Kabuku

By: S. Dolan

The weather had turned for the worst on the late April night. The streets were full of puddles and people either driving cars perilously fast to get home in the gridlock or running from overhang to overhang. In the dark far back of a small alley small little paws rushed to hide under the cover of a large beaten up pickup. A wet matted furry gray spotted kitten shook his head and his paws to get the chilled water’s weight off of him. He began to clean himself with his little pink tongue, bright blue eyes closing as he did so.

Once he was done he curled up into a small ball, compacting himself for warmth. His eyes were wide open and watching the furry of the city from his safe haven. ~This isn’t fair.~ He thought morosely. ~I want to be back on the bed on pet’s pillow. I want to be back where pet can rub my back and kiss my nose.~ He wanted to cry, the hollowing loneliness was more then the little kitten’s heart could take though and he couldn’t even muster mews.

His mind was filled with what home was like, warm, dry, full of fun dangling cords to pull on and ankles of pets to chase. There was the dark alley of cobwebs and warm wind behind the whirring refrigerator and the strange forbidding crawl space under the washing machine in the garage.

Now he was here, in the city, a stray and without pets or warm places. He was soaked and shivering, hungry and scared. When his eyes were finally heavy enough he tucked his head down to sleep but just then the roar of the truck over him scared his fur nearly off as the engine turned on. He ran as fast as his little paws could carry him down the alley. Now again in the rain he turned to see what the monster was! Bright eyes opened up and the huge monster slowly moved towards him, picking up speed slightly as it went!

His eyes went wide, he gave a mew of total and complete horror as it came within feet of him and slowed again. He took the moment to run, sprinting down the sidewalk between the careless feet all around. He skidded around a corner and tried to climb up the tree but he was declared and so it was a pointless jumping and pawing.

Walking up along the street was an old man, graying and balding with skin barely hugging to his bones. He was nearly in the grave, dressed in a fine suit and holding an umbrella. He paused to watch the kitten then with one deft swift move scooped it up in his hand.

The kitten immediately pushed and turned, trying to get free of the old man’s hand but without claws and without strength there was no winning. ~Lemme go! Don’t touch me! Don’t take me back to the monster!!~ The kitten’s head looked around and saw TONS of monsters all in rows! ~Don’t take me to those monsters either!!~ Of course this all came out in mews and yowls.

The older man looked down at the cat as he walked on. “You’re a fussy one… no claws? Probably someone’s pet, right?” He asked in a shaking friendly voice. “I’m Boreo. Do you have a name?” He looked down at the cat, no collar. “Well you might of.”

~Kitty kitty! I’m Kitty kitty!! Put me dooooooOoooowwwwwWWWwwNnnnnn!!!~ The kitten insisted and bit hard on Boreo’s thumb.

“I guess I’ll name you after my favorite toy, Kabuku.” Boreo said and smiled down to the cat as it bit on his thumb in a few more desperate attempts. “Give it up, Kabuku.” He chided him with amusement.

As they walked, Kabuku deflated, it was futile and he knew it.

Entering into a nice little townhouse, pink trimmed with white walls, the old man closed the door firmly and walked him and Kabuku into the kitchen. He left his umbrella open and wet out near the door. Once in the kitchen Boreo pulled out a fluffy hand towel and dried Kabuku off as much as he could.

Kabuku fought the towel, ~What are you DOING, crazy old man!!~ he pushed against it and bit at it. Part of the cloth hooked on one of his teeth, jerking his head in the direction until it found its way off.

Now fluffy, damp but not soaked, and dazed on the kitchen counter. Kabuku looked at the old man and the old man crouched a bit to look at him at eye level. “Well you’re a cutie! Spotted kitten, huh? I’ll have to look up your breed later.” He put a hand out and pointed his finger to Kabuku’s nose to let him sniff it. The kitten took a moment to take in the scent and then figured Boreo wasn’t all that bad. He nuzzled him. ~I lost my pets and my home. They left me outside and drove away.~ He mewed pitifully.

Boreo scooped him up in his hands, “Maybe you’re hungry…”

~Just as hearing impaired as the rest of em, huh pops? Fine, don’t listen to me! It only was the most tragic moment of my LIFE!~ Kabuku huffed and jumped out of his hands, falling a good five feet to the floor with a little ‘mew!’ as he hit it hard. He got his footing again and headed out of the room with a high strung stride.

“Well you’ll come back in here when you smell it I guess.” Boreo chuckled, watching Kabuku meander into the dining room. “What a cute little kid.” He took in a breath as his heart swelled inside, being very weak to adorable felines as he was the kitten was just the thing for him. He opened the cupboard and pulled out some tuna. “Usually this is for me but from now on I’ll share it with you.” He assured Kabuku who was out of his sight range.

Kabuku entered the living room and paused. The warm orange light from a humble chandelier that hung over a simple for person wooden table threw sparkles of light all around the room. A lace tablecloth dangled almost within reach… if he could just jump… The moment he did his paws reached the lace but didn’t hold! He fell back down on his haunches. ~Forgot, no claws… ok spider web… this time I’ll use my,~ He jumped again and grabbed it with his mouth. His weight pulled it a bit but then with a jerk he found himself dangling! He tried to look down from where he was but the ground looked so far away! He couldn’t climb up with out claws though he did paw at it. Finally all he could think to do was cry.

