JENNY
I rested on the tracks, closing my eyes intending to awaken after a few minutes. But that’s not what happened. I fell into a deep sleep. I was awakened by an incredibly terrifying sound, a sound almost synonymous to that of a giant ship was blowing its fog horn. I was literally catapulted into the air roughly 15 feet to the left of the tracks, and not a second too soon. A split second after my catapulting, a cargo train zoomed by. If I hadn’t been catapulted the outcome would’ve been nothing short of gruesome, not to mention deadly.
The near miss took its toll on me. I collapsed onto a grassy patch. This time my sleep was uninterrupted. I awakened at 11:00 A.M. ready to take on the world. But as soon as I cleared my mind I came to the conclusion that in reality I could never even take on my own personal problems, let alone the whole world.
I studied the entire area intently searching for a town, city, or rest stop. Nothing therein except a dirt road beside the train tracks.
Instantly, I fell into a stupor feeling down and out and unable to focus my attention on anything or think clearly. I continued walking for another hour before I came across an abandoned, dilapidated shack. But I didn’t care about it. What I cared about was the 4-way intersection just beyond it.
I felt a sudden rush of energy, so much so it almost felt euphoric. I galloped to the intersection, stopping a few feet in front of a large directional sign. I looked at it intently in order to choose the best option. One of the directional notices indicated that Lambert was 2 miles west. That would be to my right.
Wow, Snotty was telling the truth after all. I felt really bad, because I started having nasty feelings about him prior to this discovery.
I entered Rawlings Road walking on the shoulder. It didn’t take long for me to notice vehicles. I was quite pleased; whenever you see vehicles or pedestrians it means that civilization is near. And for me that meant nourishment, shelter, and security. For the time being at least, I’d had it with trekking long distances. My paws were beginning to ache and the Ontario sun was beating down on me like a ton of molten lava.
The closer I got to Lambert city limits the more excited and relieved I felt. I was now within 50 yards of the WELCOME TO LAMBERT ONTARIO sign. Traffic was more congested and both drivers and passengers eyed me ever-so-closely. Maybe, they’d never seen a cat walking on the shoulder of the road outside of their city’s limits.
As soon as I entered Lambert City limits a convoy of party animals’ vehicles exited Lambert. There were roughly a dozen vehicles in all. Beer, hard liquor, and pot engulfed the air. But that didn’t seem to bother anyone else, except for me. They, especially the drivers of the vehicles were putting many lives at stake, not to mention possible properties damage.
As I was noticing the convoy they suddenly took notice of me. I got many thumbs up, many smiles, but on horrible glare. Of all the young men and women therein, the biggest and most powerfully built person amongst them appeared to be a cat hater. These people are everywhere, even in government. In government they don’t need to dirty their hands; they pass cat hostile laws and protect animal abusers in every which way they can. They reduce funding for animal shelters, aid biomedical corporations, and do whatever else they can in order to punish ‘wild animals’ and to a lesser extent companion animals too. To tell you the truth I have an incredible hatred for these creeps.
As I was about to turn and continue my trek a young woman called out to me, “hey kitty, c’mon baby, come over here and hop into our pickup. We’re going to party like animals. You’re an animal too, right? We’re on thanksgiving break.
Don’t be intimidated by the heavy-muscled jocks. I’ll make sure they treat you right. C’mon, you can be part of their fraternity. What do you say?”
“Miss, what school are you guys from?”
“Honey, we’re from The University of Ontario at Lambert, UOL is the official acronym.”
“Umm, you mean to tell me Lambert has a university, I mean, and a large campus too?”
“Yes baby, and if you want to be part of our clique you have to find a fraternity. UOL has a policy of accepting cats and dogs on campus if they’re members of a fraternity or sorority, but there are conditions, same-sex membership is imperative and good behavior too.”
The young woman was around 20 years-old, had straight and shiny red hair, she had beautiful freckles scattered throughout her body especially on her nose, and her eyes were sky-blue colored.
A jock called out to the young woman, “hey Lisa, we have to get moving, okay? We don’t have time for that little kitty.”
