The vicinity around my home used to be the undisputed domain of another Tom.. who looked more like Garfield (oh yeah.. I love that sweetheart too!!) .. However, this particular Tom was Different. He was fat, yes, He was forever scarred and scratched (evidence of his Tom-ly triumph over other poachers who dared to dispute his Monarchy) but he was also always very filthy! Yes, filthy!.. Cats are supposed to be clean, good, stately beings.. but not our Tom.. no way.. He was after all Different.. and let me tell you how Different....
My particular Tom used to be extremely fond of my older daughter and me.. He would visit us almost daily, miaowing outside our door to announce his arrival, and the moment we would step out of the door.. he would arrive like a streak of lightening from no one knew where (for when one seeked Tom, he was never to be found, unless he wished to be found) and he would sit there.. bestowing us with a regal haughty look, while I would give him a sound scolding as to his filthy state. He would listen patiently, and when we moved off.. he stalked off too. My daughter used to put out a saucer of milk for Tom, which he would deign to partake of, if only out of respect of our sentiments, he being used to exotic delicacies I am sure! .. so one day.. Tom disappeared! His regular visits stopped. We started missing him. We got worried. We kept anxiously looking out for him thinking morbid thoughts!
Late one evening just as suddenly he re-appeared miaowing outside our door, till my daughter opened it. He sat and listened quietly to the long lecture my daughter and me subjected him to. Yes, he did. dear reader.. do not laugh... believe.. He did. We asked him where had he disappeared and why was he not to be seen? However, Tom being Tom.. just listened in silence.. or so we thought.
The very next morning..... there was a lot of meowing outside our door.. so we thought that poor Tom must have taken our lecture to heart and come to bestow us with a rare early morning visit.. we opened the door.. and there outside.. was Tom, standing like a big Regal Monarch.. and.. beside him... a cute little cat!!!!!!!! We almost fainted before presenting a big bowl of milk to our visitors... . Tom proceeded to have a little and meowed something to his sweetheart.. who then polished off the bowl.. ( all the while we were oohing and aaahing and remarking on Tom and his girl, and shaking our heads over Tom) After they were done, they still hung about outside for a while meowing in unison.. before both of them disappeared never to be seen again...
Yet, sometimes, we do hear Tom singing his heart out at night.. before someone puts an end to his solo symphony....
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