The Meeting in City Park

The Meeting

On the Black Cat’s signal with a wave of cats, the fierce four, Calico Grace, Torti Dahlene, and the Bright brothers, crossed Orleans, as the wind blew. At last, the cats stood under the live oak trees hung with Spanish Moss in beautiful City Park.

Tommy and Sunny scampered over to playground equipment. “Wow, cool, this is better than the stuff by Delgado.” Tommy exclaimed as the boys climbed a large jungle gym, balancing on the bars until they fell off.

A Gray Cat on the playground told the boys, “When you, Big Cats done playing, go to the north. You wanna be in the stadium soon.”

“Yahoo!”  Tommy and Sunny arched their backs and pounced around like kittens. “Toys, I love toys,” the boys proclaimed in unison. Face to face, the boys grabbed each other in bear hugs using every claw on all four limbs and rolled in the grass, trying to get the best bite on the other’s neck in hope of not being the first to cry in pain, all in good fun.

Under the long drooping arm of a nearby live oak tree, Grace and Dahlene conferred. Grace whispered, “The Gray said the gazebo they call Popp’s Bandstand is to the southeast. We could run over there, see where it is and come back before the boys know we’re gone.”

The torti retorted, “Grace, do you really think the Gray will show up there after the meeting?”

“Dahlene, how would you feel, if he did, and we weren’t there? He’d never give us another tumble. He said he’d leave his mark. Let’s go see if he did.”

The smooth gray way with the ladies got them every time. The girls ran pell-mell across the open field in search of the band stand with the Gray’s mark.

The wind diminished. Dark settled in the park. Sensitive cat ears detected a faint hum. Soon anxiety faded, peace pervaded. The boys looked up from their play.

“We’d better go. Where are the girls? Knowing Grace, she’s already there saving us a place.”

A great multitude of cats headed to the stadium. Sunny looked around, to his surprise he recognized none of these cats.  Suddenly, Sunny became aware that he was participating in an important event in cat history. He could hardly contain himself. He buddy bumped his brother with his right shoulder, “Pretty cool, huh, Tommy.”

Tommy had his mind on a black and white doll faced frisky female in the crowd.

The hum grew louder. The wind slowed to a pleasant breeze blowing towards the stadium. Kittens ran ahead of their families. Mothers called, “Don’t get too far ahead. Stay where I can see you.”

Black Cats and Gray guided the throng towards easy access points in the fence. The crowd of cats became quite dense, the hum intense, like a massive purr.

 Just outside the gate, sides heaving rapidly, as she panted in pain, Old Lemon laid with her bad hip popped out. Sunny saw her.

“Mom! Are you alright? I’m so sorry, what can I do? I knew you shouldn’t have come.”

“Son, I’ll be fine. It’s just this old hip of mine.”

Twitching his toes, Tommy looked down at the ground. He was always shallow as a saucer, but the sight of his mother in agony, hurt him to the core. He didn’t know what to do.

Yarrowgh, he howled.

“Please, Boys, go inside. I’ll be in, when I catch my breath, if I have to hobble on three legs. This is special. You don’t want to miss it.”

 Old Lemon nodded her head with parental authority for the brothers to go. Reluctantly, they entered the stadium.

A million cats’ eyes glowed in the dark. The purring pulsed, OHMMM.

As the cats arrived, they looked around curiously, but then joined in the purring, chanting, OHMM. The sound vibrated through their bodies. It vibrated through the walls. The light from their eyes lit the stadium in a soft yellow glow.

The Big Black Cat took the podium on the stage at the edge of the track. With a flick of his tail, the crowd silenced.

“Welcome, my Brothers and Sisters, You’ve journeyed far to meet an extraordinary cat. Sleek Black will make a few announcements, and then I will introduce you to our very special guest.”

Sleek Black stepped on stage with all the pomp and circumstance he could muster. He stood tall with his head held high, neck arched and shiny coat gleaming.

“I am so proud to be here at this monumental occasion. Many generations of cats have not been blessed with what we are about to experience,” Sleek Black gushed. He was not about to be rushed, until he saw Big Black’s ears fold back. “Without further adieu.”

“Ahem, Sleek, the announcements,” Big Black prodded.

“Oh, yes, no pooping or peeing in the stadium, only outside, and cover your excrement. We want to be welcome here again.

Water can be found by all exits. When you leave, be cautious. If you get confused about the direction home, get help from any Black or Gray on the way. We all want to get home safely.”

OHMMM, the vibrating pulsing sound began again. A million chanting cats resonated in heaven.

Outside the gate a little moth eaten looking light grey and brown tortoiseshell feline crawled on her belly to Old Lemon’s side. “Mother Cat, can you make it inside?” She questioned as she rubbed Lemon’s cheek with her forehead.

Lemon said, “I think I can make it, Sister.”

“Good, we want you in there, my Dear.” The tiny torti stroked Lemon’s sore hip with her head.

The yellow glow brightened. The chanting grew louder. Six big, burly Black Cats surrounded the pair by the gate. The team leader said, “Sister Cat, we have to go. Big Black is ready to introduce you.”

Sister Cat, “This mother cat has travelled in distress. See that her suffering is rewarded with a seat on the stage, where I can see her and be inspired.”

“Yes, Sister,” the Black Cat said as he bowed his head in reverence.

Big Black took the podium. Our speaker has sat in the lap of Tenzin Gyatso, fourteenth Dalia Lama. Karol Józef Wojtyła, Pope John Paul II told his troubles to this cat. This cat prayed with Evo Morales, President of Bolivia when that country took the unprecedented step of granting legal rights to Mother Earth. I give you Sister Cat.

Inside a V formed by six big burly Black Cats, the diminutive Sister Cat and Lemon made their way to the stage. Lemon took a seat on the side. A surprised hush enveloped the crowd. The small cat sat in the middle of the stage with her tail wrapped around her feet and tucked under her butt.

“Beloved, thank you for coming.” Sister Cat spoke softly, but her voice rang strong and clear and true. “Did you know that the mighty humans have the same questions about God that we do? Yes, it’s true. God is so far beyond our comprehension that our murky view is filled with mystery and magic.

People want to know the creator in their heads. They have wonderfully insightful theories. String theory unites the other theories and answers it all, their brightest of scholars have finally declared. Well, what did they think we’ve been trying to tell them all these years? It’s the string, Einstein. Humans were an ambitious creation.