Huh, what the hell! The voice came from the person who was glaring at me. This guy was a typical jock, six feet tall, 200 pounds, very handsome and muscular, and judging from his body language he had many rendezvous with women.
Instantly, I arched my back, bared my teeth, extended my claws and then hissed at him. He backed down almost instantly. I had to show him and the other humans in the convoy that I didn’t take any bull from anyone. I’d made up my mind; I was going to join a fraternity, and absolutely no one would be allowed to harass or intimidate me.
I continued walking into Lambert reaching the first major street therein. An arrow on a green sign above and to my left indicated that UOL was straight ahead. I’d have to walk on Waller Street. The UOL administration building and academic buildings were roughly 200 yards from my location.
Both sides of Waller Street were aligned with dormitories and houses for rent. The buildings weren’t congested they were buffered by yards and lawns. Thank goodness there were many trees, hedges, and plants in the area. Green is a very beautiful colour. Wherever you have green-colored plants you have life.
Shortly thereafter, I crossed Waller Street, reaching the other side and then resuming my stroll. Walking on the left side of the street resulted in me receiving the full shine of the sun. It’s nice for a short while but then afterwards it becomes quite bothersome. Besides, my forefathers and foremothers came from Northern and Western European, I belong to their stock our people prefer mild summers and cold winters.
Vehicles passed me on both sides of the street, heading in opposing directions. Judging from the scent in the air and the behavior of the drivers, passengers, and the UOL students on Waller Street many people had already begun to party for the long weekend. But to tell you the truth I wasn’t sure what day of the week it was. I had to ask someone.
Although there were humans walking throughout the area, being a cat and a stranger in town, I had to choose someone who was I sensed would be friendly. To compound matters, I wasn’t even a student at UOL. The last thing I needed was trouble.
Thankfully, I took notice of a beautiful young woman exiting the Lawson Women’s Dormitory building. She didn’t appear to be in any kind of a hurry. In fact, she gave out an aura of friendliness. She had long and shiny jet black hair, beautiful cat eyes, whitish skin-color and scattered freckles, especially on her face she was roughly 5 feet 10 inches tall and was well- dressed.
The young woman had a beautiful smile on her face. But as I cautiously approached her I was able to cut through her aura of friendliness. My feline senses were alerting me. This young woman had some mental issues to deal with. The closer I got to her, the more powerful my feelings became.
I decided to turn and leave. I didn’t want to have anything to do with her. The last thing I needed was to be hooked up with a mentally unstable young woman.
But just as I turned the young woman called out to me; she literally caught me off guard. I was so stunned I didn’t know what to do, or what not to do for that matter.
“Hey kitty, what are you doing? Are you new in town?
I had to size her up really fast. I didn’t know her exact intent. One thing I did know was that for the time being, I needed a long-term trustworthy and giving friend. Following a quick brainstorm I made up my mind, “I’m fine, thanks for asking. How are you doing?”
“Kitty, I’m doing just fine too. I was just thinking about finding another female friend, and guess who shows up you a lovely cat.”
I was confused. Did this young woman really think that I was a girl like her, or was she pulling my leg? With no time to waste and feeling desperate, I played along with her mistake.
“It’s nice and funny too, because I was thinking of the same thing. We girls have to stick together regardless of species differences. We’re all sisters, right?”
The young woman casually approached me, knelt down, took gentle hold of me and then she stood up. Following a long smile she kissed me on each cheek then told me that she loved me and wanted to be my best friend in the whole world for the rest of our lives. To tell you the truth I almost vomited. I’m not saying that I wasn’t flattered by her words and gentle tone of voice, but as it is, I’ll always be a male cat, a lion of sorts, and we lions don’t like that lovey-dovey stuff. Maybe, on rare occasion we’ll open up, but only to a member of the same sex.
I took a deep breath, paused for a moment and then slowly exhaled. “Wow, you took me by surprise. Miss, are you a student at UOL?”
