Yesterday Heather, Michael and myself went on a walk today down the road. Heather needed to get out of the house (as she is on ‘house arrest for the next two months after surgery) and we had heard one of our students, who lives across the main road, had acquired some new kittens. We also wanted ice cream and the sunset was beautiful. How could we not take a walk?
As Heather and I reached the end of our driveway our cats Jatlad and Jalam (Clever and Shark) came bounding after us in a panic. Two little black and white blurs flying at us through green grass. They have some separation anxiety since they were left here alone for two weeks while Heather was in Bangkok for surgery and I stayed with friends. They kept a nervous and watchful pace the whole way down the road, never letting us out of their sight. Cute co-dependent little things.
At the end of the road Heather and I realized these little bozos were going to follow us across the main road full of whizzing pick up trucks and zooming motorbikes. We have no faith in their decision making skills. I’ve never encountered cats quite like them. Michael caught up with us and agreed to babysit as Heather and I took off in search of the ice cream.
After purchasing our sweets and stopping by Ayes house to marvel at the kittens (who were so tiny, they couldn’t even get their eyes open) and doing our best to keep up with her mothers rapid fire Thai, we headed back down the road towards Michael. One the way we passed this little old lady I have seen around. She is gray haired and stooped almost in half. She may be about three and a half feet off the ground. We smiled hello and drew level with Michael.
“Want to hear something funny?” he asked.
There is a temple at the end of our street along with a meeting house and creek. Michael had been taking photos when he realized one of our cats had disappeared. He looked up and saw the old lady making off down the road with Jatlad, who dangled between her clutched hands. She looked over her shoulder at Michael with a mischievous gleam in her eye.
“P Ka anan meow khong pom- khun bai nii kha?” (“Ma’am- that is my cat. Where are you going”) he asked.
In response, she stopped walking and moved to the right towards the doorway to the temple grounds. Looking back once again to Michael, she tossed Jatlad head over foot, through the door. Michael heard a disgruntled squeak from Jatlad and then the sounds of something much louder. Dogs growling. Running past the lady as she shuffled quickly back towards the main road, Jalam keeping pace with him, Michael went into the grounds and rescued poor confused Jatlad.
With Cats
Without Cats
Where's Jatlad?
On the walk home Jatlad froze at nearly ever bush and sound. When our gate to our driveway came into view he took off at a sprint. Leaping over the entrance way, he turned and settled down watching us finish the rest of the walk without him.
Thanks to Michael Colletto for these beautiful pictures
