‘Boy in Field’ by Rachael Crowe — ‘Tabby Cat’ by Adél Grőber
My Real Memoir
We’d Moved…
…and I was alone again. Or so it seemed. But I was soon to learn that a true friend is always there. I missed my Downey friends. But I’d only spent a month in the 2nd grade there, and Stevie was the only kid my age I’d really bonded with. My classroom send-off, with cupcakes and a “Goodbye, Mitch!” sign, wasn’t exactly a tear-jerker. But, oh, how I would miss my wonderfully odd assortment of non-school friends: Weird Eddie, Crazy Old Alice, my daymom Frieda and her magical garden filled with all of my non-human-friends!
I didn’t know what to expect. I only knew that Mom was right: this was big.
The city of La Mirada was so new that, like the proverbial airplane being built as it flies, the neighborhood was still going up around us. The next block was nothing but wood frames—like giant Tinker Toys beckoning to be climbed on when the construction bosses weren’t looking! I played alone, but still had fun. Sort of.
The Bigger Adventure…
…was just out my bedroom window. The field across the street was a cluster of gently rolling hills, once covered with commercially-grown flowers, now chest-high with weeds, and dotted with scrub oaks and precariously leaning shacks. The latter had once been occupied by braceros, seasonal Mexican farmworkers who’d lived in them during the flower-picking season. The former overseer’s family were packing bags when I knocked on their rough-hewn door. “No, no, nos vamos” (“No, no, we’re leaving”), said the mama. But her two little kids Hugo and Manuela were starved for entertainment, so we played pantomime games until they left.
My real adventures in “The Field” were yet to come. Meanwhile, I’d have to resume 2nd grade in a brand-new city at a brand-new school full of brand-new kids. But before that, I met my first new friend.
I Heard a Raging Voice…
…near the end of my first week in La Mirada. I raced up the street to see what was happening, and found a man beating a skinny, terrified little cat with a broom. His daughter had trapped it in their garage in the hopes of keeping it. And so, with all the rationality of a devolving brute, the poor girl’s father was “teaching it a lesson!” He threatened to do the same for me if I didn’t leave instantly. I wanted to teach him a lesson, but elected instead to scoop up the cat and run away with it.
People say cats are loners, and sometimes mistake this for proof that they don’t care. False. I know this because I’m a loner, and one of my greatest lessons in caring came from a tiger-striped tabby named Zipper.
We would have nearly a dozen cats in the ensuing years, and most would distribute their affections equally. But not Zipper. I was Zipper’s hero. Period. And he was my BFF (best feline friend). He walked me to the corner when I headed for school and met me there when I came home. He listened attentively as I read aloud under the covers at night. And then put his head on the pillow beside mine and saw me off to other worlds. And when my first new human friends appeared, the lesson Zipper had taught me was clear:
A true friend is always there.
To read My Real Memoir from the start, click here. To read the next episode, click here.
Oh my goodness, I love this story!!! Gave me tears! Of course, I love cats, too, so that helped. But still. You truly were that cat’s hero.
Aw, thank you, Jeff❣
This is an outstanding adventure
Thank you, Mark.
My Cat, Mr. McCafferty, Emmett to his friends inspired a poem I wrote so time ago. Maybe I should publish it here again. A true and faithful friend for sure. He is always there for me.
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Critters are so sweet like that. This post gives me great insight into how Mitch became Mitch. I thought of my grandson who had to enter two strange high schools in two strange towns and how he donned a top-hat and created a persona to dazzle acceptance in the first; then in the second school, joined choir and drama and not dreams of performance arts and writes music. So many things shape a child beyond parenting and animals are important friends who teach children so many good things.
Your grandson sounds like a latter day me, Pamela❣
Yes, I picked up on that. He’s a sparkly kid and popular but he says when you’re popular people just think they like but don’t really know you. He’s surrounded by people, attracts them but inside, he’s a loner.
I get that, Pamela.
💕
Awww, Zipper!!
True story? If so, how’d you pick the name?
I lived in Sunny Hills, near the intersection of Rosecrans and Idaho/Gilbert.
Yes, it’s a true story, Leenda. Zipper loved to nibble and swat at zippers, hence the name. I lived in the Bellehurst tract, probably only a couple of miles from you.
I loved when Gilbert was extended over the\nHill , and I could go get dunkin’ donuts next to la mirada mall in the middle of the night!
;>)
Saving that cat from under the nose of a tyrant was not only kind but heroic. And Zipper appeared to be the perfect soulmate for you as an an only child-a child with a tender heart. 🙂
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Love today’s words!
Thank you, my Anonymous friend.
Glad you saved Zipper. A boy needs a very loyal friend.
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Such a good read! I’m not a cat person, but have similar stories of Lucy, one of my Labrador’s. Heartwarming narrative.
Thank you, Kelli, and keep lovin’ on those Labs❣
Anyone who saves a cat from an irrational human being is my kind of person.
Thanks, Al.
Thank God you were there to rescue Zipper. You both needed each other. Very sweet story.
Thank you, Debby, and yes we did.
Lovely story, Mitch!
Thank you, T❣
My pleasure, Mitch! Have a great one.
You either knew how and where to find friends, both species, or the friends knew you were there.
Zipper sounds like the once in a lifetime friend.
He was indeed, Iba.
Freunde findet man überall, man muss es nur wollen.
Genau!
Zipper sounds like a wonderful cat! I’m happy for you that he was in your life ❤️
Me too, Fiona.
I’m glad you were able to save Zipper. It seems to me that he never forgot what you did for him.
He definitely didn’t, Andrew.
Ok, this one made me sniffle.
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Aww Mitch, this one got to me. I loved the image of you being walked home by Zipper and him listening as you read to him. You’re right, true friends stay. They stay in the storms and hard days and rejoice with us in the light and good days. God bless you xx
You too, Janet❣
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This moved me for real. Some time ago I have lost a Cat I really loved, a cat that was part of my life for a very long time and I think I never suffered for such a loss of a pet. She was very human and amazing, it is hard to describe it but she was capable to feel when you were down and depressed and she was always there for you. My girlfriend suffered even more because that cat, Mimma, really helped here in hard times. We will always remember that and I think there will never be a cat like her.
I completely understand, Butcher. Several cats have carved deep impressions on my heart over the years.
beautiful…
Thank you, Ananya.
Another heart-touching story for your memoir-collection, Mitch. That was a courageous thing to do–scoop up that cat and run, from someone who could clearly catch you if he chose. So glad Zipper turned out to be such a good friend. Sounds like he came along at just the right time.
He did indeed, Nancy. 🧡
This was really moving! Glad that Zipper was around to keep you company! It’s the connections we least expect to blossom into fruits of wonder. Thanks!
Have a nice day!
BBB
You too, BBB!
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Lucky kitty. Fortunately, he hadn’t been too brutalized. What a horrible lesson for that little girl
It certainly was. I think about her and pray for her from time to time.
Beautiful story, Mitch! Our cats and dogs are family, too. They want to be with us, protect us and cuddle with us. 😊
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