“No, kitty, I’m a senior at Lambert High. Next year I’ll be a freshman at UOL, I hate to say that word because there are also women in first year university at UOL; the word freshman is so misogynistic. Would you like to come home with me, I mean, would you like to be part of our family?”
Wow, I was utterly flabbergasted, a home, nice food, a clean warm bed, toys, security, and much more. I figured if I could stay in Lambert for a year or so my trail would cool off. That’ll be when I’ll sneak out of the young woman’s home. I’ll skip town and never return. Now, I don’t want you to think that I’m some kind of a cruel cat, because I’m not. I’m only abiding by the law of the jungle. You must be strong, smart and cunning to make it in this world otherwise people from all ranks will poop and pee on you. Worse yet, most of them won’t give a damn too.
“Where exactly do you live, Miss?”
“Oh my dear, I forgot to formally introduce myself. My name is Jenny Penny, and I’m originally from Ottawa. My parents moved to Lambert when I was 10 years-old. Although I love Lambert, I’ll always consider the national capital my beloved home. And what’s your name kitty?”
I exploded into a fit of laughter. I figured she was kidding me about her name. No one can have a name like Jenny Penny. It sounds quite awkward. Unfortunately, the laughter backfired on me.
“What the hell are you laughing at? My name is Jenny Penny!
So, what’s wrong with it? You’re like those other creeps who made fun of me when I was a child, and let me tell you something, I DO NOT LIKE IT ONE SINGLE BIT!”
Jenny’s face reddened then it paled. Tears streamed down her cheeks, her muscles appeared to be quite tense then she folded her arms and stared at a nearby tree. By then, she’d already set me down on the ground.
I had to think fast. Thankfully, I was used to brainstorming in emergency situations. “Jenny, no, I wasn’t making fun of your name. I was laughing because I think you have a very beautiful name, and you’re quite beautiful too. I’m surprised you’re not surrounded by a congregation of guys.” Again, my words backfired on me.
“Thanks for the complement about my name. But as for the surrounded by guys part, what kind of girl do you think I am!” “Huh, oh gosh, listen, Jenny, why don’t we just forget about this horrid conversation, okay? We both screwed up; we got off on the wrong foot. Now, let me formally introduce myself?”
Jenny didn’t say a word but only nodded her head indicating approval. “Jenny, my name is Citizen Cat, and I’m very glad to meet you and hopefully things between you and me will be quite good in the near future. Jenny, do you feel any better?”
Jenny grinned at me and then blew me a kiss. “Citizen Cat, what a wonderful name. I want to make you part of my family. I live at 755 North Danielson Street. It’s a short walk north of campus. C’mon, I want you to come home with me, okay? My parents are quite wealthy; its old money not earned money. They take vacations often. Presently they’re in Vancouver. They won’t be back for a couple of weeks. You and I can have a ball together. I’m very excited about that.”
I grinned and then pointed my right foreleg in the direction of her home indicating that I wanted to get on the move. She obliged me by facing her home and then beginning her walk.
Our stroll through campus was pleasant. We didn’t say much; I focused on the beautiful campus and studied the terrain and remembered the location of important structures. Finally, after all my running and hiding I felt relaxed and contempt.
“Honey, we’ve just left campus. Look, right in front of you, this is Danielson Street. I live 15 minutes away. The farther north you go on Danielson Street the more upscale the neighborhood becomes.”
I’d inadvertently spaced out during Jenny’s statement.
Instantly, she let it be known. “I guess you’re too pretty to speak to me. Or maybe I’m too ugly to speak to you. Or maybe, we’re not meant to be with each other.”
“Huh, Jenny, c’mon don’t be like that! I was spacing out, okay! I want to be your friend, but if you don’t desist in this jabbing behavior I’ll leave you once and for all.”
Of course, I was only bluffing. She didn’t know it, but I needed her more than she needed me.
“No, please, mommy and daddy please don’t leave me ... I mean, Citizen don’t leave me, okay! I need you I want you to live with me. My parents don’t love me even if they did they wouldn’t convey their love in the normal sense.”
