Joe Murray: Stories

5. the Baby

I had just been for the longest walk since lockdown, there and back was 4 miles with a stop for shopping on the way home. Sitting with a cold beer in the hot sun in the garden, Bibs suddenly appeared beside me.
“You look a bit knackered, Big Man, too hot for ye?”
"Aye, a bit."
“Oot for a walk were ye?
“Aye,” said I, trying to ignore her but failing.
She looked up at me, “where’d ye go?”
“None of yer business,” I said.
“Och, c’mon, it’s a hot day and it’s boring, give a cat a break, where’d ye go?”
“Ah went to see a friend, okay? Just a friend.”
“Whit for?”
“She’s just had a baby, okay” Now go away and leave me to my cold drink.”
Her eyes seemed to light up, “a baby, got any pictures?”
“Eh?” I said.
Photies, pictures.” She seemed a bit overly keen.
“Why?” I asked
“Aw, showz them.”
“No.”
“Aw, gaunae, please?”
I took out my phone and showed her the photo I had taken of Allie and Eden, the baby.
Bibs seemed to go dewy-eyed.
“Aw, she’s so beautiful.” I just love kittens.”
“Well,” I said she’s human so she’s a baby.”
Bibs took on her usual hard cat look. “Kittens, pups, calves, fawns, chics… babies… they’re all gifts to the world,” said Bibs. “You who-mans, you just don’t know how privileged you are. The rest of us wait for you all to do the right thing and, even at times like this when you do,” she pointed to the photo, “you can still forget your role in life, all of life.” She looked at the photo again. “Ah, so beautiful… that woman there, she is a real mother, y’know. Ah can tell.”
“Yeh,” I said, “I know she is.”
Bibs leapt up onto the fence above me, “you who-mans, you need to remember where you truly belong – you need to honour the mothers.” She stared right through me. “Anno, Ah’m just a cat telling you this, Big Man, but Ah know things, and that is important to all of us,.” She jumped down on the other side and was gone.
“Jeez,” I thought, “that was intense.” I looked at the photo again and smiled. “Yep, Eden is beautiful, right enough.”
Gotta say, though, I can’t help but feel a bit troubled by my encounter, maybe Bibs has a point.


Articles/ Thoughts Poems COPYRIGHT © 2021 Dr Joe Murray		Bibs the Cat we’re all family, really a little feline philosophy excuse my french on the cludgie the baby a lesson in socialism sleeping with the enemy on the level a little black and white philosophy the magpie ultimatum Indy Cat? Who’s the Daddy? It's no about flags Video Stories Alasdair Gray & the Book of Prefaces Keekin Through Windaes The Two Heifers The Congo The Hotdog Other Stories Aye, right ennuf a natural balance a short tale of woe Maggie and the Little Pollok Carpet
	5. the Baby I had just been for the longest walk since lockdown, there and back was 4 miles with a stop for shopping on the way home. Sitting with a cold beer in the hot sun in the garden, Bibs suddenly appeared beside me. “You look a bit knackered, Big Man, too hot for ye?” "Aye, a bit." “Oot for a walk were ye? “Aye,” said I, trying to ignore her but failing. She looked up at me, “where’d ye go?” “None of yer business,” I said. “Och, c’mon, it’s a hot day and it’s boring, give a cat a break, where’d ye go?” “Ah went to see a friend, okay? Just a friend.” “Whit for?” “She’s just had a baby, okay” Now go away and leave me to my cold drink.” Her eyes seemed to light up, “a baby, got any pictures?” “Eh?” I said. Photies, pictures.” She seemed a bit overly keen. “Why?” I asked “Aw, showz them.” “No.” “Aw, gaunae, please?” I took out my phone and showed her the photo I had taken of Allie and Eden, the baby. Bibs seemed to go dewy-eyed. “Aw, she’s so beautiful.” I just love kittens.” “Well,” I said she’s human so she’s a baby.” Bibs took on her usual hard cat look. “Kittens, pups, calves, fawns, chics… babies… they’re all gifts to the world,” said Bibs. “You who-mans, you just don’t know how privileged you are. The rest of us wait for you all to do the right thing and, even at times like this when you do,” she pointed to the photo, “you can still forget your role in life, all of life.” She looked at the photo again. “Ah, so beautiful… that woman there, she is a real mother, y’know. Ah can tell.” “Yeh,” I said, “I know she is.” Bibs leapt up onto the fence above me, “you who-mans, you need to remember where you truly belong – you need to honour the mothers.” She stared right through me. “Anno, Ah’m just a cat telling you this, Big Man, but Ah know things, and that is important to all of us,.” She jumped down on the other side and was gone. “Jeez,” I thought, “that was intense.” I looked at the photo again and smiled. “Yep, Eden is beautiful, right enough.” Gotta say, though, I can’t help but feel a bit troubled by my encounter, maybe Bibs has a point.