A New Shade of Gray

Some say that cats are naturally curious creatures.  For me, I say that my cat’s curiosity has gone too far.

I stand in front of a broken vase.  Several fragments lay on the ground.  It was a family heirloom.  A vase given to me from my grandmother.  In looking at the broken pieces, it was clear that this broken heirloom was lost forever.

Who was responsible for the destruction of over 200 years of family history?  It was done by my charcoal gray cat, Granite.

If I were to be truly honest, Granite isn’t really my cat at all.  It is actually my wife’s.  Granite is a ball of energy that is seemingly infinite.  She is a kitten with a curiosity that knows no bounds.

Now about the vase.  Let’s just say that I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.  My wife was out of the house for the night, since she wanted to spend time with her friends.  This left me with Granite – the only cat that I know that can go mach 10.

Granite ran all over the living room while I was watching TV.  My glass was empty, and I was thirsty.  As I made my way to the kitchen, Granite ran up behind me and lept up at me, pawing at my pant legs.  I immediately caught her in the act.  Guilty as charged.  “No Granite!” I scolded.

After getting my soda, I exited the kitchen and made my way to the living room.  Granite pawed at my pant legs again.  I immediately scolded her again.  Doesn’t that kitten know any discipline?  I then returned to the recliner and continued watching my program.

Granite continued running and jumping.   She let out a tiny mew as she batted around her toy ball.  I turned away from her and my eyes returned to the television screen.

Looking back at Granite, I saw her run out of the room.  Where is she going?  I didn’t give it any thought at all.  I continued watching my program.

When it was a commercial, I looked around the living room.  Granite was nowhere to be found.   I muted the television, and tried to listen for her.  There was no sound.

Suddenly, I heard the sound of a “meow” coming from the other room.  I followed the sound and walked into the dining room.  There  Granite sat, on a wooden vase stand, near my grandma’s vase.  I need to get her away from that thing!

“No Granite!” I shouted.

But it was too late.  Granite lept off the vase stand and onto the floor.  The force was strong enough to knock over the vase stand and send the vase falling to the floor.

I looked at the vase, now broken into pieces.  This vase was grandma’s, and there was no way to replace it.  I then looked at the gray culprit.  I had no words to say.  It  was just an outpouring of fury, illustrated with ear piercing loud screams.  “Bad cat!” I screamed.  “Into the bathroom with you!”  I grabbed the cat with one hand and ran with it to the bathroom.  I plopped it on the ground and slammed the door.

And that was how it happened.  The gray terror ruined a family heirloom that I can never replace.  I got out a dust pan and began sweeping the broken pieces into it.   As I was doing this, I could hear Granite, mewing away.  They were forlorn mews.  If you were to hear them for a few seconds, you would describe it as something reminiscent of crying.

After I had all the pieces of my grandmother’s dear vase, I took the dustpan to the trash and cried.  And with a deep breath, I dumped the pieces in, sadly bidding my family heirloom of over 200 years goodbye.

Now that the mess was cleaned up, I heard the sound again.  Granite’s crying continued to ring in my ears.  It got louder and more shrill.  It was almost like she was trying to say “I’m sorry!”.

I couldn’t stand it anymore, so I opened the door and let Granite out.  I picked her up and I pet her.  For a curious cat, she can be a lot of trouble.  But I couldn’t help but love her.

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©2012  K. L. Walker