I was flabbergasted. I loved it, I had Jenny wrapped around my paw and it felt really good. Most cats love to be in control, that’s why they often look away from a human who’s trying to get their attention.
“Okay, don’t worry Jenny. I won’t leave you. But at the same time I want to be respected for who I am.”
The rest of our walk was engulfed in quiet. As soon as we reached 755 North Danielson Street I felt astonishment. The Danielson Apartments were upscale, the drive-in was suited for ambassadors and millionaires, and the trees, bushes, and flowers scattered on the premises were a beautiful delight just to look at, not to mention their lovely scent.
“C’mon, let’s go home. I want to introduce you to Hank, the security guard on duty. We have 24 hour guard security, a modern alarm system, and cameras strewn everywhere. We have 4 full-time guards and 2 reliefs a relief comes in when one of the full- timers is sick, on vacation, or if it’s a holiday. Everything works out fine.”
Jenny led the way. The apartment building was 9 floors high, very clean, and freshly painted. I couldn’t have asked for anything better.
Jenny swiped her card through the scanner. A moment later I heard a beeping sound. Jenny then opened the door and entered the apartment building with me at her side. The lobby was spacious. The wall-to-wall green carpet was utterly beautiful, scattered sofas and chairs, beautiful pottery, and an artificial waterfall, the most beautiful sites being the chandeliers placed above-head. Just beyond the lobby were 4 large elevators. We continued walking through the lobby until we reached the elevators. To my right was a long hallway with rooms located on each side. At the end of the hallway was a sign that read CAFETERIA AND RECREATION ROOM. I turned back and then glanced to my left; it too contained rooms located on each side and at the end of the hallway was a sign that read SWIMMING POOL AND PATIO.
I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own two eyes. I was living a dream life. I had to change tactics, being nice and sweet to Jenny was the best way to go. And to tell you the truth, I no longer desired for a brief stay in Lambert. Maybe a permanent stay was called for.
“Citizen, what do you think?” “Oh, it’s stunning.”
Jenny pushed the UP button and then waited patiently for one of the elevators to descend to the lobby. A short while later the door to elevator number three opened. Out came a short chubby bald man dressed in a security guard uniform. He was wearing thick rimmed glasses, and he appeared to be around sixty years-old. Rich folks don’t like to be intimidated by muscular jock-like security guards. It gives off an aura of a dangerous place.
“Hank, we have a new family member. I want you to meet my new best friend in the whole world and sister. Her name is Citizen Cat.”
Hank appeared to be bedazzled. I wasn’t sure if he suspected I was a male or maybe he was stunned to see such a beautiful cat like me.
Hank checked me out thoroughly squinting to the point of bringing both eyebrows together.
“Hey, Citizen, you know something. When I first saw you I thought you were a guy. I don’t know what it is. Maybe, it’s because cats are so cute and beautiful. Yes, that’s probably it. It’s much easier to identify a male and a female amongst humans. Our differences are quite apparent. A person would have to be blind not to see them.”
Hank knelt down and shook my paw. But he did something else that was quite unusual, and intrusive if you ask me. He tilted his head to the side and then tried to see my groin. Indeed, he suspected that I was lying. He wasn’t able to see my dingy. I pressed my hind-legs together. He righted himself and then stood erect.
“You two beautiful gals have a beautiful day. And enjoy yourselves in the apartment. The lunch special in the cafeteria is tasty Middle Eastern food.”
By the time Hank returned to his post the elevator door had already shut. Jenny pushed the UP button again, thank goodness the same elevator door opened almost instantly.
We entered the elevator happy as can be. As soon as the elevator door closed Jenny pushed the number 8 button.
I was utterly amazed at the spaciousness of the elevator. The interior was shiny and polished, beautifully scented, and modernized. The elevator gave a light beeping sound each time we ascended a floor. I noticed a tiny camera located beside the light in the upper right hand corner of the ceiling. No doubt, it was placed there for security purposes. Being in an upscale building entailed it.
