So here we are in the middle of a pandemic, celebrating the five kittens' fifth birthday – as nearly as the Vet could figure. We took them straight to the Animal Hospital the day the boys found them. They checked out fine.
When Tom and Jack discovered them, dying in the playhouse (door closed), they went to get Mommy. She said, "Call your Dad." Dad said, "Take them to the shelter and don't call Granny," but they did.
I said, "I'll be right there." It's less than a ten minute drive. I had gathered a box and some towels.
Tom picked a cat to keep at my house. "I'll call him Lennie."
"Where did you get a name like that?"
" I don't know. I just like it."
We lifted the one black kitten into the box.
Jack took the kitten that was hissing – tail down, fur ruffled, mad as a hornet. "I'm going to name him Jackle after myself." He grinned. "I like him. He's feisty!"
"Jekyll," I corrected, "Dr. Jekyll." Later I told the kids the child's version of the story. But that was afterwards, when we realized that we also had a Mr. Hyde.
"Which is yours, Granny?" I chose Em. The M on his forehead was distinct and bold. "M is for Mathews," I thought.
The one girl was nearly dead. Her markings were identical to Em's. "Come on Emma, you are Em's twin sister. Into the box she went.
The runt of the litter was in the corner panting, eyes closed, shivering. I laid him gently into the box. He became Mr. Hyde when we found out that not only did he hide himself, but all the toys, all over the house. He was nameless for about a month. I called him Sweet Pea. Still do, sometimes.
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| Front, Mr. Hyde; Behind him, Lennie; Back row, l to r, Emma, Dr Jekyll, and Em. |
We don't have but a few Birthday surprises because of the sheltering in place. But we have played all morning. Everyone is sleeping now. Big, sleek, smart, amazing adult cats.
Every time I've washed my hands today, I've sung the Birthday song inserting a cat's name. When I got to the end of the five, I added Belle's name. Now I'm going to start over. What a lot of hand-washing is involved in this flattening-the-curve-of-the-virus campaign!
We all had bacon and eggs for breakfast. The Fab Five and Belle are having chicken and pumpkin soup, a soup in a packet for cats, at dinner time. Their favorite! I think I'll have Campbell's Chicken Noodle. It's my last can.
I'm thankful this afternoon that we all have each other and also everything we needed for our Birthday Party.
You and your furry companions stay well!
