In Love With Fred

My daughter had her first big love affair at the age of 11.   Naturally being so young we said it couldn’t possibly last but 10 years later it is still a real love match.

At first I really didn’t approve.   She told me it had all started in the local park on a bitterly cold winter’s day.   Fred had shared her ham sandwich and after a friendly half hour together had followed her home.

How could I approve?   Fred had a filthy grey coat, was obviously undernourished, unwashed and when was the last time his hair had felt a comb?

Even Fred’s voice was rough and unmodulated, how could my daughter do this to me?

I offered to buy her a pedigree Siamese from the pet shop but no, she wanted this alley cat.   Many tantrums later, my daughter went to sleep with a fat-stomached Fred blissfully stretched out beside her on the bed.

It was a long while before I wholly approved and by then Fred had blossomed into a beautiful longhaired tabby.   His harsh vice had become a low thunderous purr and his hair was combed every day.

He knew which side his bread was buttered.   Although remaining faithful to my daughter, he was sly enough to spend time in the kitchen with me, rubbing against my legs and accepting any titbits I offered.

Gradually I came round.   I also succumbed to his now more obvious charms.

I find now, all these years later, that I am really glad that Fred chose our home and stayed to be loved.

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