After that night, the woman leaves her bedroom door open so I can sleep with her.
She even makes me a little blanket with pink cat faces and bows—not exactly my style, but I’ll accept it for her sake.
Life at home is happy. The woman plays with me, holds me, and watches the sunset and moonrise with me.
The only downside is that I’m not allowed outside.
I used to rule the whole park, but now I’m stuck in this house.
Watching the birds outside, I feel a little jealous.
So one day, when the woman isn’t looking, I sneak out through a door left ajar.
The outside air is so fresh! I’m excited.
The woman lives on the fifth floor of “Yu Hua Apartments.” There’s a big lawn downstairs—I want to roll on it!
I run down the stairs, but before I reach the bottom, I meet two human kids.
I recognize them—they’re the same ones who killed the mother cat on my street.
I puff up my fur and hiss.
“Meow!”
They recognize me too.
“Hey, this cat looks familiar,” one says.
They move closer, trapping me in a corner.
I’m ready to fight, but before I can, the woman arrives.
“What are you doing?” she shouts.
She scoops me up and holds me tight.
“What do you think you’re doing to my cat?” she yells.
The kids look scared and run away, calling her a “crazy lady.”
She sits on the stairs, pale and shaking, checking me all over.
I know I did something wrong. If I hadn’t sneaked out, she wouldn’t be so worried.
I rub my head against her hand to apologize.
I think the matter is over.
But that evening, someone bangs on the door.
The woman opens it, and I follow her.
Outside is an old woman with gray hair—the kids’ grandma.
She starts yelling.
“You crazy woman, I heard you yelled at my precious grandsons today!
“Apologize to them and let them kick your little beast a few times, or I’ll lie down at your door and make you pay!”
The woman stays quiet.
The old woman keeps yelling.
“You’re a disgrace! You couldn’t even take care of your own daughter. You’re a curse on this building.
“You lost your daughter and now you’re jealous of other people’s children. I curse you and your dead husband and daughter!”
The woman trembles, especially at the mention of her daughter.
I can’t stand it.
Life on the street taught me to fight back.
I get ready to scratch the old woman’s face.
But the woman stops me.
She gently pushes me inside and closes the door.
She goes outside and yells at the old woman.
“Who are you calling a disgrace? You’re the disgrace!
“You’re raising two little monsters who’ll grow up to be criminals!
“I’m warning you—stay away from me and my cat, or I’ll show you what crazy really means!”
The old woman and the kids leave.
The woman comes back inside, exhausted.
I rub against her legs.
“Meow, you’re so brave.”
She sits by the door, buries her face in her arms, and cries.
I’m worried. I nudge her.
“Meow meow, what’s wrong?”
She looks at me, tears streaming down her face.
She hugs me and cries into my fur.
She whispers,
“Nian Nian, Nian Nian, Mama misses you so much.”
Huh? I’m right here. Why is she missing me?
And she calls herself my mama.
I don’t understand—can humans be cat mamas? Can humans give birth to kittens?
Chapter 03
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