A Cat Is For Life - A Short Story

I finished suckling and opened my eyes. We were lying on a soft white rug in front of some strange red and yellow crackling stuff that emitted a pleasant, but potentially dangerous, warmth. Over my mother and I reached the limbs of an ominous yet brightly decorated tree all greens and browns. My reflection in one of the large shiny baubles was curved and curious. I could see my pink nose, my short stubby whiskers, and my big, questioning green eyes. Under the tree were packages of all shapes and sizes, all wrapped up with string and colourful paper. I inspected these with interest but, compared to the soft warmth of my mother, the hard corners and edges offered little except the temptation of something to scratch my chin against. The air was filled with a variety of delicious smells I could not identify.

“Good morning love,” Mother smiled drowsily. “And how are you this fine Christmas Day?”

“Fine Momma,” I said. “Thank you for the milk.”

“You’re very welcome little one.”

I blinked lazily again at the bright, flickering tongues sending out heat that dried my eyes. “Momma, what’s that?”

“That’s fire my son,” Mother said. “It feels nice on a winter morn, doesn’t it? But you must never sniff it or you will burn your tiny nose.”

I sighed. “I have lots to learn.”

Mother grinned. “Yes, but there’s no rush. No rush at all, my young treasure. Take your time, enjoy life.” She got herself comfortable and made to drift off to sleep again.

I studied her. “Could you give me some … advice?”

Mother opened her eyes. “Advice?”

“Yes Momma,” I said. “It looks like a big, cold world out there. What should I do? How should I act? You are a cat of experience but it’s all new to me.”

“Well,” Mother purred. “I suppose I could give you some starters. First of all : Know and protect your boundaries.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ll understand when you’re older and venture outside to meet other cats.”

“Uh, okay. Protect my boundaries.”

“Yes. But don’t overdo it. Laze the day away whenever possible. A good work-life balance is critical. 80% napping, 20% work. No more.”

“Ok.”

Suddenly a huge pair of stocking-clad legs stepped over us. I jerked my head up to see they were attached to a plump, cooing giant carrying a tray. A shiver ran through me.

“It’s okay darling,” purred Mother. “That’s one of the Owners. They look after us. Bring them a small dead animal now and then as sacrifice.”

“Really?”

“Yes, they love it. I always like to pop one in her slipper. Her reaction is a delight.”

“I’ll try to remember.”

“Now, in the night-time, you must stalk restlessly around.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s our way. Also it helps expend your extra energy in order for you to nap efficiently during the day.”

“Okay.”

“Oh, and never smile.”

“Never?”

“Ever.  And never apologise.”

“What if I make a mistake?”

“Always act like you meant it, my love. You must keep your feline pride intact. In Egypt we are gods, remember. Remain aloof.”

“I’ll try.”
“Another important one is that pingpong balls are spawn of Satan and must be chased to the ends of the earth.”

“Pingpong?”

“Yes. Little round white plastic orbs. Sometimes they will try to trick you by playing dead, but if you bat them with a paw off they will run again. Mark my words, little angel.”

“I shall … keep an eye out.”

“And sometimes, after a nice bath, you may feel the urge to cough up hair. There is absolutely no shame in this. ‘A fur-ball on the carpet is better than in the small intestine,’ my mother always told me.”

“What else did she tell you?”

“She often said, ‘Lap - don’t slurp.’

I gazed at her in bafflement.

“‘Sit patiently,’ she also said. ‘Look at a door and it shall be opened unto you.’ Ah, I miss her.”

I snuggled in to Mother. “Was she a good cat?”

“Yes, she was. She gave me the gift of love, and I pass that on to you.”

“And what about your father? Did he give you any advice?

“I didn’t know my father much, but I do remember one thing he used to say. ‘Remove your head you may not can, if you stick it somewhere under your whisker span.’

“That rhymes.”

“Yes, but it doesn’t quite scan. He wasn’t much of a poet your grampa.”

“It’s a lot to take in.”

“There’s plenty of time for learning about life my love.” Mother closed her eyes and stretched.

The packages under the tree again caught my attention. “And Momma, what are those?”

Mother didn’t bother to open her eyes this time. “They’re presents. The Owners and their family give them to each other at this time of year to show they love them. Just like I give you these words of cat wisdom to you, because I love you.”

A lump formed in my throat and tears prickled my eyes.

Mother opened her lids. “What’s the matter?”

“I don’t have a present for you,” I whimpered.

“Oh my love,” Mother said, hugging me close. “You are the best gift for which any cat could ask.”

© Chris R Young December 2019

A Nice Message

Just received this nice message from author L. D. Wallace:

"I've just finished  'The Old Mice Killer' and all I can say is WOW! 

