I’m going to give you a break from mediocre poems today and post a story of The early fifties when the US and USSR were sending monkeys and dogs into space in preparation for space flight. This is a story of one cat’s contribution with the help of a small boy’s vision.
King George Henry
Once upon a time in an era vaguely remembered lived a cat by the name George Henry. George Henry was the sort of feline that carried himself with the dignity and grace of his big jungle predator cousins. He was all white, except for a small irregular patch of dark fur between his ears the color of dirty motor oil. The spot made him look like he raised his head a little too high while walking under a greasy car. George Henry was the undisputed king of the feline world where he lived. He preferred fresh meat to cat food or table scraps. He hunted his vast territory nightly for mice, birds, small squirrels or whatever food source was available. He could sometimes be found on a sunny summer day, licking the remains of the latest delicacy off his paws while settling in for a lazy afternoon nap in the sun. Once in a while, George Henry’s hunt would end in frustration and he would station himself by the back door in the morning. He would sit erect with his tail curled around himself like the furred fringe on a kingly robe in his most regal pose. His only movement was an occasional slight twitch of the end of his otherwise relaxed tail. When the door opened he would look up as if to say, “You may feed me now, and a little water would be nice.” If he was extremely hungry, he might even allow his subject to scratch his head while he ate.
There were four reasons that cats came to George Henry’s domain. One, was food, two, feline pheromones, three, feline fornication (There always seemed to be kittens under foot), four was felonious former owners who thought their pets would find happiness in George Henry’s kingdom, so they dropped them off in the dark of night. However they arrived, he lost no time establishing his reign. Sometimes, in the stillness of a country night, the low guttural growl meow and hiss of the angry monarch could be heard as he fended off many a hapless challenger to his authority. Little did George Henry know that fame would be thrust upon him for a totally different accomplishment than being “top cat”.
Enter a nine-year-old boy in the middle of summer vacation, already bored and in prime circumstance for mischief. The boy was one of George Henry’s human subjects. As far as the cat was concerned, the boy was something to be tolerated, because he did occasionally provide food. In no way was the boy considered a threat to him or his kingdom. This worked to the boy’s advantage. He knew he would have to gain George Henry’s confidence if he were to carry out his freshly hatched experiment. George Henry would be the first cat to safely parachute from a two-story window! At least in this neighborhood.
This experiment was carried out in the time when the Americans and the Russians were in the middle of the cold war and Space race. Dogs and monkeys and who knows what animals were being shot into space. Mice and rats were used in experiments and (God Forbid) rabbits ended up as stew! A time before ARA (animal rights activists) and the Pet Protection Police were ever empowered. Still, since the statute of limitations of unauthorized cat experimentation is unknown, the boy shall remain anonymous. For reference he will be referred to as Danny.
Danny was fascinated with flight. He had had balsa wood gliders and kites and homemade parachutes tied to rocks that he threw unto the air. If he had the resources he would have made a glider or a parachute big enough for himself but, alas, in his tiny and impoverished world he would have to resign himself to being the engineer and inventor and let George Henry get all the glory!
A two-fold plan was put into action. First, he would have to gain the cat’s confidence. Second he would have to procure the materials to make the parachute. Every day Danny would seek out the cat and offer some meat morsel from the table. Every time, scratching the secret spot behind George Henry’s ears that rendered the cat helpless and caused him to temporarily loose his regal bearing. Soon the cat was actually seeking out the boy. Phase one of his plan was going very well! Now for the second phase.
He scoured the ragbag till he found a scrap of cotton shirt big enough to sew into a harness for the paratrooper. The next time he managed to get George Henry into one of his purring trances he carefully measured the harness. It would fit around the cat’s chest with holes strategically located so the front legs would fit through so as not to impede the safe landing. Four strings would fasten to the harness just above the shoulder blades and attach the yet to be determined parachute. They would be fastened in draw string fashion so the more the parachute pulled the tighter the harness would fit so George Henry couldn’t slip out in flight. He knew he would have to sew the harness himself. His mother might view the experiment as just throwing the cat out of an upstairs window! Besides, he could sew better than most girls his age. This fact was something he didn’t advertise because of his budding male ego. The ridicule inventors have to put up with in the name of progress! The only thing left to make was the parachute.
As he wondered through the house in thought, a scene from the movie on the black and white Zenith TV struck him. It was a Western and the cowboy hero wore a bandanna around his neck! That bandanna looked just like one of the handkerchiefs that his Dad got for Christmas along with a tie every year. Danny remembered seeing one that was still in the box unopened. It was white and had a fancy stitched border. It was absolutely huge for a hanky and felt like pure silk! Parachutes were made of silk! Danny briefly considered asking if he could use it but his dad would probably see his endeavor as just throwing a cat out of a two-story window instead of the noble experiment it was. Parents are like that. They don’t always recognize pure inspired genius. The next day while his father was at work Danny sneaked into Dad’s room opened the drawer the hanky was in, removed it, closed the box, and stuffed it in his pocket. Later in his room he took out the hanky and made small holes in the corners so the string could be tied. At last he was finished. All that remained was to get it on George Henry and try it!
He found the cat lounging in the sun in his usual spot. From the contented look on the cat’s face Danny didn’t know if the meat morsel would lull the cat into cooperation or not. Lately though, George Henry was getting fat and lazy. Danny hoped this complacency would work to his advantage. As he handed the cat the offering he slipped the harness around his midsection. The cat wasn’t sure about the vest but the boy assured him with a constant scratching of the ears. When the cat settled down Danny gathered the white parachute and matching cat in his arms and headed into the house. George Henry was getting a little unsettled. That sixth sense that served him well in his hunts was sending out a four-alarm alert. Danny kept rubbing his ears and reassuring the cat. They entered the stairway taking one creaky step at a time. George Henry was only allowed in the house on bitterly cold nights and never was he allowed upstairs. The cat’s curiosity was aroused. Danny wasted no time. He grabbed the parachute in the center with one hand and the cat under the belly with the other. Holding the parachute above the cat he thrust the cat, parachute and all, out the window. Maybe cats always land on all fours but that doesn’t mean they like to fly! George Henry swiped the air furiously trying to grab anything. The only “anything” around, was the boy’s arm. George Henry’s claws were everywhere! The boy’s arm turned into a tree limb and the cat was hanging on for dear life, all nine of them! The boy jerked his arm in instinctively. That just set the claws deeper! Realizing that, he thrust his arm out the window farther. He was now dangerously close to following the cat out the window. As he moved out, the cat released his grip to try to climb higher on the limb. Danny jerked his arm in, he held the cat by the parachute only. When he realized this he released! The cat floated gracefully to the ground, back feet first in a perfect, if unorthodox, two-point landing. The boy was ecstatic! Ignoring the scratches and puncture wounds in his arm, he bounded down the stairs and out the door to retrieve the cat! After all, one successful jump didn’t provide enough scientific data. He was thinking at least ten jumps, maybe more!
When he reached the spot where George Henry landed the cat was now where to be found! Careful searching found only a tattered harness and a slightly soiled parachute (handkerchief). George Henry had disappeared into the woods, his paratrooper days behind him. The boy picked up the parachute and dejectedly walked toward the house. Maybe it was for the best. His arm was beginning to hurt and he had a lot of explaining to do. Maybe he could just teach the dog to ride a bike!
Dan Fulton
12-17-03