By Sally Ahearn

Cleo MacDonald entered the cat show at the Felt Forum in Manhattan. She strolled among the endless cages of show cats, admiring white Persians, spotted Bengalis, huge Maine Coon cats, and naked Sphinxes. A small, red cat with dazzling green eyes and a fluffy tail sat surveying her. The cat rubbed its head against the cage and meowed plaintively as she gazed at it.

“Are you selling this one?” Cleo asked the breeder.

“Yes, she’s a five-year-old, so she can’t breed anymore. I’m asking $300 for Starburst here, which, I can assure you, is a real bargain.”

“What kind of cat is she?”

“She’s a Somali, which is a long-haired Abyssinian. Personally, I could swear she’s smarter than I am.”

“How did she get her name?”

“Orange Starbursts were my favorite candy as a kid. She’s just as sweet.”

“Can I hold her?”

“Why sure,” the breeder said, opening Starburst’s cage and handing her over. “A beautiful cat for a beautiful, young lady.”

Cleo held the small cat in her arms, and the cat began to purr contentedly. Starburst tucked her head beneath Cleo’s chin, as a baby would.

“She’s adorable! I’ll take her!”

The breeder put the cat into a carrier, and Cleo took her home to the New Jersey suburbs. For the first few days, Starburst hid under the bed in the unoccupied guest room. Soon, Starburst was out and about, and when it was mealtime, she would jump up on the guest bed, paws tucked under and belly exposed. She loved to be stroked, and her very favorite thing was to have her ears rubbed. Occasionally, she would permit Cleo to stroke her chin, after which she would nuzzle Cleo’s hand. After the cat had encouraged Cleo to pet her for a few minutes, she would run over to her bowl and eye Cleo meaningfully, as if to say, “You pat my back, and I’ll pat yours.”

Starburst would respond only to love and tenderness. Cleo’s marriage had ended because she continually got angry at her ex-husband for putting his job before her. To him, she had been a second-class citizen. Starburst, on the other hand, adored Cleo and knew exactly how to get what she wanted from her. If Cleo’s voice and gestures were loving, Starburst always responded with affection. If Cleo was mean, Starburst would withdraw for hours at a time. It was clear who was boss in this relationship.

Emma called Cleo one day. Cleo told Emma how much time she’d been spending with Starburst.

“You need a man, girl,” Emma said. “You don’t want to turn into one of those cat ladies, do you? I’ve got just the man in mind. His name is Jon and he’s a dream. He’s a poker buddy of my husband’s.” Emma called Jon and Jon called Cleo.

Jon was charming and asked Cleo out on a dinner date. She was thrilled! She bought a new dress that flattered her figure and wore makeup that night for the first time in a year. Jon was handsome and smart, and he had a wonderful sense of humor. Cleo was smitten with him from their first date onward.

A couple of months later, Cleo invited Jon over to her house for dinner. When he entered the front door, he started sneezing, and his eyes got all red. Then Starburst appeared.

“You have a CAT?!!!” Jon said. “Oh, no! I’m allergic to cats. They make me sick.”

Cleo said purringly, “Why don’t we go to your place then? ”

That night, as they lay in Jon’s bed together, Cleo snuggled up to him.

“Why, you’re just like a cat!” Jon said.

Cleo began to volunteer at the local animal shelter, where she cared for the abandoned cats. She was so proud when the felines were adopted. She was pleased with her work. On the other hand, Jon was a public defendant who thought she should be helping people instead of cats. He thought she was misdirected. She tried to tell Jon that she found the work fulfilling.

There were many times in the intervening months when Jon complained bitterly about feeling sick because of his allergy to Starburst. If he stayed over at Cleo’s, he would get terribly stuffed up and have sinus headaches. They began to have arguments.

Jon began to distance himself from Cleo. His visits dwindled, until he was seeing Cleo only twice a month. Cleo sat down on the couch and Starburst leaped into her lap. As Cleo stroked her, she said, “Little one, Jon doesn’t love us anymore. He says we make him sick. What should I do?” Starburst looked up at Cleo with loving eyes. Cleo wept.

The next time Jon came over, the couple was sitting in Jon’s car in Cleo’s driveway. Jon asked Cleo if she would be willing to give Starburst up.

“You know I can’t do that. So don’t ask me that.”

“Does this mean you don’t love me?” Jon asked with a quavering voice.

“Not at all. I love you with all my heart!” Cleo said.

“Then I have something for you both. Look in the glove compartment.”

Cleo pulled out a black velvet box and opened it. Inside was a diamond-and-sapphire ring.

“Well, there’s something else. Keep looking,” Jon said.

Cleo pulled out a long, slim box and opened it. Inside was a cat collar with a rhinestone-studded nametag that said STARBURST.

“Let’s go ask Starburst what she thinks.”

The two lovers went inside Cleo’s house. Jon picked Starburst up and gave her a kiss.

“I’ve started taking pills for the cat allergy,” Jon said.

Starburst purred and licked Jon on the cheek.

“I think she loves you almost as much as I do,” Cleo said smiling.

About the Author:  Sally Ahearn

Sally Ahearn is a writer and teacher, who lives in New Jersey with her Somali cat.