Movie Makers (Jan-May 1928)

CATS IS CATS A Home Scenario in Story Form By Edna Mac Donald Serrem NO, of COURSE not, darling! I haven't the slightest intention of keeping a cat. Not the slightest. I know the idea worries you, but I remember, Precious, what we agreed. We agreed I wouldn't have any more cats, for a while, anyway. Yes, I remember, Peter, I remember. I said I wouldn't, and I won't. But this isn't a cat, it's a kitten, the cunningest little thing you ever saw, Peter, don't growl like that, darling. I've said I wasn't going to have a cat. and I'm not. I ALWAYS keep a promise. What? Now, I ask you, dear, seriously, have you ever known me to break my word? What . . . ? 0, of course, you're joking. Do you know, Peter, when I married you I hadn't the least idea you had such a sense of humour. It's delicious. Only the other day Mrs. Van Arnum was speaking about it. She said, "My dear, you certainly are a lucky woman. If I had a man like Peter Love for a husband, life would look different to me, I'll tell you. My husband is just the opposite. He never sees a joke in anything. I tell him its because he doesn't WANT to . . . he always thinks he smells a mouse. . . ." But speaking about smelling a mouse, darling, reminds me about this darling little ca . . . itten. It COULD be made into a lovely cat. It has been so neglected. Hmm? No, it isn't, Peter. It's a LOT different from those last two cats. They were both such colorless cats I don't blame ->'^ you for . . . having done something with them. But this one is all white ... or he would be, if he had a nice bath. Even the best cats can't keep themselves clean when they haven't any home. And he has one . . . two . . . yes, FIVE red spots. . . . 0, we could call him Spot! Hmm? Ha! Ha! I was sure you'd ask me that, darling. But I'm already for you this time. I'm not going to give you the tiniest hint where he is. When you hear all about him, you'll feel just like I do. \ou can see the sad side of things, Peter, as well as the funny side. You know, dear, you told me to take walks. \ ou said I needed a tonic of some kind. Ha! Ha! What you really said, do you remember, Peter, was, "It will act just like recharging a battery, Jessica. Tuning in on a new circuit, or something. . . ." You funny boy. It's splendid to have the sense of humour you have, Peter. But, as I was saying, while I was out walking along Cramp Street, you know, where all those shops are strung along, one after another . . groceries, bakeries, barber-shops . . well, right in the doorway of a gro eery store was this poor little ca . . itten. It was starved, simply starved crouching down in that wet snow, and shivering. So I picked it right up. 0, NO, dear, of course I didn't intend to keep him. I just pitied him is all, and I could see what a lovely cat he WOULD make when his fur wasn't all dirty with wet snow and coal dust. And, Peter, the poor little thing had the toothache. 0, of COURSE cats have the toothache, just the same as you do, only worse, for all you know. You remember that time you had the toothache you said you wouldn't ask a DOG to suffer what you suffered. If dogs can have the toothache, I guess cats can. Well, I was sure the grocer didn't know his cat was out in the snow suffering with a terrible toothache, so I opened the door just a crack, and started to put the poor little thing inside, but, Peter, I was never so surprised or mortified in my life ! A big, horrid woman was the grocer, and she just pounced on me. {Continued on page 118) J An M yr' I : > Onehundred-six