I have somebody living with me again.
Her name is Boo.
I named her after Boo Boo Kitty, the beloved stuffed animal on “Laverne & Shirley”… not Yogi Bear’s sidekick.
A couple of years ago, about a week before Christmas, I stopped at a Kroger’s for some food and pop.
The weather was pretty bad.
It was really cold and the snow was kinda deep.
But, we were out of everything back at our apartment.
The first thing I saw upon entering is somebody holding a cardboard box with a meowing kitten inside.
The employees had found it by the dumpster behind the store.
There were no other cats in the area.
The clerks at Kroger’s were looking for somebody to give it a home, or else they were going to send it to the pound.
Animals aren’t kept there very long before they are put down.
My then-girlfriend and I already had four rescue cats.
But, I didn’t want the poor thing to be harmed.
So, I bought some cat food and took her home with me.
I put the box in the backseat and went home.
But, she managed to get the lid open halfway there.
Totally freaking out, because she never rode in a car before, she jumped onto my head and held on for dear life.
I was able to move her down to my chest, with her arms around my neck, and continued driving the car with her like that.
I put her back inside the box and walked in.
My girlfriend tried guessing what I had in the box.
But, it wasn’t long before Boo popped her head out, purring loudly.
We never had any extra money around to buy Christmas presents for each other.
But, I think Boo made up for it that year.
The other cats raised her, like a foster family.
The next year my girlfriend left, though.
It isn’t like we were fighting or anything.
We are still friends.
But, I think, between our disabilities and state of mind, we were bringing each other down.
She took three of the cats.
I was forced to give away one and euthanize the other, who was extremely sick.
It was very sad.
In the few years since we have lived apart, I have managed to get an affordable apartment of my own and somewhat stabilize my mental condition.
My ex was less fortunate.
She had many ups-and-downs after getting married, until finally their relationship seems to have acrimoniously ended.
She stayed with a friend for a few weeks, sleeping on the floor.
But, now, has a place of her own.
She couldn’t take all of the cats with her.
So, I got Boo back.
The building where I am only allows one pet per tenant, has costly pet fees, and the rules are kinda strict.
She had to get shots, a collar with a name tag, and a bunch of other stuff.
But, Boo is happy to be with me again.
I got her a cardboard scratching pad and a free cat tree from Craigslist someone was throwing away.
I made her litterbox from a plastic tray, construction grade trash bags, and a cardboard box that I found.
I can only afford dollar store cat food and litter.
But, she doesn’t mind.
She follows me around like a shadow and always wants attention.
She often sleeps on my chest or stomach while I’m in bed and curls up on my lap.
She has become my new meditation partner, reminding me to get started and joins me.
Sometimes, when she gets bored though, I can tell that she misses my ex and the other cats.
But, a little catnip and quality time cheers her up.
Mike Nobody 