<an archaic, allegorical tale>
Many moons ago, there were neighbors who lived, oh, about four houses and two streets apart. Okay, so they weren’t precisely neighbors, but they resided in the same general vicinity. What that vicinity was is of no importance, as this tale isn’t going to pinpoint their precise coordinates on any map.
What is relevant is that these two people were acquainted, and that one was a Cat-Person, and that one was a Dog-Person. Beyond that, very little about them is significant. This tale is not about them, but about their Cat and Dog, respectively.
Now, most folks know that the smartest dog is still dumber than the dumbest cat. And Dog was a very smart dog, indeed. Making matters worse, Cat was likewise a very smart cat. But we’re getting ahead of the story. At this point, Dog and Cat only know one another by a vague awareness from the scent of the other borne on the owners’ clothing whenever one paid a visit to the other.
As mentioned, Cat-Person and Dog-Person were acquainted. In fact, they had been acquainted for some time. They weren’t friends, precisely, but they did know one another. It was the sort of acquaintanceship that allowed one to look after the other’s plants and such if the other took a day-trip.
As it happened, Dog-Person had to go out of town at one point, more than a day-trip, but certainly not a vacation. Dog-Person could not leave Dog unattended, as most dogs are social beings and require human interaction for their own benefit. So, Dog-Person asked Cat-Person if Dog could stay at Cat-Person’s abode until Dog-Person returned. Cat-Person agreed…reluctantly.
Cat, like most cats, was enormously independent. Cat was not one to rove too far from home, as there was a degree of loyalty to Cat-Person. Nonetheless, Cat was typical of its species, in terms of social hospitality. Despite an attachment to Cat-Person, Cat remained aloof most of the time, smug in typical feline fashion. Dignified.
Dog, on the other hand, was social and playful, extremely loyal to Dog-Person. Like most dogs, Dog was typical of its species. Prone to licking and jumping, and even occasionally piddling on the floor in moments of excitement, without apology or concern, for such is the nature of a dog. Even a well trained dog — and Dog was a well trained dog, without question.
The day came when Dog-Person was required to leave Dog with Cat-Person. This was a very confusing day for all parties involved. As people tend to take on the personalities of their pets, on these strange occasions, pets go into their character-modes to the extreme.
On the day of departure, Dog-Person brought to Cat-Person’s house dog food, dog dishes, dog treats, dog toys, dog scoop, and of course, Dog.
Cat-Person was overwhelmed on this day, and Dog-Person was extremely sensitive to the situation, however could not resist doling out behind-the-ear scratches and top-of-the head smooches to beloved Dog. Cat found this highly undignified, hissed, and took off for the sanctuary of Cat-Person’s room, somewhere under the bed.
Cat-Person was equally disgruntled by the emotional display, but remained silent and stoic. When Dog-Person departed, Dog was unsure what to do. In unfamiliar territory, Dog did what most dogs will do…try to explore. Cat-Person would have none of that, however, and tethered Dog to the leg of the dining table.
After ensuring that Dog had food and water and toys within easy reach, Cat-Person went off to work. Only then did Cat, ever-so-cautiously, emerged from its hiding spot to examine this unlikely intruder.
Dog, being a dog, perked up its ears and wagged its tail in a friendly fashion, and attempted to play — pulling at the tether to try to sniff, and snuffle, and lick…very doggily…very undignified. Cat, being a cat, sat just beyond reach of the length of Dog’s tether and stared blankly at Dog, slightly amused at the predicament.
After a time, Dog settled and laid down, opting to ignore Cat for the time being and dream about its own doggy things…its own home and routines, Dog-Person, and all of the other things that dogs could possibly ponder in a moment such as this.
While Dog mused over these things, Cat went about its own dailiness in the manner that cats do — periodically lazing in the sun-warmed windowsill, climbing to the tops of furniture, seeking out petty destructions, pondering its own glorious Egyptian origins and heritage — and the like.
That first day was, in essence, boring. Cat-Person came home, weakly attempted the dog-walking thing, and tried to match the needs of Dog. As stated, weakly. Cat-Person fared far better with Cat, as Cat required little more than token attentions, being content with its own self-important meanderings.
This odd routine repeated itself over the next several days, with one important difference from the first day. Cat and Dog began to converse. Now, these weren’t the sorts of conversations that people –being people– would have, but conversations all the same. The precise details of their conversations were unknowable, as trying to interpret them for the benefit of average people would be impossible. (Besides, I speak neither canine nor feline, so linguistic ability fails me.)
The general idea of the conversations was relatively interesting, though — as far as conversations between cats and dogs go. They discussed one another’s finer points and shortcomings…with only slight offense taken on either side when mild insults arose. They discussed the problems associated with other sorts of pets, like birds and fish and snakes and ferrets…as well as the idiots who kept those sorts of pets. Cat and Dog discussed all sorts of things…but never getting quite close enough to the each other to truly know or understand the thoughts of the other. In this, there was a level of comfort to the daily routine, within the scope of however cats and dogs can function within the same space. At the end of the day, both Cat and Dog would retreat to their corners of their designated spaces and delve into their own thoughts, until the next day came.
Finally the day came when Dog-Person returned to pick Dog up to go home. Dog was excited, but being a dog, had come to feel a sort of attachment to Cat, and wanted to say goodbye, in typical dog fashion. Trying to play and lick the way dogs do, Cat was extremely offended, hissed, and as quick as lightning, scratched Dog’s nose with those sharp retractable claws. Cat could not be bothered with unnecessary affection from one such as Dog. Dog, being a dog, yipped in surprise, bared its teeth, and went away with Dog-Person, only briefly glancing back.
Back in its own space, Dog tended its wounds, with mild confusion and sadness, but was not overly bothered by the whole situation. As stated earlier, the smartest dog is still dumber than the dumbest cat, and Dog was still a smart dog. In this strange tale, Dog knew one thing that Cat hadn’t figured out. Goodbyes are not necessarily forever, and that there is no reason to be offended by small kindnesses. Cat, on the other hand, had better things to do, and couldn’t be bothered with thoughts such as these; there were too many other interesting things to do and see. Each beast had its own space to attend to, and were, once again, free to do so, until the day when they would face each other again - if ever - while Cat-Person and Dog-Person went about their own lives.
