Lil Butterfly
🦋🦋🦋
After the shock of the result and the ensuing bedlam subsided somewhat, I found myself all alone in the now-empty living room, my face bathed in the blissful golden hue of the midmorning light. Though I wanted to scoot up the stairs to see my kitten and share the news of our triumph, I first needed to check on Mom. No matter how miraculous my victory may have seemed and how elated I felt, at the end of the day, I loved her too much to gloat over her defeat and disappointment.
Standing at the pass-through doorway seprarating the living room from the kitchen, I watched as she took sips of cold water from the refrigerator, likely in an effort to compose herself and make sense of the unexpected turn of events. Tentatively, I initiated an awkward conversation.
“Mom, are you okay?”
“…”
“I’m sorry about what just happened.”
“…”
“You needn’t worry. I’ll raise her strictly in my room, making sure that she’s always out of your sight. It’ll be like you won’t even know there’s a cat in the house. I promise, really.”
“…”
“Okay, I understand you don’t wish to talk right now. Again, I’m very sorry about this.”
“Son.”
Just as I feebly turned to leave, she called me back.
“Hey, why are you apologizing? You won fair and square, and in the most democratic way possible. I have no idea how you managed it, but you actually convinced your dad and siblings to vote for you.
“I thought I had this in the bag. Looks like I was the hare in Aesop’s The Tortoise and the Hare, arrogantly underestimating everyone, especially you.
“But you know what, losing so badly, I can’t even muster the energy to be mad. What’s the point of getting all worked up when I find out my whole family voted against me?
“And as for your father…I gotta know, how on earth did you convince that traitor? Really, how could he pull the rug out from under me like that? I mean, talk about getting stabbed in the back in broad daylight! Who does he think is gonna stay by his side when you all move out and live your own lives? Who’s gonna look after him in his old age, for crying out loud?
After venting her frustration, Mom took a moment to catch her breath, then beckoned me over.
“Come here.”
As I neared, she gently held my hands briefly before wrapping me in a loving embrace. She then affectionately stroked the back of my head, a soothing gesture she always made when I was sick with a cold or the stomach flu, all the while whispering sweet assurances of my imminent recovery in the most dulcet tone possible.
“Hey, you did great, sweetheart. Seeing you shed tears like that, I can tell how tough this past hour has been for you. My poor baby.
“Honestly, even if I’d won, I wouldn’t have left the kitten in the woods. I only said that out of spite. I admit I lost my cool when you called for a family vote. Forgive your mom?
“Whether I like it or not, the kitten’s part of the family now. What else can I do but accept it? It might take some time, and you’ll need to be patient with me, but I’ll warm up to your little butterfly. I will try to change because I love you.”
The tender warmth of her embrace and voice can still be felt in the memory of that moment permanently etched deep in my brain.
“Hold on, Mom, little butterfly?”
“Well, isn’t your kitten white with black and orange patches? In Korea, we usually call cats with those colors ‘butterfly.’
“Actually, come to think of it, we pretty much use that term for any cat. Maybe it’s because a cat’s ears look a lot like butterfly wings, and when you watch a cat from behind while it’s eating, its head moves in such a way that its ears seem to flap, kind of like a butterfly in motion. Anyway, hurry up and get ready for the trip.”
🦋
“Butterfly” seemed an apt name for my colorful calico kitten, but first, I needed to consult with Maknae to gauge her feelings on the matter. After all, I had promised Lil Confucius the privilege of naming the kitten if she supported my cause. Unlike the unscrupulous politicians who fail to honor their campaign promises post-election, I, as a person of integrity, was unwilling to descend into such shady, two-faced behavior.
Locating Maknae proved easy as she was in her room, zealously packing her bag to its full capacity, even though we were only leaving for a day trip.
“Maknae-ya, I know I promised you could name the kitten if you sided with me,” I began the hopeful conversation, “but I do have a suggestion. Um…how does ‘Lil Butterfly’ sound to you?”
“Hmm…well, I was thinking about calling her ‘Jerry.’”
Jeu…Jeh…Jerry!? Hwhy that little!…damn with integrity, I should’ve taken the route of a crooked, hundred-faced politician!
“Wait, ‘Lil Butterfly’ does have a more pleasing, elegant ring to it, I reckon. You decide.”
Phew…that was a mighty close shave…praise the Lord!