Standing on the other side of the table, holding the tablecloth was Boreo. He smirked a little and then slowly let the weight of the kitten lower himself down while preserving the nice vase that was in danger of toppling. When he felt his back paws reach the floor he let go. ~Hum… that went different then normal.~ He looked around and saw Boreo’s feet. Heading away from them he got a whiff of the tuna and ran in to the kitchen.

There like a pile of gold was a small tea dish filled with glorious tuna! He ran over and started to eat, eating until his belly was full.


A FEW DAYS LATER

“Oh I know, and I’ll find him another place when it happens but until then I’m really happy.” Boreo was on the phone, sitting in his lazy boy with a blue fluffy robe wrapped around him and a sleeping Kabuku on his lap.

“I don’t like bringing up the subject,” his doctor on the other end said apologetically, “but who will you have take him? You don’t have any children or family left.”

“I don’t know… I can’t just give him up to the pound. You know they are still pointlessly putting down animals… as though they’re a threat to our urban wildlife, pssha, the idiots.” Boreo’s expression hardened with distain.

“Alright that aside, maybe the Furry Friends Rescue?” The doctor suggested.

“No… they’re not much better. I’ll put an ad in the paper or something.” Boreo looked down to the kitten sadly. “I don’t suppose you want a kitten, Dr. Hase?” He gave a slight chuckle. “Course ya don’t.”

“I’ll look around… but don’t put your hopes on it. Other then that we have the test results in… do you want to come into the office?” The tone of Dr. Hase wasn’t hopeful, it wasn’t even faking chipper.

“No need… just give me the deadline.” Boreo said with a heavy sigh.

There was a momentary pause on the other end. Boreo waited as he petted the kitten’s back, it purring contently. With a mighty yawn, Kabuku opened his eyes and rolled into a new position. ~What ya doing? Talking to the phone again? What voice is it this time?~ Kabuku asked, with a mew.

“I’ll feed you in a bit.” Boreo whispered and patted the kitten’s head.

~I don’t want food I want to know what voice is on the phone!~ Kabuku gave a more insistent mew but gave up, ~I wish you could talk cat I mean it’s not hard to understand pet!~

“Alright… I’m sorry, Boreo… a month.”

Boreo stifled a heavyhearted sigh. “All right. Thanks Dr. Hase. I’ll let you go now, I want to spend some time with Kabuku.”

“All right, take it easy, don’t over do it… but you know that.” The doctor hung up and so did Boreo.

The old man gave a shudder. “Well looks like the date is set… sorry kiddo.” He told him and felt tears coming to his eyes. “But we all go through this, it’s not like it’s new or maybe even old. It’s just life.”

~What is? What are you sorry about?~ Kabuku was awake now. The last time someone was looking like Boreo in the next few days they left him outside of his home, unable to get back in and they never came back! His heart began to race. ~Don’t… no you’re going to do it to… aren’t you!?~ He jumped up on his feet and gave a protested mew.

Boreo sniffled and nodded, “Right, food.” He stood up, taking Kabuku with him.

~Why is EVERYTHING I say going back to FOOD!? I’m NOT hungry!~ Kabuku insisted. ~And you’re not telling me!~ He wiggled and fretted.

“Hey now…” Boreo put him down on the ground and Kabuku ran back to the chair, jumped up on the arm rest and demanded: ~Tell me!~ “MEOW!!”

As though some light went off in the old man’s head he stared and then walked back to the chair. “…not hungry… so then you’re worried about me?”

~Well I guess, but I’m more worried about ME!~ Kabuku pitifully mewed, ~I just got a new home and a new pet that takes care of me and you’re looking like you’re going to get rid of me too now! What did I do wrong THIS time?! I don’t want to be left, I don’t want to go back where the monsters in line are! Keep me! Please just keep me!~ He was jumping up into Boreo’s hand and rubbing along it with the mewing never ending.

“…You’re sad…” Boreo said and picked up the kitten, sitting back down in the chair. “Let me explain, though I doubt you’ll understand.”

~Its you guys who can’t understand ME!~

“You see I’m a bit at the end of my rope… I don’t have much longer before I have to find you another home.” He admitted. “But maybe we’ll see each other again.”

~You are leaving me.~ Kabuku’s heart felt like it just fell out of him and he stared with huge wet eyes. ~N-no…~

Boreo pulled the kitten into his arms and hugged him. “I know it isn’t fair… I want to stay with you until the very end, but they’ll be taking me into the hospital. I’ll be sure to find you a place until then… I promise.”


THREE WEEKS LATER

The doorbell to the small but cozy town house rang. Boreo opened the door and smiled as a little girl with long wavy red hair walked in. “I’m here about Kabuku.” She said with a little smile, her brown eyes moved around the house searching for him.

“Let me find him. He’s a bit shy about strangers.” Boreo assured her as he closed the door behind her. “I really appreciate this. I’ve really only got a little bit longer.” He said as a cough over took him. He moved deeper into the house, “Kabuku…” he tried to call him out.

