Amy Signs: A Mother, Her Daughter, and their Stories

21. Pets and Playmates

133 21 Pets and Playmates Amy My earliest memories include animals.When I was about three, Mother bought my brother and me a cream-colored rabbit for a pet. I expected the rabbit to play with a ball, but of course there is no way a rabbit can fetch a ball. Sometimes we were rough with the rabbit. I liked to carry the rabbit like a toy, and it often scratched me with its back claws. After several nasty scratches, Mother gave the rabbit to Teena’s parents, who raised rabbits. Now I had no pet. The next pet we had were goldfish.They were not my style of pet. I wanted a pet I could play with. After awhile the fish died, I suppose because I poured glue in the fish bowl. Anyway, once again no pet. Then we had a tropical fish tank. A child who came to visit us turned up the heater on the tank. My mother did not know this and all the fish were boiled. More dead fish, but at least it was not my fault. Later my parents decided to get a black puppy. John named the puppy Bobo, a word I could say. I played with Bobo, but got bored. We had Bobo for several weeks, but Mother was afraid I would hurt the puppy as I hugged it so hard or dropped it when I no longer wanted to hold it. She could not watch me and the puppy all the time, so Bobo was given to an older lady. Then Mother said, “No more pets!” Amy Signs Main Pgs 1-320.indd 133 6/27/2012 10:37:43 AM 134 Amy Signs ) This conversation took place in the kitchen. Of course I did not hear it, because I was in another room, but Mother told it to me later. She said one day when I was about four, my dad came home for lunch and asked her to come to the garage. He was waiting for her there, standing like Napoleon with one hand inside his coat. When he pulled out his hand, he held a kitten. He asked my mother, “Would Amy like this?”The cat was crying. Mother was not sure about another pet, but she knew I would love to have one. John of course, could hear the cat, and he was excited when dad brought it into the house. “A cat. Dad has a cat,” he cried. Mother said she told John to be quiet, that the cat was a surprise for Amy, but that was not necessary. I could not hear them. Amy with her beloved first Kitty, given to her by her father. Amy Signs Main Pgs 1-320.indd 134 6/27/2012 10:37:43 AM Pets and Playmates 135 I was in the living room watching TV and did not see my dad come into the room. I felt a thump, thump on the floor. I turned. My father had stomped his foot to get my attention. He kneeled and showed me a kitten.The cat was wet, because it was raining outside. Father told me he heard a cat meow when he threw boxes into the trash bin behind the grocery store and discovered the kitten. My mother was not excited about another pet, but I was so thrilled when I saw the most beautiful silver tabby kitten. I cuddled and cradled him like a sweet baby in my arms. The kitten was not supposed to stay with us long; my father only brought him home because the weather was wet and cold. John asked what I would name it, and I said,“Kitty.”I played with Kitty all that day. I loved him. He was my style of pet, one who could play and who loved to be held. Kitty never bit or scratched me, and if I dropped him, he always landed on his feet, not hurt. After a few days my parents decided that I could keep Kitty. I was so happy. He became mine. From that day, I have always had cats as pets. They are so fluffy and peaceful to look at when having a catnap or fun to watch and play with. I say, “Cats rule.” ) Most of the time I played with John in our house and yard. In our neighborhood were many children, but most of them were boys...