The Cat
A Tale of Disposal26 total reviews
Comment from Terry Broxson
Dang, Jay, I was Cat Daddy for over forty years! How do I rate a story that I do not like, too dang long, and brilliantly written? I give it a six because this is about writing! Exceptionally disturbing, long, and brilliant! Terry.
reply by the author on 18-Oct-2022
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Dang, Jay, I was Cat Daddy for over forty years! How do I rate a story that I do not like, too dang long, and brilliantly written? I give it a six because this is about writing! Exceptionally disturbing, long, and brilliant! Terry.
Comment Written 16-Oct-2022
reply by the author on 18-Oct-2022
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Looks like you found a way, Terry, LOL. I'll take it. Thanks so much for your input and the six stars. There are about 20 feral cats that use my yard as their meet 'n greet, then mate and suckle. These aren't the kind that cuddle and cover their poop with scented litter.
Jay
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Jay, brilliantly written! It occurred to me that Humpwhistle prides himself on his vocabulary, but he can not carry your waterbuck. Terry
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That's quite a compliment, but I don't know how accurate. Besides, the one thing I've never been able to do, that Lee, and Michael (Fleedleflump), do so effortlessly is to toss out the one-liners. Not always for gags and humor, but sometimes to take it to a deeper level. I admire the hell out of both those writers. But I will always hold your compliment close to my heart!
JS
Comment from GWHARGIS
I get scent activated migraines. Just imagining the smell of the dead cat sent me to the medicine cabinet for ibuprofen. Lol. I took from this biographical/slightly fiction story, a man who wanted to change how he looked at the world. To shed preconceived notions. He wanted to try and view even the most distasteful things in life with a new appreciation. You made me think. It's early on a Sunday. But I like a challenge. Lol. I really liked this, Jay. Now get back to your musical. I'm saving a six because I know it will deserve one. Gretchen
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reply by the author on 18-Oct-2022
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I get scent activated migraines. Just imagining the smell of the dead cat sent me to the medicine cabinet for ibuprofen. Lol. I took from this biographical/slightly fiction story, a man who wanted to change how he looked at the world. To shed preconceived notions. He wanted to try and view even the most distasteful things in life with a new appreciation. You made me think. It's early on a Sunday. But I like a challenge. Lol. I really liked this, Jay. Now get back to your musical. I'm saving a six because I know it will deserve one. Gretchen
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 16-Oct-2022
reply by the author on 18-Oct-2022
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OMG, I've never heard of scent-activated migraines. Everything's got a scent, right? Thanks for reading. I hope no description was enough to bring on a migraine!
Jay
Comment from Bill Schott
I am amazed and astounded, but not surprised, as I read this unique and totally absorbing story of your discovering, and eventually dealing with this dead cat. The isolation and personification of the cerebral mechanisms; the allusion to the lesson from the Hindu-inspired, Hermann Hesse story of Siddhartha and the Vishnu avatar, Govinda; and the utilitarian struggle to move a porch swing, all work together to expand this journey through the backyard into a modern epic.
There is no one else I would follow with a story like this, Jay. Every syllable of this tale is loaded with deeper meaning. I may not write today, in order to create a buffer between this treasure, and anything that I might do. Loved it!
reply by the author on 18-Oct-2022
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I am amazed and astounded, but not surprised, as I read this unique and totally absorbing story of your discovering, and eventually dealing with this dead cat. The isolation and personification of the cerebral mechanisms; the allusion to the lesson from the Hindu-inspired, Hermann Hesse story of Siddhartha and the Vishnu avatar, Govinda; and the utilitarian struggle to move a porch swing, all work together to expand this journey through the backyard into a modern epic.
There is no one else I would follow with a story like this, Jay. Every syllable of this tale is loaded with deeper meaning. I may not write today, in order to create a buffer between this treasure, and anything that I might do. Loved it!
Comment Written 16-Oct-2022
reply by the author on 18-Oct-2022
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Whoa! You've given me the best compliment anyone could on your take on my story. There were at least four separate scenes that all dovetailed into the main thesis, and each one tried to exert its independence in my mind. So my job was to convince each of the need for cooperation. I think, conservatively, that I spent at least 20 hours of writing time on it. Nothing comes easily to me. Again, thanks for making me feel that it does.
