She determined her own name.
By hook or by crook, she was determined to get inside the house.
And once in she would investigate and touch all kinds of
objects which my wife wish she wouldn't.
And when she attempted to, we would exclaim "No touching"
after the famous rule in the batshit crazy and funny Korean
Drama Mr Queen.
So "no-touch-ing" she became. I would spit on my palms and
rub her head.
First rub "No".
Second rub "touch".
Third "ching".
Pause and repeat.
We didn't use to reveal their names to our cats. But if you needed
to summon them, how?
Why was she desperate to come into the house?
Because I was her cat mom. I am the only mother
she has ever known.
The cat distribution system was late.
After Mittens took the Long Walk,
days passed. Then weeks. Then Months.
Once morning at the morning market, there looked like
a dead kitten near the leg of a chair. It was tiny with a
bulging belly. No sign of a mother anywhere.
By noon when the market cleared, cars would come and park.
If she didn't get run over, at night the rats would finish her off.
I did my rounds and came back. She had just moved a couple
of feet and lay seemingly lifeless.
OK, looks like you're the next cat. I picked her up and carried
her home and all the while she was screaming the way only
a tiny kitten can.
My wife didn't want her in the house but she would climb
the grill and somehow get in.
Before we could spay her, she got pregnant.
Then Pooja joined us. He (already neutered)
showed up famished and wouldn't leave.
He would mysteriously die at the vet
exactly 2 years after a hit-and run took Notouching.
19Oct2023 and then 19Oct 2025. My 9-11.
4 kittens.
One disappeared somehow. Two were to go to a neighbour
who was late in collecting them and by that time they
resisted, bit her and found their way back.
I decided to keep them because Notouching was
no more.
So 3 names required.
I decided to name them after South Korean actors/actresses.
3 syllables per name. Just right.
So Jang-guen-suk, Ha-ji-won and Lee-seung-gi.
After breakfast Jang-guen-suk took a nap and never woke up.
Ha-ji-won was poisoned. My neighbour is the only one
to get regular visits from the Rentokil van.
Only Lee-seung-gi remains.
I think and still think the Angel of Death came calling and each took a bullet meant for me.
