Miss No Name

 

“Is that your kitty?”

I’d paused for a moment on the sidewalk after watching the driver of a white Toyota painfully try to park in the driveway, grinding the gears, inching forwards and backwards, trying to get as close to the low cement wall as possible. Maybe to make room for another vehicle?

The compact man in a navy hoodie who now emerged from the Toyota grinned at me.  I pointed to a brown tabby cat that had appeared at just the same moment as he had left his car.

Shaking his head, his smile broadened, “No, she’s not mine. She belong across the street. She has two brothers, a black and white one and a black one. I feed them, put the food out,” he pointed toward his porch where several empty cat dishes were scattered.

A nasty cold wind with a smattering of moisture blew at us. Not rain exactly. But cold and wet. We both held on to our hoodies till the gust passed.

“What’s her name?” I asked, as the kitty wound around under the car, rubbing her lips on the tires, the edge of the concrete wall.

“She has no name,” he shrugged. “She’s a cat. She doesn’t need a name.”

“Or she has her own name that we don’t know because she is a cat!” I exclaim.

He laughed. “Yeah…. if she were a dog, she’d have a name.”

I bent down to try to get the tabby to come to me, extending my hand, fingers pointed in her direction for sniff. But she was coy. Coming forward a bit, then retreating as soon as I tried to pet her.

“She’s shy!” I laughed.

“She’s a cat,” he shrugged. “If she were a dog, she’d be….” Suddenly at a loss for words, he bent down slightly, crouching like a dog, sniffing the air, hands waving excitedly. “She’s be all over us!”

“Yes!” I agreed, thinking of the dogs I knew. How they had no qualms about jumping all over complete strangers. Earlier I had run into my piano student and his mom, pushing a blue baby stroller with their little fluffy white dog in it, I had bent down to pet the dog and she was so excited, turning around and around in frantic circles in her baby carriage, jumping at me, licking me. I was her best friend and she’d never met me before.

Whereas Miss No Name wasn’t anyone’s best friend upon first meeting. I was going to have to court her.

Trying again, I squatted on the sidewalk, trying to move toward her without falling over. Another gust of frigid water wind hit me in the face, making my balance even more perilous. “C’mere, Kitty,” I coaxed.

Compact Man just watched, grinning.

After about 30 seconds, she came up to me. Allowed a small pat on the top of her head, before scurrying away.

Laughing, I glanced up at Compact Man before standing, only a little wobbly. “I think she’s hungry. She knows it’s time for dinner now that you’re home.”

He nods, “Yes, I will feed her soon.”

Miss No Name rubbed against his legs. She knew how to get what she wants. Bending down, he scratched her under the chin, “You ready for some dinner?”

She didn’t meow. There was no need to voice her answer. Communication happened without sound between herself and her man.

Rain started to pelt me in cold hard drops. “I better get going!” I said, turning to go.

But the two of them were already gone, up the walkway, onto the porch, Miss No Name leading the way.