night to scare the shit out of the rats in there. I knew I wasn’t supposed to honour her request…but I don’t know why I still went ahead and did. I picked you. I believed you would make a good soldier.

On my way down the stairs, I saw the fear in your eyes but I chose not to acknowledge it. Stupidly. Heck, you even buried your claws deep into my flesh to let me realize what I was doing wasn’t funny. I still ignored you. Stupidly. We got to her place, I hurriedly dropped you and locked the door behind me. I knew you wanted to follow me back upstairs. I could see it. You jumped on the cabinet and looked at me through the window. I looked into your eyes, told you we’ll see in the morning. Little did I know that was the last I was going to see of you.

Early Wednesday morning, I came downstairs… only to realize you had gone. I know you wanted to come back home, but couldn’t. I shed a tear, tweeted about it, cursed myself for letting you out of my sight for the night… but all that could do nothing to bring you back home.

I can imagine how much you must have been bullied by other stray cats in the neighborhood, but I’m sure you’re ‘repping’ where you came from. Seriously, those cats have got nothing on you. I’m sure you’ll survive. And maybe one day, fate will bring us back together again.

Yours faithfully,
Dad.

Now playing: Kanye West – Coldest Winter