I Fell in Love With “Bella” - Week 180

Sometimes, back then, I had a hatred for cats and dogs. I never liked them, even though most people do keep them as pets. I have never dreamed of having either of these as pets. Cats have one kind of sharp eye, and its eyes alone scared me to the brim.

Still, those days, when at night, some cats always cry at the back of my compound. Its cry is just like that of a newborn baby. This cry sometimes irritates me a lot. My mom, I don't know if it was a primitive way of thinking that I carried right from childhood, always says people do use cats to perform witchcraft. This was my greatest fear and why I hated cats. Although I only hate them, not to the extent of sending them away when they come closer,

My landlord's wife (we called her Mummy) bought a cat sometime four months ago. This made me avoid entering her house. I was so scared of the cat whenever I saw it coming and shining its lens. One day, my mom asked me to always play with the cat, and I love being with pets. I objected as I still fear cats anytime, any day, and anywhere.

My son was playing with a toy and was calling that toy “Bella”. The way he has been calling the name repeatedly got me some questions to ask from my son. I asked him, “Where did you get that name from?”

“Mummy's cat is named Bella”, my son replied.

This was when I knew the cat had been named.

Anytime anyone calls out the name, the cat must run after that person. Although it is always running away from outsiders,

My wife prepared beans two days ago and served them on a plate for Bella. I did not say anything because I have come to like cats.

Yesterday, the cats came to my veranda to sit. It sat for so long that I did not want to leave. My children came outside and called me “Bella”. I thought the cat would run after seeing my children, but it began to play with them. I was so surprised, but I was unable to capture their image until this morning when I saw the weekend prompt word.

Mummy said the cats have killed all the disturbing rats in her room, as rats always disturb our area a lot. Bella captured a rat in my present and rammed to where I do not know. What Bella did with the rat, I don't know, and I can't say.

I went closer to Bella today for the first time, and she did not run from me. I played with it for some time before leaving. It looks cute and beautiful. However, I was unable to look into its eyes, as I was always afraid of those eyes.

Cats are good pets to keep. They keep one company.

All images are taken be me with my phone