Keemone

 

Keemone, weird name, eh?

 

But, you know what?  It's fitting.

 

You see, I was, when I was very very little, left on the doorstep of Bide Awhile, a very respected animal shelter in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.  Unfortunately, none of the staff was in when I was left, so I had to live in a cardboard box all night.  It was cold and windy that night, and there was a torrential downpour.  The weather caused many issues with me, and thus helped form my name.

 

When the staff arrived the next day they heard me mewing in the bushes.  When they found me, the cardboard box had formed itself around me and I was sneezing so bad they didn't think I would make it, but--as they do--they took me in and tried to save me.

 

That was in October.  In December Bide Awhile had an open house.  Now, when they have an open house, they open everything, including the quarantine area; where I was.  Humans couldn't touch me, but that was okay, I was afraid of them; probably because of how they had treated me, by leaving me in that damned box.

 

I cowarded in the back of this very large cage that smelled like dog, watching from the safety of the shadows all these humans coming into the room to look at me and ignore me because of not being able to see or touch me.  Then Helen and Bill came into the room.

 

I don't know what it was, but when I saw them I got up and ran to the cage door, climbed the door and started to try to get their attention; it didn't take much effort on my part, cause I'm so cute.  But, they didn't pet me, left made a comment or two about me and left the room.  Moments later they came in with Darrold Gould, the kind and gental Executive Director of Bide Awhile.  Darrold looked at me, explained the circumstances of me becoming a resident of the place and said--I'll never forget this--"if it was anybody but you two, I would say no, but I know you, I trust that you will take care of him.  If he make it, I will let you adopt him."  A home, Darrold found me a home.

 

A couple of weeks later Helen and Bill returned with a carrier and I was taken away from Bide Awhile and brought to the Zebedees' home.  There I was introduced to Skye, Neko, Sakura and Kia.  I wasted no time running around the house, having fun and playing with Sakura and Kia.  Something seemed to be wrong with Skye, and I left him alone until he got use to me.  Neko was just cranky, he hissed at me for days, but he and I are now fast friends.

 

It took two years, but we finally understood why Skye was sad and quiet.  You see, he was old for a cat, 17 and a half, but he was wise.  Towards the end he told us that he was nearing the end of his life and asked that we continue to take care of Helen and Bill.  That we love them each day.

 

In March of 2013 Skye left us and we all mourned in our own way.  It was sad.

 

Then the Zebedees left one day and we saw them heading up the hill, towards Bide Awhile, and we thought, "does this mean that we're getting a new friend?"  YES!!!!

 

They came back a few weeks later (Jack was sick while at Bide Awhile and Darrold didn't want him to go in the usual period of time; they wanted to make sure Jack wouldn't bring any illness to the other Furry Zebedees), the brought home a shy, but very cute orange cat they had named Jack.

 

Try as I might, however, I couldn't get Jack to come out and play, so we left him alone until he was ready.  Three weeks later and he came out, and we finally had a chance to play.

 

I chase Jack from one end of the house to the other and turn around so Jack can chanse me back again.  Bill says that's the way Skye and Neko use to be.

 

Before I finish, and because the other cats explained the origin of their name, I guess I should do the same.  Keemone means rain in Ojibwe. With being left in that horrible box, on that rainy night, that is, indeed, an appropriate name for me.

 

We, the furry Zebedees, are all happy, well cared for, and protected from anyone who might want to do us harm or leave me in a cardboard box again.

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p.s. I am so important that I am the featured cat for August on the 2017 Bide Awhile Calendar, a yearly fundraiser they do.  I am so proud of myself.