TOM OREO & MITTENS
LT COL NOEL ELLIS
09/XI/2021
Second foster parents or Oreo left for a vacation.
The third parents & fourth too suddenly had to leave for a couple of days
suddenly. We did not realise it till Oreo suddenly won’t leave our doorstep.
The second parents have also adopted a kitten named
Tom. ‘Tam-Tam’ is his nickname. He goes around the neighbourhood frolicking,
chasing beetles and grasshoppers. While doing so he does catch a chameleon.
Within a short span of time he has become a good hunter. He can fend for
himself, unlike Oreo. In the afternoon when the sun is up, the duo gets into
the green house for a nap.
There is water stored in the empty five litre oil
cans. Cans are emergency water storage. Oreo loves to drink from them,
sticking his tongue inside and lap the water up. We tried a dish, an old
tiffin, even an ice tray to keep water for him. He refuses to touch them. One
has to ensure that the cans are full for Sir Oreo.
A third character has entered the scene. It is a
small brown pup with white socks on his feet. My daughter has christened him
‘mittens’. This boy knows no fear. You raise your voice, show him a stick,
shout at him, he just stands and wags his tail. Your heart has to melt. He
comes looking for food leftovers from Oreo’s or Tom’s meal. They always leave a
bite or two.
Mittens is not scared of Oreo, rather have now
become good friends. Oreo has got someone to play with. They run and gallop
together. Dare you call this Lil fella close to you. Oreo reacts aggressively.
We are not allowed to speak to any other human, let alone petting another dog.
Period!
This morning, as I walked out of the main door for
my morning walk, Oreo was sitting on the steps. With all the neighbours missing
he found comfort here. I was cross with him and decided to ignore him outright.
Last evening when we returned from the beach, the
mesh door was left ajar. Sir Oreo, at the first opportunity came and sat inside
at his favourite place, the doormat. These days as a treat we allow him to
enter once a while. Crackers do scare him, so the exception.
While coming and going one would give him a belly
rub. As usual he would stretch his feet to continue rubbing. That was not
possible as there was work to do. One did not realise that he had dozed off and
gave him a hard rub. He growled and snapped at me. He was shown the way out of
the door. No more goody-goody times for you, out you go.
Generally, he moves away when the door is opened
but this morning, he stretched all out, as if to say I would not let you out
unless you speak to me. I pushed the door. He got dragged along. The posture of
lying was as if he had stiffened rather as a frozen outstretched dog.
I picked up my cane and got down the steps, jumping
over him. This he could not take and rushed and licked my feet as if to say
sorry for last evening. Who won’t melt at such a gesture? So, I sat down with
him to give him all the rubs he deserved till the time he got distracted with
some unfamiliar sound and ran barking towards it.
It was none other than Mr Mittens who was on his
early morning prowl. Both of them greeted each other, one with his head down
and showing Oreo his bum, wagging his tail as if there is no tomorrow. Oreo too
won’t give him much attention till both got into 'chase mode'.
Oreo ran at full gallop. The little one was out
chased and both got embroiled and rolled over. Oreo continued running to the
other end of the lawn. Mittens halted and found the left-over bones which Oreo
left in the lawn and sat down chewing them. Oreo returned and gave such a
considerate look and left mittens to do the honours to the bone.
My daughter had joined me in the lawn. As we were
conversing when Oreo didn't like why he was left out. With his front paws on
me, standing on his hind legs he won’t allow us to speak. Tom the kitten
appeared on the scene after a long night’s sleep. Oreo and Mittens did not
waste a minute to rush & greet him.
There was a cat up the tree and two dogs looking
up, with their tongues hanging out waiting for it to come down. Anyone want to
parent them? I wonder!!!!!!!!!!
JAI HIND
© NOEL ELLIS
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