Zipper spent his childhood in the back country of Montana; wide open spaces to explore and have fun. A loving family that didn't restrict his every whim. This freedom set the pattern of his personality.

Then Zipper was brought to a home in a quiet suburb. All new country to explore. And explore he did. He obeyed no bounds or restrictions. He spent a lot of time in the big apple tree chasing squirrels and birds and eating the blossoms.

When he would catch a bird, he would bring it in the house and let it go. Then he would have a grand time chasing it. Sometimes Mom was able to catch the poor bird and let it go outside. Sometimes the poor thing expired from fear or exhaustion. Mom tried to correct Zipper but he had his own ideas about fun.

The birds all knew him and would dive bomb him. The porch was covered with droppings where the birds would sit on the railing to keep an eye on Zipper just inside the glass door.

One day Dad was sitting outside enjoying the warm air when the birds began dive bombing him. Aha! He looked down and Zipper was crouching between his feet.

Zipper loved to help Dad plant flowers. He would jump in and inspect the holes and tell Dad his opinion. Cats, after all, are connoisseurs of good digging soil.

One time Zipper brought in a live snake. Dad threw it out. Zipper brought it back in. Dad thought it was a garden snake but Mom wasn't convinced. Snake was gently placed across fence in neighbor's yard while Zipper was shut inside for awhile.

Mom had this thing from China hanging on the wall. It was bright red with gold and had long tassels hanging down. Zipper would sit under it staring upward. Then he would leap straight up. One day there were some boxes sitting under the red thing. Zipper hopped up onto the boxes and leaped upward. Then Mom draped the tassels across the top of the thing. Zipper could jump even higher without the tassels in the way. The red thing from China went into a box.

Zipper either didn't know what NO meant or he ignored it. Mom tried the spray bottle. He just flattened his ears and squinted his eyes. Then he licked the water off and continued having his own way.

Zipper loved Christmas. He would sit under the tree and admire the beautiful ornaments. Mom spotted him and yelled NO! The ornaments swayed gently glittering in the lights. Zipper couldn't resist. Whap! A glittery ball flew across the room! Mom ran up with the spray bottle screaming NO! Whap, whap. What fun! Zipper was delighted with the effects he had produced.

One Christmas Dad set up an electric train under the tree. Then he turned it on. Around the tree it went. The second time around the train fell over. So Dad set it up and checked the rails. Then he started it up again. Halfway around it fell over again. Now he was getting puzzled. He checked it out again and then Son said to come over to the side to watch it go around. So Dad started the train again and went to the side. When the train reached the back of the tree, a furry paw came out from under the couch and whapped the train off the tracks! Another moving toy for Zipper.

Zipper loved to explore. One day he didn't come home. Dad didn't worry too much. All the neighbors knew Zipper so maybe he was just visiting. But by next evening Dad was worried. He started calling and then thought he heard a faint meowing. So did the neighbor, who unlocked a storage shed, and out came Zipper. He jumped in Dad's arms mewing and purring and loving. Then he suddenly remembered that he had been locked up and Dad hadn't rescued him! He was very angry at Dad and really told him off! It was quite awhile before he forgave Dad.

Zipper loved to roll and scratch his back on the gravelly road. Since all the neighbors knew him, they would stop and holler at him. Screeching brakes were a common sound. One day when Dad was planting flowers, he heard the brakes and hollered "get yourself back to the yard". Imagine his surprise when he heard a voice "Alright. If you say so." It was the local Deputy who knew Zipper well.

But one day a stranger passed through the quiet neighborhood. It was Hit and Run. Zipper was laid to rest under the apple tree he loved. He was mourned by many friends.

The red thing from China is back on the wall. The Christmas ornaments are safe and the train runs around the tree just fine. The birds no longer sit on the porch railing. And the brakes don't screech anymore. The neighborhood is too quiet. When Dad talks about Zipper his voice is wistful and his face lights up with joyful memories.

This story is a tribute from a friend of mine.

Copyright © Catherine Jo Sadler
October 25, 2000