This started as a promise to tell a story. It became an obsession. I simply must finish this story that spans the life of Bobby, who lived up to a ripe old age of about 16, I think. So Amy Lee, Stephanie, Crispin and Abby, thank you – as I introduce you to your great great grandmother, I walked down Memory Lane  in an excited, childlike manner.

I hope the Parkers and the Ratjes, with young children, will also enjoy this.

CHAPTER 4: AND KITTIE MAKES 3 (BOBBY became a lifetime mother to……………a cat!!!

The mother and daughter continued giving births at the same time over the next few years, at times  by a difference of a couple of days. I am almost sure that the following incident happened the very first time they became mothers together.

My mother came home one night quite late. She was playing mahjong at a neighbor’s.  Most of us, myself included, were asleep. Suddenly, we were woken up by a commotion. Rushing out of the rooms, we saw mother holding one tiny kitten in one hand, and a newborn pup in another, while scolding Bobby and Maria quite loudly “If anything happens to this kitten, I will take your puppies away!”

She then told us she was given two kittens by a neighbor. Thinking that Bobby and Maria could nurse them as they were nursing their new litters, she took the kittens and without saying anything, put one of them with Maria’s 5 pups. Both had always disliked cats, chasing them away whenever they came near the house. This little one was too near for comfort and Maria turned violent. And the poor kitten was sent off to Heaven. Hence the strong message my mother was delivering to the two of them. But they were dogs, how would they understand?

But they did! They actually did! The surviving Kittie (this name stuck) started suckling on Bobby who, eager to please the mistress of the house even nudged Kittie closer and started to clean her by licking her from head to tail. I was relieved. And amazed. I just couldn’t believe my eyes, had never seen anything like this in my life.  After a few minutes, mother moved Kittie to Maria and my heart was in my mouth. While she did not fawn over Kittie like Bobby did, she allowed her to suckle. That was good enough for now.

We went back to sleep but I sneaked out a few times to make sure Kittie had not joined her sibling in Heaven. She did not.

They continued to bond and over the next few years, I witnessed the strangest things that ever happened in my life.

   1)Maria was more of a sister to Kittie than a mother. Whilst she tolerated Kittie, and continued to nurse her occasionally, she would not hesitate to snap back if Kittie cross the line – like biting her  tail too hard when they were playing together. Bobby, on the other hand, was the indulgent mother.

2) Woe betide any dog which tried to attack Kittie, and they tried, chasing her when she   ventured up the hills on her own. Bobby and Maria, sensing that their baby/sibling was in trouble, raced to her rescue. I witnessed one near disaster – two huge dogs chased Kittie all the way home, and even had the audacity to go into our very backyard. Bobby and Maria dashed out, and I saw them in a different light – they were fighters, they were heroes, and threw themselves between cat and dogs – ready to be injured as Kittie was their responsibility – they were the protector. They attacked so ferociously, the two big dogs never had a chance, and ran off with their legs between their tails.

THIS PHOTO MUST BE TAKEN AROUND 1968 WHEN I WAS 14? MY NIECE, SWEE KHUAN, MOTHER OF THE VISVANANDAS KIDS, WATCHING.

Will add more photos later.

      3) Kittie became a mother, and like most cats, she would move her litter every few days in search of a safer please, usually up in the false ceiling. But, in between suckling her own litter, she would take time off to suckle on either Bobby or Maria, more the former. This, even if they had no milk as it was not breeding season. Maria would only take so much, and when  Kittie persisted, she would just get up and walk away. But the indulgent Bobby would allow Kittie to suckle on her as frequently and as long as she wanted. It was a funny sight, seeing a big tabby (Kittie grew quite large) suckling on a dog.