Memories of Tenten
First published in Tint Journal, March 10, 2024
1.
It was more than twenty years ago.
My encounter with Tenten happened by chance on the university campus where I taught in those days. She seemed to have lived in the international student house as an undocumented resident. Students must have fed her because her coat was shiny. She looked quite healthy and was friendly with humans. She freely walked in and out of the building, tailing students who opened and closed the doors.
One day, I visited a student there, and she followed me up to the third floor, waiting for me in front of the room until it was time for me to leave. When I opened the door, I found her just outside, upright in a sei-za sitting position, with a formal air not unlike an obedient child staying put while awaiting further instructions from her mother. Calmly, and without a sound, she looked up at me. I was deeply impressed by her. Then, I called my daughter to tell her that there was a cat following me and that her fur pattern was similar to that of Q-chan. My daughter responded immediately with pleas to bring the cat home…