I loved it. Fab fun. Awesome. It's brilliantly quirky and excellently written. It's a mega hit! Highly addictive and I can't wait to read the next one."

Open Letter To Theresa May

It's totally cool to write letters to the Prime Minister

27^thMarch 2019

Dear Mrs May,

Thank you for the hard work and efforts you've put in to honour the results of the 2016 EU Referendum, in which I was one of the 17,410,742 people who voted Leave.

At that time I thought it would be better for the UK to have more control over its destiny, but I have to confess that I'm neither an economist nor very smart. I didn't clearly understand the ramifications of Brexit and my optimism and positivity often lead me to make unrealistic and in hindsight not very good decisions.

For example at the time I didn't realise the problems that would arise regarding the border between Northern Ireland and Eire. Nor did I expect so many huge companies to be forced to leave the UK due to the imposing of enormous tax duties. The chlorination of chicken offered on a plate by the US is similarly not very attractive. A lot of other EU rules regarding the environment are actually pretty good and I'd hate to see them be at risk after we leave.

In summary a lot of things have come to light since the referendum that weren't clear then, and we're all a lot better informed. That's why I'd like to say that I'm sorry, I've changed my mind and believe a second referendum is the only way forward.

Yours sincerely,

Chris Young

The Deputation (1)

Below is more or less what I read out at a West Lothian Council Executive meeting (when a member of the public does it they need to request a 'deputation') at Livingston Civic Centre this morning about the transfer of Carmondean Library to the Ability Centre building across the road.

Carmondean Library, Livingston North

Good morning, and thank you for the opportunity to speak before the council this morning. Just to introduce myself, my name is Chris Young, I'm a member of West Lothian Writers and the Federation of Scottish Writers and I love libraries. 

I'm originally from East Kilbride but have lived in or near Livingston for the past 7 years. I've been writing since I was 17, and spent many happy hours in the E.K. Central Library lost in books or studying for my highers thanks to which I was able to go on to study at St Andrews and gain a degree. I firmly believe that having a study area away from home where I could concentrate and have every reference at my fingertips helped me pass my exams.

When I lived in Japan in a suburb of Tokyo called Machida, the library there had a great selection of English books, and it was these which helped me stay out there for so long. Not only reading Science Fiction by Philip K Dick, but also the English translations of Japanese classics like 'I am a Cat' by Natsumi Soseki.

While in Japan and researching the internet where to come back to with my family in 2012 I remember zooming in on Carmondean via Google maps and being very happy to find a location that had a supermarket, a train station, a kindergarten, a health centre, a library and a pub all in close proximity. Saturday was Dad day and I took my son to the library, where we enjoyed the books, and then the cafe, before going home. I knew immediately that Carmondean Library was a very valuable resource for children and adults. It seemed well stocked with thousands of books that would take several years to get through. It had plenty of space, study materials, computers and study rooms for when I tutored students. It even had computers for kids and a wooden train for them to climb on. The staff were helpful and friendly. And it was quiet.

These days we are suffering from a 'Screen Epidemic'. It's a major challenge for parents to get their children away from games, movies and social media. It has actually been shown in a study that too much screen time can have an adverse effects on children's exam results. Whereas other studies have shown that those who read fiction actually live longer than those who don't. Having Carmondean Library reduced and hidden away would be another blow for parents trying to fight screen addiction.

A good library, like Carmondean, is worth its weight in gold, because each book is like buried treasure waiting to be discovered. 

So libraries should be protected, like parks, museums, green belts and forests. A good library is a book sanctuary, a safe place for troubled minds to escape their daily stresses. The link between mental health and physical health has been well documented and good libraries provide for this. A walk there prevents a plethora of ills.

As an English language teacher I also have an interest in child literacy. In Japan I was teaching young people from the age of three upwards, and one of the challenges was familiarising them with these alien shapes that we like to call 'the alphabet' and how they relate to sounds. 

Libraries are educational through fun and creativity. When I returned to Scotland I often got requests from parents to help coach their children – usually people from overseas, but occasionally a Scottish family would find that their child was struggling with English and ask me to help. That's when I realised that some young people in Scotland have a problem with literacy. And the best answer I could give them is reading for enjoyment. 

Mark Twain dug libraries

And now to the subject of budget cuts. I know times are hard and ways have to be found to save money. Have the following measures been considered?

Putting in a lower ceiling to reduce heating bills.

Installing solar panels on the south facing roof to reduce bills

Charging more for late returns.

