'Flo'.

Get-together in the park

Inge Jessica Dijks

An imposing tomcat approaches me self-confidently in the park. I kneel down and greet him; he possesses a radiance that has nothing to do with lovability or sweetness. I have no urge whatsoever to pick him up nor to cuddle him. A very small plain signal within me tells me that he won’t tolerate that and I get an image of a cat scratching away without mercy. No floundering or meowing; just all claws, without any reservation. Power. Just like that.

I talk to him, but I do not know any more what I said. I admire him sincerely for his presence and his weight that I estimate to be more that 11 pounds. He is not that good-looking, a little bit too fat and his hind legs are comparatively a little bit small. But I sense he is the boss of the park, he reigns.

He circles around me but I conclude our conversation and continue my walk. I do not look back, but see him sharply before me. Suddenly I hear whining. I look around and see my shepherd dog looking dismayed at the cat from a little distance. The tom-cat finds himself relaxed and challenging next to our tennis ball. An obvious border is clearly visible around him. A circle with a circumference of at least 11 yards. My dog is not allowed to cross that border, so much is obvious.

To rule out that he nonetheless would take the wrong decision to retrieve his ball, I call him to lie down in the grass and wait for me. I walk to the tom-cat and tell him he is gorgeous and that the dog has no taste whatsoever for a contest. We all know the outcome beforehand, don’t we? I take the ball and again let him know of my admiration.

I look around a couple of times; not very sure if he will come after us to give my dog a lesson after all. But the cat stays where he is, proud and erect and does not look at my dog, but at me.

I feel honoured for recognizing my existence, for talking to me with his attention and for noticing and accepting my feelings of esteem.

Walking further with a – no longer sparkling – shepherd next to me I wonder if his ego would be offended. Getting bullied by a cat, nota bene, and your ball being retrieved by your mistress… Maybe he is burning with shame?

I want to comfort him but then I notice formulating other thoughts than words of consolation.

From my heart and out of admiration for his self-conscious motionlessness, a knowing arises. It is an honour to meet such an opponent. The only suitable reaction is to respect him (and if you like walk around him in an arch.)

It is honourable to step aside for such a one. It is honourable to know and to assess your own strength and that of your opponent at its true value. It is a joy to get together with someone like that.

There is none to be comforted, there is no loser and no victor. There is no struggle, but power to Be.

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