All You Need is Love

My little Caillou fan has decided to rename the cat. She is now known as Gilbert. Unfortunately, Bagheera doesn't understand her name has been changed and stubbornly refuses to respond to plaintive cries of, "Gih-boot! Giiiih-boot!" Not that the cat ever responded to her real name. She really dislikes children and as far as she is concerned we have ruined her life introducing these two aliens into the house. She avoids them ardently and runs away whenever the toddler gets too close. It’s funny, because the toddler adores the cat and chases her around the house trying to persuade her to play.

A few nights ago, after being put to bed, the toddler popped back out (of course) and started calling to the cat. There she was, head peeking around the bedroom door, lovingly crying out, “Geeeera! Geeeeeeeeeeera!” (This was before the cat was renamed.) It took me forever to persuade the kidlet that the cat wasn't lost or hurt, she just didn't want to come.

Poor cat. She won’t be able to run away for ever. Sooner or later she’s going to have to let herself be loved.