The Rest of The Gang

On a crisp fall evening in Athens, Georgia, I let my roommate talk me into going out to a local club (the 40Watt) to hear a local band. Once there, we came upon a friend out on a first date. They weren't hitting it off, but her date and I did get along rather well. We've been married for 12 years now, and currently reside in Marietta, Ga., and it's been pretty great. He encourages me in any endeavor, keeps me focused, and helps me pick myself up when I fall.

While lying in the sun one late summer afternoon, I noticed a shadow creeping out of the woods which, in sunlight, turned into a large black cat. He sauntered up to my chair, lept into my lap, and announced he was home. As he was pitch black, we named him Thirteen. Because he was a true friend, we later gave him the title BuddyCat. Shortly thereafter, my sister called to say she had picked a small kitten up out of the middle of the road, literally! A small, feisty ball of tabby fluff made her way into the house and immediately started bossing everyone around. Her name is Aunt Bea. Thirteen was much too distinguished and proper to lower himself to the role of playmate to a kitten, so a search began for a companion for Aunt Bea. The search ended under a neighbor's lawn mower. A ball of dirty, red clay-stained white fur, looking ever so much like a mischievous little boy, appeared from under the mower. And so came Opie. All has been quite well for many years, moving from Athens, Ga. to Baltimore, Md., and back to Atlanta. Thirteen BuddyCat kept us under his comforting gaze, while Opie chased Aunt Bea down and beat the fur off her for any minor infraction.

Thirteen passed away June 18, 1996. A birdbath and daffodils now stand in his favorite sunning spot.

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Copyright© Wendy Eldredge
1999
The Hole In The Head Gang