The cat takes a few steps in my direction. I reach my hand towards it, and it instantly retreats back into the shadowy alley on the other side of the street.
I don't try talking it out – I always feel stupid talking to animals. I'm afraid someone other than the animal will hear me and, either not seeing the animal or not realizing that I'm talking to it, think I've gone completely nuts. Besides, what would I say? Here kitty kitty?
So I just sit here on the cool stone of my aunt's front stoop, shaded by the wall of her house. You might think that because the cat is so dark, I wouldn't be able to see it when it's in the shadows, but I can. It's darker than shadow, and stands out like a patch of black velvet on black linen. It's one eye glows golden-green. I've heard you're not supposed to stare at animals, because they'll take it as a sign of aggression, so I let my gaze wander around the dark old buildings, crammed so tight that the places that should be streets are more like alleys, and the alleys... well, I guess that's why the cat likes it here. Humans don't fit, so it's like it has its own private road system. There must be other cats, too, but this one-eyed black one is the only one I've met.
The whole village feels like it has been compressed, as though someone were trying to fit a big town into a small area and didn't want to leave anything out. Looking up, the buildings lean towards each other, practically blotting out the sky. All the heat and smells that usually accompany streets are stuck in the tunnel that is the street, unable to ventilate. I've never liked coming here, and usually try to come up with an excuse not to visit my aunt, but this time I had to come.
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creepy... a floral uprising. plants that imbibe the age of humans. there were a lot of interesting threads on this story. in fact, I found the ending a bit surprising, expecting it to go on. how did you feel about the ending when you wrote it?
ReplyDeleteone thing I felt about the ending was that it had to come soon, because I was approaching my deadline... ahem, but other thing was that I guess I felt like the forest represents nature rising up against suppression. the protagonist is disturbed by the anger of nature, but doesn't want to deal with it. instead, she retreats back to a place that is safe from it -- as many people are disturbed by environmental issues, but do nothing about them other than try to ignore them.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if that makes any sense, but it's what I thought of the ending. what did you think of it?
my reaction was disappointment in the protagonist. I suppose this is appropriate. I wanted her to do something, but what could she do? so she just retreated behind the wall.
ReplyDeleteMy disappointment with her lack of action, is echoed in my frustration in my own lacking ability to do anything about the myriad of crisis, both environmental and humanitarian I read about every day. What would have happened if she cut the infant loose ind took her (him?) with her? She would be a different character, this would be a completely different story... Would I... Could I do that?
ReplyDeleteProvocative story...