Frankie Weiss and Her Magic

A similar scene plays itself out when I open a drawer to a dresser, she’s already jumped inside before the drawer is fully extended and starts to paw at the clothing or objects within. In the kitchen, if I’m there when the phone rings, she thinks it’s her solemn duty to jump onto the table, sit quietly by until the conversation is ended. Having done her job, she leaves. At other times, when spreading papers to look over or paying bills by writing checks at the table, she squats down on those objects, looking so pretty and quizzically, with front paws folded under her chest. What is Mr. Mom doing now? Her actions fill me with joy and pride in knowing this beautiful Calico cat is so animated and curious and wanting to be near me.

On the nights I eat at home, Frankie will insist on being my companion at the table. While Johnny the Tabby, could care less, (I think), as long as her needs are taken care of by me. she has never jumped to the kitchen table. Could it be she deems it Frankie’s property and verboten? Frankie will get on the table; she has her “special placemat” the one, farthest away from my dinner. She watches intently, without ever moving, every morsel of food I put into my mouth. Only when offered a nibble of something she may eat (I’m protective of her diet) does she move her head to the napkin where it has been put, smells first, and then does me the honor of devouring it. I put more tiny bits on the napkin, only after gulping her fill does she depart the table and lets me finish the meal at my leisure.

An empty brown kraft shopping bag on the kitchen or living room floor must be explored by getting inside, fighting and banging it around trying to get out of the sealed end. So far, she has never succeeded in tearing one open. She lets it be. Next time around the process begins all over again, Frankie’s not a quitter! (Later in this story, two pictures will depict Frankie inside the shopping bag.) In her play, in the living room, she sort of made the bag a home inside her home.

Many an evening while in bed and looking at the television, Frankie will jump onto the bed and plunk herself down on my chest with her pretty face barely two inches away from my nose.

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