Goodbye Rats...

By now, you are aware that I have a major rat problem in my house, so after much consideration I decided that I wanted to get a cat to solve my issue. There are many stray cats (and dogs) wandering around the hospital compound, so if I wasn’t choosy, I could easily get one. However, I was afraid that if I just chose any random cat, I would end up with a rabid animal infested with fleas storming my house (the way my luck has been going this year, I just can’t take the chance). I was explaining my issue with my friend, Kang’ethe, and he told me that he knew someone who would soon have a litter of kittens and he could get me one for free. Of course, I thought this was an excellent idea—free is always good. Well, I waited…and waited…and waited. Soon after, Kang’ethe went on a month leave and I was left cat-less. When he returned, I kindly said, “What up, Dude? Where’s my paka [cat]?” Well, he assured me that he would get one for me, so I decided that I needed to motivate him to follow through with his promise. Thus, it became my daily routine to find him and shout, “Where’s my paka?” I kind of gave up that he was ever going to get the cat for me, but I was determined to make him feel a little guilty by reminding him every day that I wanted my paka! A few days ago, I hear a knock at my door during the day, but since I have been doing night duty this week, I had been attempting to sleep and irritated that someone would dare knock on my door during day hours, while I was trying to get my beauty rest, so I ignored the knocks. Soon, they stopped, but not 2 mintues later, I hear Kang’ethe yelling my name at my window.

“UGH! What’s with these people,” I thought, “Take the stinking hint. I’m not welcoming visitors”. Of course, I didn’t actually say this. I grunted, “What?!”

He pleasantly said, “You’re sleeping at this hour? Really?”

I held back some profanity and retorted, “Uh, yEAh!! I’m on night duty.”

He said, “Let me in.”

“Um…I’m SLEEEEEEPING! What?! Do you have my paka for me?”

“ No. Just come on. Open your door; I miss you. Umepotea [you’re lost].”
My first thought was, “Okay that’s creepy.” However, I held back my retort and said, “fine, hurry up before I change my mind.”

I opened my door and waited for him, standing in my best ‘I’m not happy with you’ pose. All of a sudden Kang’ethe comes around the corner of my house carrying a burlap sack that was moving and making strange sounds!

“What is this?” I asked in shock.

“I told you I’d find you one.”

He opened the sack and dumped its contents onto my floor. To my surprise, out popped a little kitten, scared half to death by its new surroundings. I was so happy that I decided to forget that I was peeved for having been woken up.

The new kitten was scared at first, but after I gave it some milk, it decided that I was its mom. Now it never leaves me, which was very cute for the first 2 hours. Now, all it constantly bellows a forlorn meow, as though I haven’t just petted it five seconds ago. It also likes to walk where I walk. I mean , literally WALK where I’m walking, which causes me to stumble and nearly fall every 2 minutes. I wanted to call it an awesome Kiswahili name, but I couldn’t think of anything good. I referring to him as ‘mtoto’, which means ‘child’, and after a while that shortened to Tots (pronounced ‘totes’). I suppose the name will do for now. If anyone has any better suggestions, let me know and I’ll take your vote into consideration. Anyway, I hope this little guy calms down a little, otherwise, I think I may go a little nuts!!