BLACKIE BLAKE
Cynthia and I had our good times and our bad times. As days turned into months I began to feel more at home. However, Cynthia sometimes got on my nerves. Too often, she treated me like a baby, not listening to my protests regarding matters of importance.
That’s why I began to sneak out of the apartment almost daily; though I usually waited until after midnight. Cynthia usually slept at eleven unless there was a pressing reason to stay up longer.
Incredibly, I’d managed not to be noticed by Cynthia. If she had ever caught me sneaking out, it would’ve been a horrendous event indeed. She would’ve screamed at me with all her might and running around the apartment like a crazed chicken.
On a beautiful Friday evening at roughly 11:30 P.M., I’d waited until Cynthia hit the sack.
There was a black cat in the neighbourhood whom I saw every-so-often, but only late at night.
Every time I saw him, my tongue knotted up; thereby I was unable to speak to him.
But on this particular evening I prepared myself for a formal introduction.
As soon as I exited the apartment building I walked due west on Lincoln Avenue until I reached Atwater Street. Although I felt like walking on Sherbrook Street, it was too open and wide and too many patrol cars drive therein.
I ended up walking on Maisonneuve Street for several blocks before something strange happened. A cat called at me from the shadows. At first, I was apprehensive, not knowing if it was a trap or if this particular cat was hyper-territorial, looking for a fight.
I took a deep breath and then exhaled then I zoomed in on the cat realizing that my fears were unfounded. It was the same black cat that I wanted to meet.
I was delighted to see him. But that’s not enough. A formal introduction was called for. Naturally, I had to approach him first.
“Hey, guy, how’s it going?” I asked.
“Not bad, how about you are you doing all right?” responded the black cat.
“I’m glad to meet you.
Look, I’ve been seeing you around, but only late at night. What’s the deal? Are you evading the law?” I asked.
“No, I prefer to walk around late at night. Being that I’m a black cat, it gives me incredible camouflage. Also, I have to be weary of some humans; they love to torment and kill my kind especially during the Halloween season.”
“Wait, are you sure things are still that horrible for you black cats?”
“Look, it’s nowhere near as bad as it was during the witch hunts or the period following it. However, who’s going to shed a tear if they see a deed black cat in the middle of the street or on the side of the road?” responded the black cat.
The black cat’s voice became choppy and I noticed a giant tear in each of his eyes.
This black cat was too proud to show his sensitive side. Therefore, I pretended not to notice the teary-eyes.
“My name is Zoe Marshall Thomas. I’m from Montreal.”
“Zoe, it’s my pleasure to meet you. I’m Blackie Blake. My friends call me Blackie.”
“That’s fine, Blackie. But I need to tell you that I snuck out of my house. If my mother finds out she’ll throw a horrendous temper tantrum.”
As I continued talking to Blackie I couldn’t help but notice his ‘shifty eyes’. Blackie was afraid or apprehensive about something.
“Blackie, don’t worry about anything, okay. It’s late, it’s the weekend and the police probably couldn’t care less about a couple of lone cats. They have much more pressing concerns to deal with; drunk drivers, drunk and disorderly behaviour, fighting, vandalism, loud parties, etc.”
“Zoe, you’ve been around humans far too long. You’ve forgotten some of the facts regarding felines.
Please, look at me! What colour am I?”
“You’re ... gosh ... you’re black. Yes, you ... you’re black.”
“Yes I’m black, and that means that I have the normal everyday cat hating humans and cat hating animals to deal with, in addition I also have the worst of them all, the black cat hating humans.
Zoe, racism and discrimination often crosses the species line, but usually only for cats. Some people simply don’t like me just because I’m black. In an ironic way, I kind of know what ‘black humans’ in North America feel like. Not all of them though. Some of them have made it big. After they do, some of them forget their roots. They become uppity. Anyway, that’s a different matter.”
“Blackie, where do you want to go?”
“Let’s go to Westmount Park. It’s better than nothing, right?”
“Huh, what do you mean by that?”
“Zoe, we cats need large parks. This park, although nice and beautiful during the warmer months isn’t even a dot on the map. Jean Drapeau Park is the same. Although the latter park is much bigger, it’s still not large enough to satisfy my pallet.
Zoe, I want to move to western Canada. As soon as I’m able to, I certainly will.”
We walked towards the park reaching a water fountain nearby.
After drinking our fill we scanned the area searching for a good place to sit.
Thankfully, Blackie pointed to a spot deep in the park and just to our right. We followed the path leading to it and then hopped onto a bench.
