紀念 Tata／An Obituary for Tata

Tata 走了，以此文憑弔他。

Tata 是一隻黃色的貓。第一眼看到他時，最先注意到的應該是他碩壯實在的身材和懸掛在鼻孔下的兩條黃鼻涕。要是認識再久一點，則會發現他無時無刻帶著慵懶又可愛的眼神，還有對世上所有生物的寬大胸襟和敦厚性情……只有蟑螂是例外。每當蟑螂爬過，Tata 便會以迅雷不及掩耳的速度從籠子隙縫中伸出肥厚的手掌，像玩打地鼠一般鎮壓蟑螂。砰！然後再一點一點將蟑螂挪向自己，以便就近折磨不幸的受害者。即便如此，多半不會有人怪他有此邪惡的癖好，因為 Tata 的主人艾力克總是忙於工作，打蟑螂大概是 Tata 在籠中度過漫漫長日唯一的樂趣了。

初遇 Tata 時，觀察力高明的人還會注意到他另一個較為駭人的特徵，那就是他的手掌軟軟綿綿的沒有爪子。在艾力克之前 Tata 的主人是福怡，Tata 的爪子便是福怡前室友的惡行。那名卑鄙的室友因為害怕 Tata 用爪子抓壞家具，某天趁福怡出門不在家的時候，帶著 Tata 去動物醫院動爪子移除手術。凡是對貓有一點概念的人都知道，爪子是貓的護身工具，具有非常重要的功能，任何有一點心肝的人都不會做出移除貓爪的殘酷行為。

或許就是這樣的創傷導致了 Tata 日後肥胖的身材？有些人憂鬱的時候是會變肥的，我就是這種人。無論如何 Tata 的確不瘦，不過他非但看起來不討人厭還相當討喜，就連扁鼻下的兩條鼻涕都無減於他的魅力，每個人看到他總會不由自主的伸出手來將他抱在懷中。

可惜這兩條鼻涕也預示了 Tata 的早逝。Tata 身體不好，他的第二個也是最後一個主人艾力克帶他到處就醫，也找不到能夠醫治好他的醫生。死神終究是帶走了 Tata，同時艾力克也失去了一個忠誠的朋友。我和洪侃感到無限的憂傷，因為 Tata 在找到艾力克當主人之前曾經寄住我們家一段時日，我們對他有一種特殊的情感，此外，我們的黑貓午夜個性一直戒心很重，沒有什麼朋友，卻能和 Tata 相處融洽，我想她一定是感受到了 Tata 寬大敦厚的胸襟。

感謝 Tata 曾經參與我們的生活並與午夜結為朋友。願他在天主的懷中安息。

I am writing in fond memories of Tata.

Tata was a yellow cat. A first impression of him might had been the enormity of his size and the two perpetual streams of snot hanging from his nostrils. If you knew him better, then he is known for his cute, lazy gaze and magnanimity towards creatures on earth, all except cockroaches. Whenever a cockroach crawled by, Tata would strike his fleshy paw between the bars of his cage in lightening speed as if playing "whack a mole". Plump! Then he'd slowly draw the unlucky insect toward himself for further torture fun. Even so, however, no one had the heart to blame him for his wicked indulgence. You see, Tata's last owner Airy was always too busy with work. As Tata was usually caged up, the game was his only way to pass an otherwise long, boring day.

Another thing you might notice and often shockingly about Tata would be the absence of claws in his spongy paws. His claws were removed by his first owner Fuyi's roommate, a real sly witch. In fear of Tata ruining her furniture, the despicable witch took Tata to the vet for the awful operation while Fuyi was away on a trip. Anyone with knowledge of cats would know how important claws are for their survival, and anyone with a heart would never have done such cruelty as removing a cat's nails.

Perhaps the trauma could explain Tata's obesity? Some people gain weight when they are depressed, like me. Tata was indeed fat. However, he did not look repulsive but in fact so cute and cuddly that anyone who met him find themselves reaching out, wanting to hold him in their arms. The two streams of snot he carried under his nose simply did not diminish his charm.

Unfortunately, the snot portended Tata's prematured death. Airy, Tata's second and last owner, tried with different vets to cure Tata’s respiratory disease and other illnesses but to no avail. Finally, Death claimed Tata’s life and took the faithful companion from Airy. It’s a great loss for Hung Kan and I as well, as we felt an affinity for Tata for having kept him for a few months when Fuyi gave him up for adoption. Even our friendless black cat Midnight who is always guarded had developed friendship with him. She must had had noticed Tata’s natural magnanimity and sincerity.

Thank you Tata, for being a part of our life and befriending Midnight. May you rest in peace in God’s arms.