A Very Special Event
Written
by Dr.Laxmi Iyer
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He
was called Scrif because he was very fond of hiding
inside scarves. A Somali brought all the way from
Australia, Scrif was all of one and half years old.
Bright, attentive and playful, he was everything
you would want in a cat. He could actually do tricks
- a feat that few other cats could do.
For
example, Scrif knew how to balance light toys on
his back and walk.
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Why!
He could even take the pet mouse - Hope on a short walk.
Sometimes, Boon, the budgie would also hitch a ride on Scrif's
back. Scrif loved it. He knew how to hold things in his
paws when they were thrown at him.He loved playing catch.
Like a squirrel, he would hold things between his paws and
then mew loudly.
Scrif
belonged to the Dohertys - Peter and Georgina and their
two kids - four year old Michelle and nine year old Jennifer.
The Dohertys had high hopes of Scrif being able to dance
well. Both his parents were very good at dancing and so
were all his siblings. They were just waiting for him to
grow a little older before teaching him how to dance.
He
had also learnt to perform cartwheels. It had happened quite
accidentally. Scrif had been alone in the hosue - watching
TV when he saw a monkey doing cartwheels. That same afternoon,
he tried flopping himself on his back and then quickly swinging
around just like the monkey had done. The first two times,
he just couldn't do a neat cartwheel - but the third time
he tried. It came out perfectly!
Scrif
dare not exhibit his new found ability to the Dohertys.
They were always discouraging him from doing any tricks
- even sitting with his paws up in the air. Both Georgina
and Peter worried that Scrif's bone and muscle development
was not yet complete and he might injure himself.
Scrif
had overheard the Dohertys speaking to one another that
they would start training him only after he turned two and
a half years. For Scrif, that was a long way in time.
Each
year in October, the Dohertys had a musical event at their
place. The highlight of their celebrations was always a
special music programme. Musicians from Tahiti and Christmas
Island, aborigine singers from Australia...were just some
of the special invitees in past events. This year too, a
plan was in place to invite a very disintguished gypsy dancer
and singer all the way from Romania. Her name was Katrina
Zella.
Both Peter and Georgina were mad music buffs. They were
crazy about music and dance. Being talented professionals
in the field themselves added to the eminence of the event.
The people who came in were always a mixed bunch - celebrities,
philanthropists, business people, artists, writers, poets,
dancers, journalists and music composers.
Scrif
knew all about the plans and was eagerly looking forward
to the event. He was excited. He jumped and pranced all
around the house - simply delighted with the idea of thinking
that he was going to be watching a famous gypsy singer and
dancer. That day, he wore a special costume - especially
brought for him all the way from Romania - a small embroidered
jacket with tinkling bells and lovely mirror work.
The
day of the big event dawned. It was expected to start at
6 pm and end by 6.45pm followed by cocktail and dinner.
Katrina was the life of that evening. She danced beautifully
to the tunes of a lilting melody. The audience watched spellbound.
It was 6.30 pm. Katrina stopped to take a break for a few
moments. As she turned to walk to the other end, she slipped
- spraining her ankle.
For
a few moments there was a stunned silence before Katrina
continued brightly - " I just need a few minutes. I
will be okay ". Absent mindedly she began to strum
the guitar - hoping she would really be able to dance that
evening.
Scrif
who had been watching the event curiously suddenly sprang
to the stage and started dancing - the way he had seen his
mum and elder brothers dance.
For
the remaining 15 minutes, Scrif stood dancing while Katrina
strummed the guitar and sang. Without meaning to, Scrif
had stolen the show that evening.
