Hi. My name is Alfred. King Alfred. I’m a cat. I was born in Kiglia, Rwanda in 2009. I think it was some time during the summer. Something like that. But, my Moms doesn’t know. You know how parents can forget about some of the most important stuff that goes on in your life. But, what’s a cat suppose to do? Just accept it I guess.
So, how did I get my name? And my new home? Well, here goes:
Each time Moms goes to a new a country to work she gets a cat. A few months after arriving in Kigali, Moms told one of the project drivers that she really wanted a kitten. So, the driver wanting to please my Moms looked all over until he found my real cat mother – a beautiful slender white feline with a few black markings – who lived with a good friend of his. Moms came by with the driver one day to take a look at me and my brother. I didn’t give it much thought when I met her. She looked okay to me. But, I didn’t know she was a cat theif!
About a month later the two came back. I was scooped up and off I went with Moms and the driver. My brother and cat mother were left behind.
When I arrived at Mom’s house the place looked like a palace. But, I wanted my old house and family back. I wanted to go back home. I yowled. And yowled again. You guys know that sound cats make when they’re afraid and lonely? Yeah, it’s an awful sound. That’s the one I made.
“So, my little kitten. You’re going to be named Alfred. Just like Batman’s butler. Alright…?” Moms said to me gently, stroking me and trying to calm me down. She was talking to me while at the same time she was on the computer skype with her friend Mr. A.
“Well, if he’s a cat, Dee, you’ll have to treat him like a King,” Mr. A told my Moms on skype. I couldn’t believe they were talking about me. Who were they to name me? As far as I was concerned my plans were to return back home. This Dee woman would have to take me home immediately.
“TAKE ME HOME!!” I yowled.
“Now.. Alfred… er King Alfred, you have a new home now. You have to stay here. Just calm down.” Moms cooed.
But, I became frantic and began to yowl louder. I was stressing big time. My brow curled and Moms looked concerned. “Now, it’s time to go to bed, I’ll just put you here next to me under the covers so you won’t be afraid,” Moms promised.
YOWL… YOWL.. YOWL…!!
I wasn’t giving up. There was no way I would stay. I fell out of the bed and continued to cry the whole night. I don’t think Moms slept a wink the whole night. Well, that serves her right for taking me away from my family.
I thought the woman would come to her senses and take me back. But, Moms got up the next morning and told the cook about me. Then, she went off to work, leaving me behind scared and even more alone.
I was miserable. I mean What was this? Doesn’t a cat have any rights? Who was this woman to take me?! No, rip me away from my family and the only home I had ever known or wanted to know. I’d teach her.
Later that day, Moms came home and came into the bedroom to check on me. “King Alfred, what are you doing on top of the curtains? How am I ever going to get you down…??!”
That will teach her to steal cats. Yeah. That’s right. I climbed up the curtains and continued my yowling. I wanted to be returned immediately. I yowled the entire night! I yowled for 5 nights straight.
Finally – I saw that I was beginning to get through.
Moms began to panic… “Well, my little King. Maybe I was wrong for taking you away from your family. You really aren’t happy here. Are you? But, all I wanted to was to do was to give you all my love and devotion and make sure your little cat life was the best ever. But, I know this isn’t what you want. You really want your cat family. Don’t worry. I won’t keep you from your family. I’ll call the driver and take you back.”
What? This lady wants to give me her complete love and devotion? Just to make my little cat life heaven? Am I crazy or something? This sounds like a pretty good deal.
So, I rubbed my little cat face against my Moms cheek and told her, “Don’t take me back there. You’re my Moms now. My New Home is here. With you. And, I’m your little King who will always make you happy.”
And, folks, that is how I – the King – got my name… and a new home!
Share On
