There was a scheme at Christmas 2011 that involved Hannah and Abby assisting Tom, who had drawn Ben's name in the family gift exchange, to get Ben a cat that would live at the home of Hannah and Abbys' parents.
Ben initially thought his gift was a bottle of whiskey and was cross that he might have to share it with the whole family as they followed him to the cold barn where Tom was storing the present. Ben was thrilled to to find a cat.
Ben promptly named her Flannery so as to deter Abby from ever naming their daughter Flannery, after Flannery O'Connor, should they be blessed with a daughter.
Flan came from a farm family who raised good mousers, but didn't have a rigorous taming program. Those sorts of programs are best administered by persons under the age of five who dress kittens and put them in strollers.
Flannery missed her brothers and sisters, was shy to be held, but loved to be fed and pet. Eventually she made best friends with Sully, a black dog who had recently lost his previous cat, who had also thought Sully was her best friend.
As the months passed, Flannery was cared for faithfully by the dad, who got her spayed. She sometimes disappeared, sometimes resisted Johnny-come-lately taming efforts, but she finally started to come in the house voluntarily if Sully was across the threshold. She began meeting the family just as they reached home at the end of their walks, scampering through the grass and balancing on top of the fence posts.
One night, Hannah and Abbys' dad sent them a text: "Hungry for companionship, Flannery walking a mile w/ us tonight. She wore down a little at the end but basically made the whole trip." And here she is, the little walking cat.
Ben initially thought his gift was a bottle of whiskey and was cross that he might have to share it with the whole family as they followed him to the cold barn where Tom was storing the present. Ben was thrilled to to find a cat.
Flan came from a farm family who raised good mousers, but didn't have a rigorous taming program. Those sorts of programs are best administered by persons under the age of five who dress kittens and put them in strollers.
Flannery missed her brothers and sisters, was shy to be held, but loved to be fed and pet. Eventually she made best friends with Sully, a black dog who had recently lost his previous cat, who had also thought Sully was her best friend.
As the months passed, Flannery was cared for faithfully by the dad, who got her spayed. She sometimes disappeared, sometimes resisted Johnny-come-lately taming efforts, but she finally started to come in the house voluntarily if Sully was across the threshold. She began meeting the family just as they reached home at the end of their walks, scampering through the grass and balancing on top of the fence posts.
One night, Hannah and Abbys' dad sent them a text: "Hungry for companionship, Flannery walking a mile w/ us tonight. She wore down a little at the end but basically made the whole trip." And here she is, the little walking cat.
7 comments:
What a sweet tale--I don't know that I have ever met a walking cat!
It was kind of crazy! I had to carry her the last 1/4 mile because it was getting dark and I was afraid she wouldn't find her way back. I believes that she thinks that she is a dog....
Flannery's grandmother (Lucy) used to go walking with me...must be genetic!
Skittish of people. Likes animals. Sounds like her namesake. A great story.
I'm slightly jealous! I wish my cat would walk with me! Anytime I put a harness on him he just flops to the ground...and won't move. Hah... That's great :) Love it!
Flannery is a name we also like for a daughter...but a cat is good too. :-)
When will this story come out as a children's book? My book shower has passed, but I'm sure Clark would still like to read the tale of Flannery, the cat who goes for walks.
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