Renting out DVDs, Blu Rays, Cds, Games, Audio books

Advertising on billboards on the outer walls

Appealing to the public to raise funds to keep the library open

Volunteers

Donation Book clubs, Writing clubs

Lawrence Banks who I met through my Facebook page 'Save Carmondean Library,' had this to say: “This is a valuable local facility and is a central location. This library is essential and should be kept open as it allows locals to read good books and assists children when students are preparing for exams. Removing this facility would disenfranchise local students whose life chances would be lessened by renoving Carmondean Library. Keep Carmondean Library open.”

So to summarise then I just wanted to let you know that Lawrence and I at least feel that Carmondean Library ought to be preserved and I don't think we're the only ones. The local people have their lives enriched by its proximity, like a park or museum. If it's tucked away it'll be out of sight out of mind. If it's not as good as it was, fewer people will avail it of its services. Reading should be celebrated. Yes, hospitals, fire stations and police services are important, of course they are, but so are adventures of the human spirit. Affairs of the heart. Characters that teach us persistence over adversity. Real life inspiring autobiographies. If the library is reduced, diminished, so will the rainbow colours of Carmondean. So will the light of the smiles on adults and children's faces. If Carmondean Library is sold off to become a McDonalds or a Starbucks, the unique culture of the area will sadly suffer.

So I'd like to request more time to do a thorough public consultation with an online petition, large boards in the entranceway of Carmondean Library notifying the public of the situation with a comments box, flyering and street surveys, and to present the findings at the next meeting.

I'd like to finish with some quotes:

“A library is a place where you can lose your innocence without losing your virginity.” 
― Germaine Greer

“Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation.” 
― Walter Cronkite

“I don't believe in colleges and universities. I believe in libraries because most students don't have any money. When I graduated from high school, it was during the Depression and we had no money. I couldn't go to college, so I went to the library three days a week for 10 years.” 
― Ray Bradbury

“In a good bookroom you feel in some mysterious way that you are absorbing the wisdom contained in all the books through your skin, without even opening them.” 
― Mark Twain

Thank you.

Saving Carmondean Library

Had a nice meeting at BNI TGI in the Edinburgh Marriott after which rushed back to Dobbies, Livingston to begin some video editing, when at the back of nine I saw on the Save Our Ability Centre - West Lothian FB Page there was a meeting about the proposed squeezed relocation of Carmondean Library into the Ability Centre building, at 9:30am in Livi Civic Centre. 

Typical, I thought. Having the meeting just when I'm at BNI TGI and can't attend. Then I looked at my watch. It was 9:10am. Oh. I can attend.

Immediately discarded my half drunk pot of tea and jumped in the car, parked it up at Howden Park and legged it down the hill to the Civic Centre with loads of great arguments I intended to put forward for how important libraries are (student literacy levels, social interaction, promoting and using imagination and creativity) and why Carmondean Library is perfect where it is (nice and central, next to supermarket, health centre and park) and should be protected, invested in, expanded even (more books, audio books, DVDs, book clubs, writing classes) - not crammed into a building and shuffled off out of sight.

I jogged breathlessly into the Civic Centre only 10 minutes after the meeting started, signed in and crept into the public gallery unsure whether I could/should/wanted to say something, and/or whether I should blurt something out even if I wasn't allowed, while simultaneously shaking my fist or some such. 

After a nice chap confirmed to me the public weren't actually permitted to comment, I resigned myself to sitting in the public gallery between someone who bore all the resemblances to being a reporter from my days doing work experience at the EK News, and two other people sitting up the back. 

The Save Carmondean Library issue was the last on the agenda. It turned out the nice guy who who told me I couldn't comment was the Acting head of Housing, Customer and Building Services who seemed to be leading the charge to move Carmondean Library into the Ability Centre (push pull Jaws effect here) and 'decant' the staff and users of the Ability Centre into Deans Community High School for ten months while the renovations took place. 

According to he and the Acting Head of Social Policy the feedback that they had received about the proposal to cram Carmondean Library and Ability Centre into one building was nothing but positive. Everybody they had spoken to was over the moon about the move. People were tripping over themselves to spill adulations and praise upon them like pearls.

But who have they talked to? Well, not me. And they don't seem to have heard of Facebook in general or the 'Save The Ability Centre' page or 'Save Carmondean Library' pages in particular.

After cramming my fist in my mouth in an effort to not blurt out something untoward, the meeting drew to a close and I had a chat with the other two good people in the gallery, who it turns out were to be my allies in this fight, and I look forward to working with them in the hope that we can bring this to light, reach the public and find out whether it really is a necessary and popular move, and if not, what else can be done instead.

It's just a shame a public consultation (not to be confused with 'engagement') was carried out before all of these plans were put in motion rather than in the coming months just before they are finalised.

Then if/when we win all their work that we have paid for will not have been in vain.