Marylottie & Silver
Marylottie & Silver friends for good story & art by christian reiner Page 1
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Once or twice a week, my aunt Cecilia comes for a visit. Sometimes she brings homemade bread, other times mint jelly or monster carrots, it is always something exciting. This time she carried a large basket with a strong lid firmly shut. I was excited. I am only seven. I followed my aunt into the kitchen, where she would normally sit at the table by the window and drink a large cup of coffee and talk with my mother. She always goes home just before lunch. Page 3
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My mother was already putting on the kettle and I pretended to need a drink of milk, but I was really interested as to what was in my aunt s basket today. I did not want to ask. So I pretended not to notice too much. I left the kitchen and sat outside on the swing and drank my milk and waited. It probably was a cake in the basket or potato pancakes, which I liked as well. Then my mother called me into the kitchen. Page 5
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Mary! She sounded excited. Mary we have a big surprise for you! It sounded a bit like Santa Claus was here! I am coming, mum! I shouted and headed towards the kitchen, trying to walk slowly. My aunt smiled at me, but I could not tell by her face what was in the basket. I have a surprise aunt Cecilia sang in her loud theatrical voice. But you have to guess what it is. You know the rules, you have to guess what it is! Page 7
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You baked a cake, right? I guessed, but I knew it was wrong before I had said it. There are apples in the basket! But that was not it. Did you make me another dress? I was still way off the mark. Aunt Cecilia kept shaking here head from side to side. I did not have a clue. I felt like giving up. But then the basket shook a tiny little bit. Whatever it was, it was alive in there. Page 9
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It is a bird! Right! I yelled. You brought me a parrot, right! Thank you. I love you, auntie! I could not wait any longer. All right she said Let s see. She opened the lid and there was no parrot. I saw the most beautiful cat I have ever seen. It was not a kitten. He was so big that I was a little scared to touch him. Would you like to take care of a cat, Mary? You will have to look after him. She looked me straight in the eyes. Will you? Oh, yes! I said. Page 11
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Do you remember the family that used to live in the yellow house beside mine, Mary? She kept going. They moved to Boston. They asked if I would take care of the cat and I agreed. She drank some coffee. Your mother and I feel that the cat really would be happier here in your house, with you. His name is Silver she said. Meanwhile I put my hand into the basket and let the big cat sniff my fingers. Then he stretched, stood up, arched and jumped out of the basket. I tried to hold him, but he ran off. Page 13
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I wanted to hold the cat and hear him purr. So I got some milk from the fridge and put it on the floor. I called the cat, but Silver did not come. I went to look for him. I saw his tail disappear in the bathroom. I followed. I closed the door. Now it was just him and me. Maybe he wanted a bath. I turned on the water and added bubbles, but I got some scratches for all my efforts. I did not tell my mother. Page 15
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Before aunt Cecilia left that day, she put the basket into a corner of the kitchen. This should be his bed for a while she said in a soft voice. He is used to this basket. Aunt Cecilia smiled. Now don t forget that cats are very independent. She held me in a tight hug. It will take some time to become good friends. But I did not really listen. My scratches hurt and no Silver to be seen. I was not very happy, so I decided to bake a cake for my new friend. Page 17
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Silver would not know that I was a nice person and that I cared for him. It was a small cake. I made it with cream, milk, honey, cornflakes and three sardines. I had seen a cat on TV eat lots of little fish. When I lit the candle on the cake and tried to make him blow it out, he wiggled out of my arms and ran off and I did not find him all afternoon. Maybe we would never be friends. Maybe it was impossible. Maybe he was a mean cat. Page 19
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I made a paper hat for Silver the next day. It took me all morning to make. It was a pointy hat. It had golden buttons glued to the blue paper and a large feather stuck out on top. I put a rubber band on it, so that it would not fall off his head. But Silver did not want to wear it - much as I tried. He disappeared again and I threw away the hat. I was very upset. I went to my mother and cried big tears. It will take time she said. Don t try too hard. Page 21
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We have to keep him in the house for a few days aunt Cecilia had said. So he knows that this is home. But I can take him on a leash, mom I said. Maybe that is what he wants. But the cat did not like it at all. He slipped out of the rope and he jumped over the fence and vanished. I was feeling bad. He showed up two days later as if nothing was wrong. I was so happy that he came back. Page 23
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I thought that maybe Silver wanted to be more like me. So I emptied the doll house and took off the roof. I pushed him into the house, but he would not stay. He looked very upset and his tail swished. I tried him on a skate board - what a catastrophe! I tried to swing him in the hammock - not a good idea! Running through the sprinkler - no way - never! Maybe he did not know how to be friends. Page 25
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The next day I went bicycle riding with my dad. Silver stayed at home and slept all day, so my mother told me later. I fed him every day and looked after his water, I tried to brush him often and made sure his basket was always clean. But we did not really play. I spent a lot of time with Susie two doors down. She is my best friend. Soon summer would be over and there was so much to do before school started again. Page 27
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There was also the day when I painted pictures and then walked in the city park with mom. Then we spent the weekend on a river boat with friends of the family. The morning after that Sharon came over and we played in the garden all day. We saw a movie about a princess who sleeps a lot and a prince who was very nice. That night I got sick. I had a fever and mother called the doctor. They looked worried. I felt horrible. Dizzy. Page 29
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I dreamt of a very nasty monster with big teeth and a bad eye and I tried to get away from it. I was so afraid. But then Silver appeared in my dream and chased the monster away. Then Silver licked my face and I woke up. It was the middle of the night, Silver lay on my bed, curled up and quiet. So I fell asleep again. That is the first time he slept with me and I was much better in the morning. Page 31
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Now I talk to Silver all the time. He understands. He talks too, but very very very quietly. Silver sees things that I don t know. He lives in a world that often is a mystery to me. Sometimes sad thoughts get in the way, but when I start to play with him I feel much better. He does not worry. He is not mean and I trust him. That is why I whisper him all my secrets when he lays on my bed. We are friends for good. Page 33
Marylottie, the daughter of the author, was the true inspiration for this book. The family now lives with five cats and a dog in the town of Lake Country in the Okanagan valley of British Columbia. Christian Reiner was born in Germany. He studied art, photography and graphic design in his native country. Since then he has lived widely in Europe and North America. He has inspired many people to look at their daily lives with an attitude born of genuine generosity. As a teacher, artist, writer and lecturer he has learned to listen and to convey. All creatures are valuable partners in our daily earthly existence, which we experience for a time as travellers, watchers and as apprentices to life. Not masters - but real custodians. CR This book chronicles in a symbolic way the relationship between a young child and an adopted cat. Marylottie learns to understand the ways of a cat. While we are similar, animals are very different. Like two circles overlapping, there is an area of shared common ground in the centre and two regions of seemingly exclusive mystery. Young people, wise beyond their years, learn so much by taking care of animals - as they in turn seem to watch over us. Published March 12th, 2005 Lake Country, British Columbia, Canada C Christian Reiner, 2005 Printed in Canada