Frank

Frank

When  I first moved out of my parents’ house I lived in a tiny little duplex in Pacolet, SC (for those of you familiar with the area, I was the 12th house up on the left from the horse in the water). While I don’t think I’d ever want to live there again, one great thing did come from that experience.  One day,  I was at the duplex cleaning and waiting for mom to come help me move some stuff in.  As she turned into the driveway in her enormous land-yacht Ford Explorer, she stopped just in the nick of time.  There, crouched milimeters in front of her front driver’s side tire, was the tiniest kitten I’d ever seen.

Covered in mange from head to toe, this blue eyed baby meowed and meowed as if she were singing in a musical.  After close inspection, mom and I both agreed that it was indeed a “he” and I named the boy kitty Frank, after Frank Sinatra for his blue eyes and his love of crooning.  The plan was that I’d keep the cat in the duplex for a couple of days (I hadn’t moved in yet) until I had time to take him to the shelter. 

Well, we all know how that was going to end.  Frank didn’t go to the shelter.  I took Frank to the vet to get all the shots because Frank was going to live with me from now on.  So, we got to the vet, and the vet’s assistant (are they still nurses at a veteranarian’s office?) checked Frank out and said:  “Ooh, it’s a little girl kitty!  What’s her name?”

“Frank.”

I couldn’t just change her name, I’d been calling her Frank for nearly a week.  But you know what?  Frank liked her name just fine.  She’s absolutely, unquestionably a Frank.  Not a Frances, not a Frankie, not a Francesca.  Though I will admit to calling her Frank-o-la from time to time. 

A few Frankisms:

• Frank is a flirt.  She’s mastered the slow blink.  And she’ll wink at you.
• Frank loves people.  Well, most people.  Kids kind of freak her out.
• Frank is the most photogenic cat in all the land.
• Frank loves you. 
• Frank lost a tooth a few months ago and now she makes the cutest little snarling face, and she’s completely unaware of it.
• Frank loves shoes.
• Frank always knows when you need a hug.
• Frank is a daddy’s girl.