Jay
Comment from Michael Ludwinder
The writing is just terrific. I love how you take a moment of your arms loaded with groceries and describe this moment in such detail that it is wonderfully entertaining. But the entire story is well written and interesting. Terrific!
reply by the author on 18-Oct-2022
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The writing is just terrific. I love how you take a moment of your arms loaded with groceries and describe this moment in such detail that it is wonderfully entertaining. But the entire story is well written and interesting. Terrific!
Comment Written 16-Oct-2022
reply by the author on 18-Oct-2022
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Thank you so much, Michael. I'm glad you got through those couple of looooooong sentences. I tried and tried to find a place to slip in a period, but was unable.
Jay
Comment from karenina
This is brilliantly disturbing.
Disturbingly genius.
I am saddened.
Death saddens me.
This Madison Avenue distortion sells.
Because who, among us, want to consider the finer details of our decay?
Likewise, while I find comfort in spirituality--
I've been gobsmacked one too many times by some televangelist (or my Aunt Sadie) tatting lace around the shroud.
(Yes! Yes! The soul! But first this business of slipping from our flesh!)
The drought, the flies, the black widows, the fallen apricot limb....
Dear God, Jay. I'm barely touching the hem of this masterpiece.
I am thoughtfully pensive.
I am uncomfortable.
"I may have to do something. But give it a day. One day more..."
You said it!
Karenina
reply by the author on 16-Oct-2022
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This is brilliantly disturbing.
Disturbingly genius.
I am saddened.
Death saddens me.
This Madison Avenue distortion sells.
Because who, among us, want to consider the finer details of our decay?
Likewise, while I find comfort in spirituality--
I've been gobsmacked one too many times by some televangelist (or my Aunt Sadie) tatting lace around the shroud.
(Yes! Yes! The soul! But first this business of slipping from our flesh!)
The drought, the flies, the black widows, the fallen apricot limb....
Dear God, Jay. I'm barely touching the hem of this masterpiece.
I am thoughtfully pensive.
I am uncomfortable.
"I may have to do something. But give it a day. One day more..."
You said it!
Karenina
Comment Written 16-Oct-2022
reply by the author on 16-Oct-2022
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Yes it is disturbing, isn't it? Thank you for your kind words about it. I know it wasn't easy to read. I didn't like the "me" it portrayed very much. I want to hide behind the fictive part. Your six stars was very generous. I am beholden.
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Riveting...
Comment from Katherine M. (k-11)
I do not like this story in the least. I am giving it six stars because it is exquisitely written. A description of death in different forms, the cat, the dog, the garden, the encroaching death of the narrator. Not a word too many, nor a word out of place. But it is not a subject that I enjoyed seeing spread out before me in the least. Maybe it seems too close as I sit with my aching legs propped up in front of me waiting for the circulation to kick in in about an hour, hoping it will be a day where it doesn't do so too late. Kate xx
reply by the author on 16-Oct-2022
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I do not like this story in the least. I am giving it six stars because it is exquisitely written. A description of death in different forms, the cat, the dog, the garden, the encroaching death of the narrator. Not a word too many, nor a word out of place. But it is not a subject that I enjoyed seeing spread out before me in the least. Maybe it seems too close as I sit with my aching legs propped up in front of me waiting for the circulation to kick in in about an hour, hoping it will be a day where it doesn't do so too late. Kate xx
Comment Written 16-Oct-2022
reply by the author on 16-Oct-2022
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I both humbly thank you for your lovely words of encouragement (as well as the six stars) and apologize for the mood it put you in. I'm already half-dreading the reading responses (whether they report them in the review or not) of those here who truly love cats. I hope the information I put in the author's remarks was posted before you read the story. It explains the Fiction/Biography conundrum. I tagged it on later, perhaps after you finished reading The Cat.
Again, thanks and sorry ...
Jay
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No, I didn't see that bit in the notes. I was going to ask you, as I worried. I hoped the autobiography was just the cat. I do not want to have to worry about your heart... Anyway, for me you don't need to worry about my reaction to the cat, I am not a domestic animalophile. Kate xx
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Yes, I was in the hospital for four days for congestive heart failure. That was about 6 years ago. The pills seem to be doing their job.
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oh no, Jay. I am so sorry, and hope the pills will work for ever! So there was no fiction in here, just a bit of creative fact... Kate xx
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Well, the capitulation to the flies was a bit of a stretch. I hate flies.