Along Came Bonny Meghali Barua
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I was always a dog person… always had grown up with goofy Labradors . I had been a little intimidated by cats ( thought them to be a little aloof) though my heart would go a-flutter whenever I would come across those dangerously cute- as -a -button kittens as a little girl. But my family always had boisterous and naughty dogs and since the old wives tale was ingrained in our heart and mind that cats- and -dogs were mortal enemies, we never ever had thought of adopting a kitten.
In 2014 , when I moved to the States( more specifically to Denver, Colorado) for a little while, an encounter with a friend’s cat ( Wink, Danny and Sallie’s cat) who just stole my heart away…that I lived in a building where only cats were allowed as pets… and the most important fact that I was terribly lonely in the tiny, cloistered apartment which I called a home were among a few of the many reasons that made me decide to adopt a kitten.
So hence my kitty-mission started with great fervour! I practically bulldozed and enlisted help from my ever-ready friends, Danny and Sallie, and we searched high and low in almost all the shelters in Denver.But to my great consternation, disappointment would invariably meet us everywhere… we just could not find a kitten who could capture my heart straight away…I knew that I was being a little indecisive and though all of them were so beautiful in their own special way, I just could not find my own kitten baby…
And finally…finally one Saturday, we went to this beautiful and well-kept shelter called the Dumb Friends League. I immediately fell in love with this place and the kind people who were managing the place. Everything was so beautifully spruced up. Like eager parents-to be, we were shown a number of cats…a lot of them!
After meeting a lot of kittens and a few elderly ones as well, we were tired and really sad! Maybe looking at our sad faces , the Supervisor lady ( I don’t remember her name now) just blurted out that a little female kitten had just arrived at the shelter the day before. She added, looking at us a little doubtfully, that the little kitten had undergone a surgery to get fixed (spayed) and that was why she was not in the adoptables enclosures with the other kittens.
With a smile hovering on her face, the kind lady asked us whether we would like to meet her? I had a strange feeling that our search was maybe going to be over and most enthusiastically we replied that we would love to have a look at her. I don’t remember now but I think that we sat waiting for a quarter of an hour or maybe more in the meeting room, excited and a little nervous.
Finally I caught the glimpse of the Supervisor lady making her way to us holding a little kitten in her arms…and I knew…the moment I saw her, I was in love…She was a such beautiful little tabby and I remember even now that she was wearing a little pink collar with a tag which had her identification number on it…and she was just a ball of cuteness. ” Her name is Happy”, the lady told us beaming with a wide smile and this little kitten was just purring away in her arms. As the Supervisor lady gently put her down on the beige carpeted floor and and threw a little ball made of wool and string for her to catch, I just kept staring at her..she was so graceful!
I finally took her in my open arms and she just looked at me with her green-hued eyes…like she was asking me, “Hey Mommy! When are we going home?”…and a few hours later, after all the adoption formalities were done and over, that’s us happily and with a prayer on my lips making our way home…
To my sweetest Penny, you will always be my first kitten love… My heart will always be ever yours…
Your story of your first kitten love is really poignant.. though I am not particularly an animal lover, I felt the bonding between a human heart and an animal’s when I went through your piece. That way your story has really encapsulated your feelings!
Hey !!! Its so good to see you writing . Great piece of #adorable #lovecarving work. Recently i too am in love with cats….. Anyways great job nd cheers to “Along came Bonny.” Would love to follow up….
Thank you so much 🙂
Penny is still one of the most personable cats I’ve ever met. She is always quick to come to an outstretched hand for petting, and pure constantly when in the company of people.
Awwwww!