As soon as we reached the 8th floor a pre-recorded voice said ‘eighth floor’. Jenny exited first, I followed her without delay. Jenny shifted her body to the left and then proceeded to walk through the hallway. She didn’t stop until reaching the last apartment. We were now standing in front of apartment number 812. Jenny unlocked the door and then entered her apartment. As soon as I was inside she closed the door and then locked it.
“Jenny, your apartment is so beautiful, everything, from the wall-to-wall carpeting, the giant screen television, the kitchen, and all that I can lay my eyes upon. How many bedrooms does this apartment have?”
“Citizen, we have four bedrooms and two restrooms.” “Do both restrooms have showers?” I asked.
“Yes, honey, both do. Of course they do. If they didn’t I wouldn’t be here, would I?” I understood her statement as a rhetorical question.
“Citizen, I’m tired. And you, you must be absolutely exhausted. You’ve been trekking for some time now, right?”
“Yes, I certainly have. I’m very tired. Let’s take a long nap? Afterward, we’ll find something to do.”
Jenny agreed. We walked to her bedroom and then got ready to hit the sack.
“Citizen, do you want me to read you a lullaby?” “Huh, Jenny, I may be a small cat but I’m certainly not a baby.”
Jenny looked at me intently then she disrobed. I instinctively looked away. Jenny noticed what I did and didn’t like it one bit.
“Citizen, why are you looking away from me? Do you think I’m some kind of an ugly witch or something? We’re both girls, remember! I demand that you turn around and look at me. I can’t be that disgusting.”
I paused for a moment then turned to face Jenny. I looked her eye-to-eye, keeping my gaze high. But still, that wasn’t enough. Jenny clenched her fists and then threw a temper–tantrum.
“Citizen, you’re hurting my feelings! Do you think I don’t know what you’re doing? C’mon, don’t be a terrible roommate.
Tell me that I’m the most beautiful woman in the whole world, and that’s not all, I want you to lower your gaze, please.”
“Jenny, you’re the most beautiful woman in the whole world.” Following my statement I lowered my gaze.
“Now baby, that’s more like it. Do you want a vanilla ice cream cone?”
“Yes, Jenny, I do! Let’ eat a snack right now.”
Jenny left her bedroom in the nude. I tried to call her back but as soon as I uttered my first letter she turned to face me, glaring at me with those teary eyes. Gosh, I closed my mouth and sat there. I couldn’t chance Jenny changing her mind about the ice cream cones.
I leaped onto the bed leaning on two large pillows one stacked upon the other. I was in an incredibly comfortable position. I could hear Jenny preparing the cones in the kitchen. More so, I could smell the vanilla ice cream and the cones; I was almost certain they were wafer cones, my favourite. Waiting there all alone, drooling and frothing at the mouth I couldn’t stand the waiting.
It only took Jenny a few minutes to make the ice cream cones and return. As soon as she entered the bedroom I instinctively stood on my hind legs. In my haste I’d inadvertently frightened Jenny.
“Oh gosh Citizen, please don’t do that! You’re scaring me. You look like a grizzly bear. I can’t look at you.”
I leaned back against the two pillows and then waited for Jenny to speak. Whatever she said, I knew right there and then, Jenny was a mentally ill and unstable woman. I couldn’t live with her for too long. I was now thinking in terms of weeks, or maybe even days. Either way, I needed to be well-rested and fuelled before leaving Lambert. I knew that if I left Jenny’s apartment I’d have to keep on going without even glancing back. She’d probably throw a fit and tantrum drawing attention unto me.
For what it’s worth Jenny made an incredibly tasty ice cream cone. The cones were wafer as I suspected, better yet, each ice cream cone had 5 scoops of ice cream on it. I licked the ice cream with full enthusiasm and delight. I chomped down on the wafer like there was no tomorrow.
Things were basically the same for the following month. Jenny’s behaviour was bizarre at times but I held myself in check. I was now thinking about how and exactly when to leave. I could no longer tolerate Jenny’s bizarre behaviour. The last nail in the coffin occurred on a Friday night. It wasn’t one single event but a culmination thereof, and just plain ole bad happenings. And there’s one more thing, I didn’t know how long I could hide my true gender. Every time Jenny introduced me to someone and made reference to my ‘female gender’ I was forced to wink at the other person. Thankfully, no one spoke about our little secret.
