Cat Lady

I see her every so often on my morning run, this woman walking her fat tortoiseshell in the park. On a leash. The cat seems so utterly mortified to be seen in public in such a demeaning situation, and punishes its misguided owner by refusing to walk very much at all. It just stands there, facing away from pointing passers by, tail twitching indignantly. Simmering and waiting for the shame to end.

Cat Lady coos and coaxes, but Minou won’t be having it. Usually, having passed them in the same place a few times, I see her walking sadly up the hill, the cat grimly triumphant in her arms.

I’ll miss them.