In front of us was an artificial pond and nearby a couple of artificial waterfalls. The sight of the water and the sound of the waterfalls were soothing to us.
“Blackie, tell me about yourself.”
“Zoe, I live up on the hill a bit northwest of our present location. My home is a specially designed cat house.”
“Blackie, do you have a roommate?”
“Actually, yes, I certainly do. I find it quite difficult to live alone. I need someone to talk to. Besides, I feel more secure sleeping, with another cat nearby.
My roommate’s name is Tommy Graziano. He’s a really nice cat. He’s an Italian Canadian cat.”
“Blackie, do you have any additional close friends?”
“Yes, just one more. His name is Ricky La Raccoon. He’s a French Canadian, born and raised right here in Montreal. But you don’t have to worry about a language communication problem, he’s fluently bilingual.”
“Zoe, I’m feeling kind of tired. Do you want to sleep over?”
“Wow, thanks for the offer. But unfortunately, I need to get back home before my mom awakens. Remember, we both snuck out.
But, wait why don’t we exchange phone numbers and emails? Texting is too impromptu for me. If you need to get a hold of me urgently I have two numbers you can call, one is for my cell phone the other for my home phone.
Blackie, please, if you call my home phone number don’t say anything incriminating. I hate to say this but sometimes my mother can be a real snoop. She’ll likely listen in on our conversation. I have more freedom when speaking on my cell phone.
We said our goodbyes and then went back home. I didn’t take any chances being seen by the police. I wasn’t an adult, and as such if they held me in custody they’d certainly call my mother.
I knew very well that if my mother ever caught me sneaking out, just once, the game would be all over. She’d set up some kind of an anti-sneak-out measure. Getting caught a second time would probably result in my voluntarily leaving home. In that case scenario, I’d have to find another place to reside in.
I waited several days for Blackie to call me. I wasn’t sure if something had happened to him or if he had a change of heart regarding our friendship.
Thankfully, a ‘good-news’ call came in on Wednesday evening. I’d been playing with a toy mouse when suddenly I heard my cell phone ring.
“Hello, who is this?”
“Zoe, it’s me, Blackie. Do you want to sneak out tonight?”
“What about tomorrow? I’m not feeling very well today. I didn’t get enough rest time last night. You know how it is; cats need their cat naps.”
Blackie and I hit it on just fine. For the following month we snuck out almost every day. It was only for the first few days that I was a bit hesitant, also not being used to sneaking out with a partner.
At the one month mark I decided that it was time for Blackie to meet my mother. I would later meet his parents. I notified Blackie by phone. Believe me, I was ecstatic.
Following a nice long nap in mid-afternoon, I leaped onto my bed and then called Blackie to tell him the good news.
Blackie answered the phone after seven rings. I guess he was napping or something.
“Hello, who am I speaking to?”
“Hey, Blackie, this is your friend Zoe. How are things going with you?”
“Zoe, I’m always delighted to hear your voice. Naturally, I’m fine and happy.”
“Blackie, I want you to come over to my place to meet my mother. I think she’ll enjoy speaking to you. My mother loves cats.”
“Zoe, can I come over this Sunday, umm ... say at one, or maybe later if you like.”
“Blackie, one is just fine, umm, on Sunday. I’d like you to stay over for a few hours. We can watch television, surf the net and if mom agrees you can have supper with us.
How does that sound?”
“Zoe, that sounds wonderful! I’ll buzz in at one. Please be on the ready to buzz me into the apartment building. Otherwise, it’ll be bad news for both of us.”
Things appeared to be going quite well. The meeting between my mother and Blackie would certainly be wonderful.
As soon as I turned off my cell phone I leaped off of my bed and then ran to the living room where my mother was watching television.
She was inclined on a lazy boy chair watching a mystery movie. Every few seconds she’d dip her soft beautiful hands into a bowl of popcorn and then grab a handful and bring it back up to her mouth.
I was delighted to live in a beautiful apartment with a ‘sometimes’ wonderful mother. We had everything that we needed, a seventy inch HD television, dual system VCR/DVD, Sony stereo system, nice furniture and much more.
I waited until the commercial break to tell my mother the good news.
I leaped onto my mother’s lap, cupped her face with my paws and then conveyed the important message.
“Mom, I’ve invited Blackie over; he’s a really nice cat. We can expect him to be here on Sunday around one or so. I hope that he’ll stay for supper too. It’ll be nice to eat supper with a beloved guest and friend.
Mom, can I have your permission?”
“Zoe, it looks like you’ve already given him permission; what you’re doing now is washing your hands of all the dirt that you’ve accumulated.
