“Nevermore what?” I can’t help but ask him.
“Nevermore Anything, duh,” he intones.
I don’t mind the hideous truths he imparts as long as he maintains the routine I rely on, that of sharing my bed every night and trying to finish me off every morning. He attacks me with claws, sometimes with teeth. It’s like living with a furry Ted Bundy.
“How ‘bout Nevermore Friskies?” I threaten, but Boo knows from experience that I’d never starve him.
“How ‘bout having your horrid nails clipped?”
Boo knows from experience that this threat is real, albeit only because Mack does the clipping. It’s one of Mack’s many pretend-husband tasks, and as annoying as it is (Boo’s large and cranky), it’s nothing compared to shoeing a horse.
Mack didn’t much cotton to Boo at first, and Boo so returned this antipathy that the tiniest hint that Mack was approaching made him fly like a bat out the window. As time went on, though, Mack started to treat Boo with a real respect and honest affection. Being insane, I took this to mean that some day Mack would also cave in to me, fall to his knees, and give me his heart. Some day, that is, while it still has a few working ventricles. Some day before we’re both wearing Depends.
“Nevermore,” says Boo when he hears me thinking this very thought.
And still I don’t kill him. How can I? He’s a warm, soft, vaguely male mammal who lets me touch him as much as I want. Or, rather, since as much as I want is probably five hundred hours uninterrupted, for as long as he can stand it, which is more like five minutes. At which point he does what any man would: keens like a banshee while trying his best to bite off my thoroughly wrongheaded head.
“Nevermore Anything, duh,” he intones.
I don’t mind the hideous truths he imparts as long as he maintains the routine I rely on, that of sharing my bed every night and trying to finish me off every morning. He attacks me with claws, sometimes with teeth. It’s like living with a furry Ted Bundy.
“How ‘bout Nevermore Friskies?” I threaten, but Boo knows from experience that I’d never starve him.
“How ‘bout having your horrid nails clipped?”
Boo knows from experience that this threat is real, albeit only because Mack does the clipping. It’s one of Mack’s many pretend-husband tasks, and as annoying as it is (Boo’s large and cranky), it’s nothing compared to shoeing a horse.
Mack didn’t much cotton to Boo at first, and Boo so returned this antipathy that the tiniest hint that Mack was approaching made him fly like a bat out the window. As time went on, though, Mack started to treat Boo with a real respect and honest affection. Being insane, I took this to mean that some day Mack would also cave in to me, fall to his knees, and give me his heart. Some day, that is, while it still has a few working ventricles. Some day before we’re both wearing Depends.
“Nevermore,” says Boo when he hears me thinking this very thought.
And still I don’t kill him. How can I? He’s a warm, soft, vaguely male mammal who lets me touch him as much as I want. Or, rather, since as much as I want is probably five hundred hours uninterrupted, for as long as he can stand it, which is more like five minutes. At which point he does what any man would: keens like a banshee while trying his best to bite off my thoroughly wrongheaded head.
Posts
This is too good.
ReplyDeleteJean,
ReplyDeleteI once wrote a poem about having sex with
Grendel..the medieval monster...it began.
" And
he climbs upon me...
gnashing his teeth..."
At this point I had to stop writing because I was laughing too hard.
Suffice is to say I have 3-10 year old cats, 1 peacock and a new golden retriever puppy.
When it comes to relationships, marital or otherwise, I much prefer the aforementioned company.
Nice to see you in print again.
Ringmezzo
I was holding my breath waiting for Pretend Husband No. 4, but started turning blue (and not the cool Nav'i blue), so pretended I didn't care about any of 'em and just checked in occasionally (hoping, I'll admit, that you'd run off with Mack). But jackpot! you're back, and you nailed it, Ms. G. That's my cat to a T (well, not the fridge part), & even tho' she's a galcat, it translates: If you can't be with the one you love, love the cat you're with, tra-la-la. xo
ReplyDeleteDear Ring and Rose,
ReplyDeleteI DO have sex with a medieval monster, I only wish I had it more often.
Meanwhile, I have Mr. Radley. A gal's gotta do what a gal's gotta do, eh what? Thanks so much for sticking with me.
As ever,
Ms. G
Dear Ms. Gonick,
ReplyDeleteAll you girls are the same! We try to treat you with love, respect and tenderness and you go running off with the first cool cat veering in off the blacktop, wearing his bad boy leathers (and fur) stinking of hot oil and steel (and fish) promising to treat you like something he stepped in, walking across the lawn.. and leave you high and dry, when you need him the most.. on some dark, rainy, moonless night of your soul........