Welcoming Freddy

Buck rocks. I have been spending my little bit of spare time on a classic book. I want to say "Into the Wild" because of the movie but it's "The Call of the Wild" by Jack London. I know I've recently referenced it and I also I know I wrote about Jack London some time back. This book has some of the most beautiful paragraphs and sentences I have ever read. Not that my reading is as extensive as I'd like it to be but I'm getting there. The book is told by a narrator but it is generally Buck's (a dog) point of view. It goes into his feelings and thoughts and trials and tribulations. It will make you think of animals a little differently. At least that's what it's done for me.

This past Sunday I brought home a new member of the family. Of my own little family of one, that is. His name is Fred. I will not be using a pseudonym for my cat. He's named after my grandfather and he is cute as a button. Biff knew someone who had him and they had to give him up, he was part of a rescued litter. And yesterday, as I glanced at him while he ran around wrestling everything he could find, I got to thinking... I wonder what he's really thinking. I wonder if their thoughts are anywhere near as thoughtful as Buck's. What does their internal language sound like?

Fred has not been very warm to me. He almost seems convinced that I'm out to get him. Like my hands will squish him if I touch him. I've been patient and I'll be patient... he's been through some trauma. Imagine living in an oil barrel with no way to get out. Imagine breathing in said oil and being covered by it. Imagine mom disappearing from your life one way or another when you were no more than a toddler. Imagine almost getting the death sentence for simply living. Imagine being torn away from your siblings without your ok, even if there was no other choice because your new mom couldn't adopt more than one of you. (One bedroom apartment, folks.)

So, just like Buck... Fred needs love. And just like Buck, Fred needs an owner who understands what going through shit can lead to. I haven't finished the Call of the Wild yet so I can't comment on how it's all going to turn out. But - I'd like to predict that my little Freddy will end up being very happy and content when all is said and done.

My pets don't have a choice but to accept love after a little while.