Kabuku hid under the lazy boy chair and watched her carefully by keeping his eyes on her red Marry Jane shoes. ~Here for me? Pah, look all day old man. This is MY home now! I’m not leaving!~

“Kabuku, here kitty, kitty, kitty!” She called in a sweet voice. “I have a treat!” She pulled out a little thin wad of fabric holding catnip.

The smell hit Kabuku’s nose but it didn’t pry him from the hiding spot. However when the chair suddenly bolted forwards, exposing him, he ran for the stairs to the second floor. The girl jumped on him and grabbed him. He fought, now a good few pounds bigger then when Boreo first found him, but it wasn’t enough. She held him tight and turned him to look at her.

“It’s ok. I’m going to be taking care of you. Shuu don’t freak kid.” She snickered and pulled him close. Kabuku pushed against her chin with his paw.

~I don’t THINK so HAG!~ He insisted.

Boreo walked into the kitchen and brought out a cat carrier from its storage spot under the sink. Kabuku’s eyes went wide. ~OH GOD NOOOOOOoOoOOooo not that! Don’t take me THERE!~ Nothing good came of the ‘monster cage’. Ever time he went in it the first stop was a terrible place where strange women in white stuck cold sticks up his bum and pushed all over him with her rubbery weird fingers!! However despite trying everything, including standing on the cage, he was put into it. He meowed and yowled. “Say good-bye, Kabuku. Say ‘Good Luck’.” She held the cage up for Boreo.

The old man looked lovingly into cage, tears falling down his eyes. “Little Kabuku…” his lips quivered and he stuck his index finger through the squares of the cage like door. Kabuku moved up against the finger, sniffing it and rubbing his whiskers against it. “Take good care of him.” He asked of her and then stepped away.

~Don’t go… don’t let her take me, daddy!!~ Kabuku cried out.

He watched as the front door opened and the sway of the cat carrier forced him to brace himself. The world, bright and sunny, became visible. ~I’m… really never coming back.~ He told himself. The feeling caused him to curl up into himself and just morosely watch as he headed for one of the strange monsters waiting. He didn’t care now; he was losing his second home.


A MONTH (and a day) LATER

It had been a month of indifference. Kabuku came and ate from ‘Kate’s’ food bowl that she left out for him, but he never got close to her. She was always trying to be friendly and hug him but he shunned her. He stayed up in the spare bedroom where he curled up in a small bay window and thought of his other homes.

That all ended after hearing the phone ring and minutes later Kate came running up to the room. She threw the door open and declared, “Kabuku he made it!”

Kabuku had no idea what she was going on about but the door flying open caused him to jump. He stared at her.

She moved in and grabbed him up. “The surgery did it! It took out the cancer! You’re going home tomorrow!!” She declared as she hugged to him and spun around.

~Home…? Which home? Who’s home? First or Boreo’s?~ He didn’t get it.

However as tomorrow came he was stuffed into the horrid cat carrier. He took the boring swaying twenty minute drive with grace, still rather jaded but now confused and hoping, like his last monster cage ride, it didn’t end with him at the crazy white woman!

As the door to the car opened familiar smells filled him. He tried to sit up but was too big to do that anymore. So he just clawed his way to the side of the cat carrier and tried to look out. He gave some mews, ~I know this place, where are we? I know I know it!!~

“Almost there.” She told him, “Stop your bitchin’.”

~I’m not BITCHING I’m ASKING!~

Then as the cage turned around, the sound of a door opening, Kabuku nearly cried for joy. ~DADDY!!!~ He clawed his way to the front and shoved his nose through the square grates.

Boreo was on a cane and was also teary eyed as he let them both in. She put the carrier on the sofa as he closed the door. Boreo walked over to the carrier and opened the cage, putting the cane against the sofa to reach both hands in and pull out Kabuku. He hugged onto him and cried with joy.
~Daddy… where’d your hair go?~ Kabuku noticed, ~And you smell like the medicine cabinet…~ He pushed back to look, yep the face was Boroe.

“I think he’s happy to see you again.” Kate smirked.

“Oh how can I repay you, you took good care of him, he’s all right.” Boreo looked over his cat and then took a seat on the sofa with a stiff motion.

“Nothin’. Don’t worry about it. Consider it a ‘get well’ prezze.” She said with a shrug. “But you know, now I want a cat, too.”

“Well I tell ya what, the doc says I have a good few years left in me but when I go, you can have him.” Boreo offered.

“Hum… deal but he might have a little brother or sister by then.” Kate gave Kabuku one last pet and then headed for the door. “Well you two have a good reunion. I’m gonna get back home.” She said letting herself out.

~I thought you threw me out! What’d you go? What happened?~ Kabuku asked as he licked Boreo’s face.

“Awe are you hungry?” Boreo asked and with a bit of trouble stood back up and took up his cane, letting Kabuku walk on his own to follow him.

~I’m not HUNGRY I’m asking you questions… gah never mind bring out the tuna…~ Though Kabuku was grumbling, like always, he was home and stayed home for another eleven years before Boreo passed and he went to live with Kate and her two white Persian pain in the butts.