The Best Gift Ever

by Mewsette

I thought I'd interview my human mom, because we talk together all the time and it would be easy. Also because, ummmm, there's nobody else around here to interview except my sisfur Phelicity. But she was mewing "interview" noises too, and batting her blue eyes at me and Mom almost like she does at boys. I thought fast. My mom isn't good at pleasing both of us at once, because she says one of us gets out of arm's reach, like across the room. If I cooperate with my sisfur later (who, me??), I get first dibs on Mom. If I don't, I gotta interview my sisfur, and I already know everything she thinks. Because she tells it. At great length. Thoughts are over. I jump up (well, sorta; I am 17 years old) on the couch by Mom and start a conversation like I always do. Myself: (between purrs and love-looks) "Mew like to get gifts, huh, Mom?" Mom: (rubbing my neck absentmindedly) "Mmm-hmmm." Myself: (knowing my mom is a person of few words because she's used to cats doing all the talking) "Well, what would mew say was the best gift mew efur received?" Mom: (kissing the top of my head absentmindedly) "You are, sweetheart." Myself: "Me? Myself, er.. I?" (This is not going well. If I write that, I'll sound vain, and everykitty knows I'm the most modest cat on earth.) "But I'm not a gift." Mom: (feeling my tummy fur for mats absentmindedly) "Yes, you are. Every day of your life is a gift to me, baby." Myself: (after some head bumps) "Thank mew. But somebody didn't giff me to mew like a present, right? In a box wiff a bow on? I mean like getting a present." Mom: (stroking my back absentmindedly) "Yes, somebody did. Your mama did, all those years ago. Your mama gave me the best gift I ever got. She gave me you." I don't think I was cut out to interview humans. Not my own, anyway. I just sat there with a tear in my eye, thinking about long life and deep love, and how nice it is to be a gift.