Meows

Everyone seems to have those family anecdotes that are told again and again. The other day, as I was sharing with my mother my latest Alex story, she reminded me of one our family tells over and over:

It took place when I was fourteen or fifteen years old. My father was in one of those moods when he needed something—I am not sure what he needed, perhaps it was simply to demonstrate his power. He had backed me against our kitchen wall and, with his face inches from my face, he kept yelling at me with ever increasing volume the word “What.”

Perhaps he was imitating some authority-crazed sergeant he had encountered when he was serving in World War II. I really don’t know; however, the rapid-firing “What” followed by “What” followed by “What” unnerved me until I responded with “Oh, whater whater whats what.” My response broke my father up: he began laughing and couldn’t stop laughing. My mother joined in the laughter and I eventually join in, too.

The contemporary story that reminded my mother of the whater whater whats what tale took place at my house the day that Mom entered the rehab center. Alex had been outside catting around. I responded to his scratching at the front door by letting the cat who owns me into the house. As soon as he crossed our threshold, Alex stopped, looked up at me and said “Meow” to which I replied “What do you want?”

Usually in response to my “What do you want?” Alex will lead me someplace—his dining table is the usual destination. When I say that Alex “will lead me” that isn’t completely true. Alex will typically begin sauntering in a direction but slows to the point that I end up passing him and leading the way even though I have only a conjecture as to where the cat wants us to go.

This day Alex continued his meows in the same rapid-fire manner as my father had his “Whats” on the long ago day in our kitchen. Finally I stopped walking and looked down at Alex, who was still meowing, and said “Oh, meow, meow, meow, meow, yourself.”

To my amazement, Alex stopped meowing! We stood staring at each other until I began laughing. When I was able to stop laughing, I said to Alex, “Do you think I’m crazy?” Alex continued looking at me and I really believe he nodded “yes” followed by a single “Meow.” Without further comment, he jumped on a chair, curled up, and went to sleep.