And, okay, umm, yes ... of course he can come over.”
That was the best ‘yes’ I’d ever received in my whole kitty life.
It was four days until our prized meet-up. I counted the hours and sometimes the minutes quite nervously. But then, I was bringing over an incredible cat friend.
But Blackie wasn’t an ordinary cat friend. He was a black cat friend. For centuries on end, black cats have endured the hatred and torment of humanity. Why do so many humans hate black cats with an extreme ferocity?
I was certain that Blackie had a stockpile of stories to tell me about dangerous run-ins with humans. Everything from tossed beer bottles curses and taunts, spitting, physical assaults, demonization, preposterous accusations, burnings and tortures, and whatever else black cat haters can think of.
But no, that wasn’t to be the case in our home. Or, at least, that’s what I thought.
On Sunday, I awakened bright and early, just after dawn and ready for a nice weekend day. But today, I was excited, no, I was flabbergasted! Blackie was coming over!
Mom and I ate a hardy breakfast then we took a long stroll through several residential neighbourhoods.
We got back at 10:00 A.M. showered and then took a long nap.
At noon, my mother and I debated about what we should have for lunch. Because we were going to eat anyway, we decided that Blackie should eat lunch with us rather than supper.
But first, I had to call Blackie and get an okay from him. I wouldn’t want him to be satiated upon arrival to our apartment.
I went to our bedroom, grabbed hold of my cell phone and then went to the study room. Therein, I proceeded to call Blackie.
“Hello, who is this?”
“Blackie, this is your friend Zoe. Look, how about a slight change in plans. Would you mind eating lunch with us rather than supper? Mom and I are hungry.”
“Fantastic, I’m hungry too. In fact, I was just about to have myself a big snack before heading off to your place. Our wonderful cat, indeed. Anyone who has you as a good friend is a lucky person.”
“Thanks Zoe, I feel the same way about you. I’ll be buzzing your apartment very soon.”
I turned off my cell phone and then pondered about what we were going to eat. Naturally, I had to ask my mother.
“Mom, what are we going to eat for lunch?”
“Zoe, how about I call in for some pizza? We really don’t have much time to prepare a meal. We have salad, apple pie and ice cream drinks, and everything else we need is in our fridge.” “Fantastic, call in for pizza, order an extra large with thick crust, extra sauce and vegetarian and hamburger toppings.” My mother grinned at me and then turned on her cell phone and called Tommy’s Pizza Place.
“Hello, I’d like to order an extra large pizza, no ... make it two. What ... oh, okay, yes that’s right, you want to know what toppings I want on the pizzas.
I want both of them to be vegetarian and one meat topping each, hamburger only please.
What, oh no sir, we have plenty of drinks at home and dessert too.”
My mother gave the pizza worker our address and phone number and she in turn, was told how much the order was going to cost.
“Mom, it appears that you and I are both salivating. I’m sure Blackie’s hungry too. He understood that there was a change in plans. He’ll eat lunch with us.”
My mother and I waited for our pizzas. According to our calculations we figured the pizza man would arrive shortly before Blackie. That way, we’d eat as soon as he entered our apartment.
Then suddenly, we heard a buzz. It was the pizza man, or that’s what we thought.
“Zoe, are you there?”
“Yes, Blackie, I’ll buzz you in. But don’t wait too long because the parting doors will close after a ten second delay.
“Mom, I’m sure you’re going to like Blackie. He’s such an awesome cat. Sometime in the future I’ll introduce you to his roommate, Tommy Graziano. Then later, I’ll introduce you to another friend of his, Ricky La Raccoon. If I find out he has any additional close friends I’ll introduce you to them.”
We waited patiently for Blackie to knock on our door. But at the last second, my mother had to use the restroom.
As soon as I heard the first knock I ran to the door, opened it and then invited Blackie into our apartment. I made sure to close and then lock the door afterwards. “Blackie, wow, I’m so happy to see you!”
“Zoe, you really didn’t have to invite me over for lunch. You could’ve invited me over for a general meeting with you and your mother.”
“No way, Blackie, you’re a very close friend of mine. Our friendship is too precious for me to take you for granted. Besides, you’re the first black cat friend that I’ve ever had.
And I guess it feels good.”
I went ahead and gave Blackie a mini-tour of our apartment. Thankfully, everything went just fine. After the tour Blackie and I waited attentively for my mother.
Unexpectedly, we heard a buzz emanating from the intercom. No doubt, it was the pizza man.
I buzzed him in and then opened the apartment door.