His Name was Oreo

A Solo Story by Bill

 

I was at Cheers to You on Wednesday and had a real experience for the record books. Well, not the record books, but maybe like a bathroom reader or a national enquirer. Anyway- I was just sidling up to the bar for a delicious frosty refreshment when I saw her. A lady with a cat. An actual cat lady. She had a mid-sized black and white tuxedo cat perched on her shoulder like a pirate’s parrot.

 

I was, I think rightly so, intrigued. I postponed my frosty refreshment and sidled up to her instead. I introduced myself, “Hello, I’m Bill,” she was named “Terry.” I asked her about the cat and she went on to explain it was a service animal. You see, Terry had lost her sense of smell in a terrible perfume accident. She didn’t want to explain any further but she referred to it as an “Eau de Accident” and said that the cat was to help her smell her way around.

 

“Life isn’t worth living” she said, “if you can’t smell the world around you.” I couldn’t disagree with Terry, I love smelling! I’m smelling right now! I asked Terry to introduce to me to her smelling companion; he was named Oreo. I shook Oreo’s paw and told him it was a pleasure to meet him, he licked my knuckle with a surprisingly smooth kitty tongue.

 

I thanked him for his service to the de-sensed community and he yawned. I liked his style, he was one cool cat. I offered to get Terry a tasty app and Oreo a bowl of milk. They both politely declined and Terry explained that food didn’t hold nearly the joy it once did and Oreo (through his mannerisms) explained that milk went right to his paunch, but thank you anyway.

 

All told, a very informative evening at Cheers and one that will leave me with a newfound appreciation for this fully functional schnoz.