Your Stories: Kitty Of Two Tongues

Oh-oh! I stared at the cat carrier, as my newly acquired German shelter cat cried. “She doesn’t know any English!”

A day later she was begging at my feet. “Nein!” I said.

She walked away and our bilingual friendship was launched.

I named her Silver both for her silver tabby coloring and for Silvester, New Year’s Eve there in Germany. 

Over the months little phrases passed between us — nach hause (go home), liebe Katze, das war’s (enough) and others.

When I returned to the United States, Thomi, an old, feisty American stray joined us. No German for him! Silver learned English.

Now at night when she snuggles close, I say, “Gute Nacht, Silver. You’re a good nightwatch.”

Willy Van Krieken, Walla Walla