The Black Cat By Nike ****************************************************************************** I don’t where the Black Cat came from or why it chose our house to be his home. But he did and for that, I am very thankful. The Black Cat first appeared at our doorstep one after our Lola Tacia, who was very fond of cats, died, and instantly made himself part of our family. He had no name so we kept calling it the Black Cat and the monicker stuck. The Black Cat was leonine in appearance and somewhat bigger than our own house cat, Tiger, or the other stray cats in the area. His large blue eyes, rare for a cat in our neighborhood, seemed to make him look wise, kinda like Salem in the TV show “Sabrina the Teenage Witch”. The other cats were wary of him and his presence. Even the resident ‘pusang barako’ would run away and hide from the Black Cat. We had no problems with the Black Cat that we had with Tiger. He was naturally housebroken and he left our food and furniture alone. He wasn’t also noisy and demanding like our house cat during feeding time, preferring instead to sit in front of his food bowl and wait patiently for food to be given to him. In fact the only thing that resembled like an ordinary tomcat in the Black Cat’s manner was his insistence to be let out every night, in which he would come home showing signs of being in a fight with the other cats the morning after. One morning I found him lying on our doorstep. He was in a terrible condition. His fur was torn in places and there were scratches and bite marks all over him. He was also very weak and he could barely lift his head when I carried him back to his favorite sleeping box. I nursed him back to health and during that time a number of misfortunes came to our house. First, the Meralco bill came, informing us that we have an outstanding sum of P 10,000 that we had to pay by the end of the month or face disconnection. Second, one of the tenants in our apartment complained that business was too slow in our area and he may have to move to a different location. And worse, my Kuya developed a large pimple on his forehead, making him extra mean to his younger sister. Me, in particular. After one week, the Black Cat was better and started pacing to be let out of the house at night. Reluctantly, I let him out and two days later, our problems started to solve themselves. Another letter from Meralco came, informing us of a glitch in their computers. It turns out that we don’t have to pay that P 10,000 after all. Then that complaining tenant came to my parents and said that his business is booming and that we can expect the monthly rent to be on time. And my Kuya’s pimple started clearing up, making him less mean than usual. But three days later, I found the Black Cat again almost half dead at our doorstep. Once more, I had to keep him inside the house for a whole week and during this time, our problems came back. The Meralco gave us a disconnection notice that we had to pay that P 10,000 by the end of the month or else. Then that complaining tenant told my parents that he may not be able to pay this month’s rent. And my Kuya’s pimple got infected, making my brother meaner and grouchier to me. As soon as the Black Cat was able to get up, he once more started begging to be let out of house at night. Reluctantly, I let him out again, wincing whenever find new wounds and scratch marks on him the morning after. Two days later, our Meralco problems were solved when Mom called their company up and informed them of our situation. The manager told her that we don’t have to pay and we can expect a refund within this week. Then the tenant finally paid up his rent for a month and promised that he will pay on time from now on. My Kuya’s pimple finally cleared up and he stopped tormenting me just for the heck of it. At this time, I toyed with the idea that maybe Tiger, our resident house cat, was as not the good and nice cat that I was led to believe, after all. That maybe, she was the one who had been fighting with the Black Cat. That night I hid from behind the house plants, I was determined to find out just what cat had been fighting the Black Cat and keep it from hurting the latter even more. As I waited, I saw the devil appear. This was not like Milton’s Lucifer or like the fallen angels in the manga “Angel Sanctuary”. This was the devil as in evil and horror personified. The air grew hot and a translucent red shape rose from the shadows. The head lifted toward the sky, a deep horrible cry rose from the shape and two sets of clawed hands plunged on either side of the ground. Tiger and the other stray cats scampered away in all directions when it started moving towards our house but the Black Cat remained at out doorstep, unwavering like a guard dog. When it was a few steps away, it suddenly changed shape and transformed into my least favorite aunt, Lani and approached the Black Cat. His fur bristled and he hissed in warning, but the devil tried to calm it down and reached out to pet it. But the Black Cat growled and bit its hand. The devil snatched back its hand and stepped back, before transforming again. This time, into a large scruffy orange cat and then growled at the Black Cat. It was then the Black Cat pounced to attack. What resulted was the most brutal and noisiest catfight I’ve ever witnessed. I watched, wincing as the orange cat threw the Black Cat crashing against a couple of potted plants nearby. Then the Black Cat got up and pounced at the orange cat and the two rolled on the ground, like a spitting and hissing ball of orange and black fur. Then, he chased it away towards the darkness and minutes later, I watched as the Black Cat came limping back home before finally collapsing on our doorstep. When it was finally over, I stepped out of my hiding place and walked towards the Black Cat. He must have heard me coming because he raised his head up towards me and let out a pitiful mew when I got down before him and gently cradled him in my arms. And as I carried the Black Cat back home, I thought of how much he has been giving and how much longer he can keep on giving.