norms

My mother, lying in her bed, told me that forty years ago she had been a domestic cat. She looked at me, and I at her. She continued, remembering that day vividly; she had been asleep on her favorite couch in her mistress Maha's room, waking up after a short nap to find she had human legs and eyes that saw so many colors. Before she realized what had happened, Maha opened the door carrying a tray of milk. "I remember everything clearly," my mother said. Maha looked at her with surprise that turned to panic, and the tray of milk fell from her hand, shattering onto the tiles. She yanked the door shut and slammed it shut. My mother flinched at the violent act, then her nose guided her to the delicious scent of milk. She sat up, sticking out the tip of her tongue and licking the surface of the milk, which had been clouded with dirt. She felt an unfamiliar pain in her knees, and then heard the sound of shattering. Then there was silence. My mother told me, lying on her bed, that she had been a stray cat for forty years. She looked at me, and I looked at her. She continued, saying she remembered this day vividly: she was asleep on the couch she liked in the room of her mistress, Maha. She woke up after a short nap to find that she had two human legs and eyes that saw far too many colors. Before she could fully comprehend what had happened to her, Maha opened the door, carrying a dish of milk.

“I remember everything clearly,” my mother says. Maha looked at her with surprise, which turned into horror, and she dropped the milk dish, shattering it on the floor. She pulled the door and slammed it forcefully. My mother stood there, taken back by this violent act. Then her nose guided her to the delicious smell of milk. She sat down and extended her tongue to lick the surface of the milk, which had become tainted with some dirt. She felt a pain she had never experienced before in her knees, and she heard the sound of something breaking. Then it was all silence.