The boy reached out toward the trunk of the large but slender oak but stopped himself when he looked into the cat’s eyes. The cat had gone to the tree first, upon hearing the approach of something not natural or native to the surrounding area. The boy had been slower to take the warning.
The cat was frozen in mid-stride, wound halfway around the tree’s trunk, one paw up on a higher branch, one against the bark of the trunk and its hind legs balanced on the first outthrust branch getting ready to catapult its body upward. The cat stared into the boy’s eyes and the boy got the message. The tree was the cat’s and boy’s presence in it wasn’t welcome.
I realize that I’m 3 years late to the party, but I’ve been wondering while reading this story if the cat blinks like Nguyen or Nguyen blinks like the cat.
Nguyễn blinks like the cat, and with the same deep felt meaning.
Thanks for wondering about that and writing about it on here.
Semper fi,
Jim
PS I have to finish the cat because the cat is all about us, as humans, interacting with what’s been here for so long
before we came along…
Semper fi,
Jim
Hey James – as you know, I read and re-read some of your work. Can’t get into Island in the Sun, but the others are great.
First paragraph in this chapter, …approach of something nor natural…
Perhaps “not”, instead of “nor”? Or am I being too picky.
My son has chickens free-ranging, with two roosters. The big red one has been evicted from the coop by a younger bird, and has adopted me! I live in one bay of a 3-car garage, and the rooster has the other two, shared with my stored thing and shop equipment. Keeps trying to move in with me, but I don’t think I could abide chicken poop on my floor! He IS loud!
I had a chicken out in Hawaii. Cleo. Yes, she was loud as hell too. But an egg a day, or there about, and hung around my wife and I like a dog.
I was truly sorry to leave her when we left the island, but the idea of moving her from that estate-like back yard would have been too much for her,
I think.
thanks for that story and some of your life,
Semper fi,
Jim
And thanks for the edit. It is corrected.
Jim
Wanting wave or acknowledge the cat …. perhaps “Wanting to wave or…”
Corrected.
Thanks,
Jim
Hi, James – rereading this fine tale, as it is extremely enjoyable, and helps direct my attention away from a few (dozens) of other thoughts.
Earlier, you had mentioned that you once had a relationship to a cat, and some other animals. That brought back a good memory:
Back when I was much younger, I was doing a wildlife study at one of Florid’a State Parks. We had a circular dirt road back in some pine/palmetto habitat, and each evening, I would drag a section of chain link fence around that 1 mile circumference, then return in the morning to see what animals had left tracks.
One morning, I saw some tracks crossing from right to left. Got out, and looked to see large cat tracks. I looked to see where it was coming from, then bent way over and followed the tracks across the road to the grass verge. I looked to see where the cat had gone – that large (40 lb) bobcat was less than an arm’s length from me. Just sitting there. I was thinking of reaching out to the cat when my sanity turned on. Didn’t want to pull back a nub! The cat stayed, I stayed, for about two minutes. Then he turned and walked into the pines.
A week later, and half a mile deeper into the park, I was checking a hiking trail, and here came that same cat – walking towards me with a large squirrel in it’s mouth. I moved to the right, the cat moved to his right, and paused in front of me, then kept going. It was like he was saying “Howdy, friend!” before he disappeared into the forest.
Life is more enjoyable when we recognize we aren’t the only species here.
Thanks so much for your own life experience laid out here. We are together surviving on this planet but it is so easy to forget that
as we pursue our lives without encountering other species. Even a dog or a cat can change a person entirely.
Thanks for the endorsement and the help on here…
Semper fi,
Jim
Really enjoying this story. I must say that while reading I continue to have visions of you and Nguyen flashing through my mind. Excellent writing! Keep it coming.
Semper Fi,
Jack
Thank you Jack, much appreciate the cross/critique…as I sometimes wonder about the other stories bleeding
over into this one.
Semper fi,
Jim
Buck does not understand what is plausible. I have been in the woods since I was 5. In the woods or in the habited world beings circles collide. As a hunter I know that, they give there life to us and we must appreciate that sacrifice.
Thanks Alan, for your clarification…
Semper fi,
Jim
I’m really enjoying this story, even though, for the first time, what’s happening has strayed outside of what’s plausible or likely to occur. Still looking forward to the next chapter. The Cat, suddenly, feels like part of the supporting cast.
Has your life been plausible?
Mine has not.
Has your life with animals, if you have had them or been around them, been defined as plausible?
My life has not. That lack of plausibility runs through my work, from Vietnam to the Hawaiian Islands.
If you are excepting plausibility then you will not find it in my stuff.
I have not found it, for the most part, on this planet…
and when I have found it I later learned that part to be a lie I had simply accepted as being truth…
Semper fi, and thanks for that comment.
Yes, it is hard to establish a cast of characters together without reaching inside them and portraying them as actors too
instead of mere cardboard cutouts for the central character.
Jim
I think I understand and yes, my wife and I currently have three inside cats and roughly eight who come and go from the garage. One is a very fertile female and I can’t catch her to take her to the vet. Also the house includes one spoiled 16 year old toy Pomeranian.
Thanks for the addition here, Buck.
Semper fi,
Jim
Such an interesting and entertaining story. I am hooked !
Thank you, Sue,
Did you opt-in for updates?
I liked this very much. First chapter of a book? I’m looking for the rest of it.
Chapter VI of the novel called The Cat. Yes, it is a book and you are getting to read it as it is
written, chapter by chapter…
Semper fi,
Jim
I am simply entranced with this unlikely trio!
Thank you, Janie
Appreciate the support.
Have you read Island In the Sand?
Now available in Paperback and Digital
Autographed Island In The Sand
That beaver! Weird creature that he is, sitting with the boy, cat and man. Seems to be making a pest of himself.
I like your creation of new actors in this, the Tale of the Cat. James, or LT, I grow to enjoy your writing more and more. And between The Cat and The Boy and the Mastodon, you come up with some fantastic stories, weaving in Nature along with your unique cast of characters. Please continue.
I do love the Cat and the cast of characters…and it is fun to write, especially when I am kicking back an bit from writing 30 days…
Semper fi,
Jim
Quite a tale. Will be interesting where it takes us.
Always appreciate your comments and support, Pete.
The story will evolve into interesting circumstances
Great Writing…always intriguing. So much more captivating than any Political rant. Thanks for Your effort. Always enjoyed. <3
Oh please…like you don’t just wallow around inside the heated and swirling pool of the acrimonious political rant pool!!!
Love you and thanks, though…
Semper fi,
Jim