A cat named Frog
Written by Dr.Laxmi Iyer

His name was Frog. What a strange name for a cat. Nobody exactly knew why he was called Frog. He was the library cat. Every body had called him Frog ever since his baby days. However, there was nothing froggish about him. He was a rather, attractive and pleasant looking cat. A mixed breed, he had a little bit of Korat blood in him. There was a story that Frog was fond of chasing frogs in the garden when he was a kitten. That's how he had got the name. Frog was a library cat in a small old fashioned library town in New Mexico - a place where they still used red bricks for their roofs.

There were not more than 300 listed library cats in the US. He was a listed library cat. He knew about it and was very proud of having this distinction.

Frog's routine was more typical than that of many cats. He would wake up early in the morning each day. He would then walk over to the library cat shelter where all the stray cats were fed. He would finish his breakfast and then walk to the library.

Then he would leap into the library through the window. One window was always left open for him. There was a small rug for him to keep himself warm. He would then take an early morning siesta till nine. That was the hour the library opened.

He would greet the senior librarian and junior librarians in two different ways so that each of them would feel special. He was an expert at human psychology. If a cat could get a doctorate in human psychology, he was one cat perfectly qualified to receive the honour. Frog had learnt to be very silent. The library rules had required that pin-drop silence be maintained.

Frog was not a manipulative cat. Nor was he a mischeivious cat. He was just a smart cat who had learnt to adapt to the library environment.

By nine thirty, Frog would be ready to do his bit for the library. He would position himself in the most central part of the main hall. From there like a policeman, he would throw a sweeping gaze across the entire room.

If any one dropped a book, was talking loudly or munching popcorn or wafers...Frog would be there hovering near the table. Then, he would mew loudly...exactly 3 times. That was how the librarians were alerted to such happenings.

This was especially unnerving to new visitors who often got so flustered and shocked....at the thought of being caught by a cat. People had learnt to be wary of Frog. They knew that half sleepy Frog was more alert than both librarians put together.

From time to time, he would look in different directions. He had seen people being unnerved by him.

Sometimes, he would see people shifting the books from the original section and then moving to place it in another spot. One look at him and then they would move back and replace the book in its original place. It was like he knew what they were up to.

At other times, when the library was nearly empty, many had been the times when he had seen young student romantics think of exchanging a few quiet moments. Their gaze would drift towards Frog.

He would give them the special frosted, glassy, fixed look…that for some reason or other often reminded them of their folks at home. They would get up and go or get absorbed in their exam preparation work.

One day, late in the night when Frog was fast asleep in the library…suddenly all the lights went out. There was normally a little night lamp that was always left on for him.

It was one of those chilly, winter nights when you simply don't feel like leaving the comforts of your snuggy bed. Frog didn't either. Suddenly, he heard a swoosh....and then a thud. Frog shivered. He was scared. He wondered who it could be to come into the library at such an unearthly hour.

In the darkness, he could clearly see a shadowy outline. He sat perfectly still guided by his instincts. He was surprised. The dark shadow was also perfectly still. He didn't know when he dropped off to sleep.

When he woke up, it was morning. He saw that the dark form was a huge, white rabbit. The rabbit was just a little smaller than him. His huge, white teeth was so long...they almost looked like tusks.

Both rabbit and cat looked at each other fearfully. Then Frog stretched himself. He had a few uneaten pieces of the previous day's snacks left over. He picked them up and dropped them near the rabbit.

Frog had made up his mind to be a friend to the rabbit.