It was 9:00 P.M Friday, Jenny and I had just returned from a pizza dinner and a horror movie. I couldn’t help but notice when we were eating in the restaurant people took keen notice of us. The same thing happened in the movie theatre. I suspected that Jenny had a reputation in town for being an odd ball, or more.
Jenny and I entered the Danielson Apartment building then took the elevator to the eighth floor. As we were walking to our room I heard some moaning sounds emanating from room number 806.
I knew what was going on inside. Mr. and Mrs. Morrison were making love. I figured they were in good spirits, considering it was Friday night.
The trouble didn’t start until Jenny heard the moaning. She totally freaked out. “Citizen, he’s attacking his wife, I know he is! I’m calling 911, if I don’t he’ll kill her!”
Jenny removed her phone from her shoulder bag and pressed the phone icon. I was shocked. “Jenny, wait a minute! Mr. Morrison is making love to his wife. You can’t call 911. Please, turn your phone off!”
“Huh, what do you mean ‘making love’?”
My jaw just about dropped to the floor. I couldn’t believe my ears. I now had a strong urge to find out Jenny’s knowledge of ‘adult stuff’.
“Jenny, do you know about the birds and the bees?”
“I never heard about birds and bees being together.”
“Jenny, do you know where babies come from?”
“Yes, umm, they just happen, usually after people get married. But some naughty people have babies out of wedlock.”
“Jenny, you and I need to go inside your apartment. I need to tell you about the birds and the bees, okay? I promise, after I’m done you’ll know exactly where and how babies are made.”
We entered Jenny’s apartment together. I was stressed, not knowing how Jenny would react to my birds and bees lecture.
Nevertheless, she had to know. A senior in high school should not be in a situation like Jenny’s. I wondered how she could’ve survived this long without having known the truth about reproduction.
I asked Jenny to sit on her favourite sofa. I sat beside her. After bracing myself and taking several deep breaths and exhaling very slowly I began to convey the truth to Jenny.
Unfortunately, she went ballistic on me, shouting, waving her arms in the air, and even clenching her fists at me. Her ranting rampage lasted roughly 15 minutes but believe me it felt like forever. Of all the things that she said and did one bothered me the most. It indicated a severe mental disorder of sorts.
“Citizen, you’re a liar! My parents DID NOT DO THAT, that’s really naughty stuff!”
I could handle being called a liar, but ‘the parents’ part of her statement was frightening indeed.
Following a long crying bout Jenny and I went to the bedroom and hit the sack. Normally, there’d be a snappy argument about one person or the other hogging the covers. Not tonight, we went to bed as mutes.
Surprisingly, I fell asleep as soon as I closed my eyes. At midnight my survival instincts nudged me to awaken. My heart was pounding like crazy, I was sweating bricks, and my blood pressure must’ve risen to a dangerous level.
As soon as I opened my eyes I saw the most shocking thing possible. I saw the silhouette of Jenny. She was hovering over the bed. I used my incredible feline vision to see in the semi- dark. A moment later, I felt that it I needed to completely illuminate the bedroom; therefore, I reached for the lamp on my left and then turned on the light.
There she was, Jenny in the nude, red-eyed and red-faced, wearing an expression of a true psychotic. But that wasn’t my worst problem. She was holding a hatchet in her right hand. Worse yet, blood was dripping from the sharp end, the rest of the hatchet had dried up blood smeared on it.
I couldn’t help it but I pooped and peed on the bed. Jenny was staring at me intently, the way a large predator stares intently at its prey.
“Jenny, c’mon, umm, like please what’s happening here? We’re friends, right?”
“What’s that thing?”
“Huh, what are you talking about?”
As soon as she aimed her gaze I understood what she was talking about. Somehow, Jenny had seen ‘my thing’ indicating that I was a male rather than a female.
“C’mon Jenny, be a good sport.”
“Damn you, you lied to me! Yo