By Furby the Feral
Furby
Hi everybody. My name is Furby and I am now 3 months old. I’m really good at a lot of things but human control is my favorite past-time. My mama who found me is sitting with her keyboard while I magically transmit my story into her head. She will later have no memory of doing this.
Photo by Elisa Sammons
Mama found me in the afternoon after the third freezing night. It was so cold and I was hungry and my neck hurt. I’d found an old barn to sleep in yet it was still very cold and there was water that froze on the ground in the mornings.
I’ll never forget how hungry I was that day. I had to cross the road to get to the barn and barely made it across. I saw her car go past me. When I saw her coming back toward me I was very afraid. I wanted to get in the barn and hide but she was too fast. Before I knew it she was right in front of me. I stood very still and hoped she wouldn’t look down. I can’t purr or hiss or slap at her - I’m too tired. I still haven’t learned to purr.
Photo by Elisa Sammons
Then mama looked down and saw me. I looked at her and she looked at me and before I knew it I was in a safe warm place. At least I thought it was safe. You see mama has other “children.” She has 2 big dogs and 1 little dog and another cat.
The dogs just sniffed at me but the cat (she answered to Lola) really didn’t like me very well. She hissed at me and chased me. Thank goodness that didn’t last long and mama put me up high where the dogs wouldn’t hurt me and gave me a little plate of food.
Photo by Elisa Sammons
Lola was on the counter beside me and she was really OK because she let me eat and didn’t try to take my food. She treated me better than my own brothers and sisters had. I barely remember them. I still don’t know how I got myself into such a mess with no family and no home.
After I ate and drank she put me in some funny little rocky stuff in a big box and I went to the bathroom. Lola was trying to play with me while I was in the box. After that mama put me in her lap and covered me with a blanket. There was a familiar smell about that blanket and I just can’t figure out why. I liked the blanket and stayed there until I felt rested and happy. Then I got up and ate again. It was nice having food and a warm place to sleep.
I had the dogs under my control within the first week. If they didn’t get out of my way I would walk over them or under them. Sometimes I’d use them to launch myself onto the back of the couch.
I tried sleeping there but I kept rolling off and it was embarrassing. The biggest dog answered to Dreyfuss. I’d wait until he fell asleep and then I’d go over and pop him on the nose. Lola had already told me he was a big baby. The other two answered to Cody and Darla. I can tell by their eyes that they were once as lost as me.
Furby and Lola
Mama held me a lot the first few days. My neck hurt and she kept putting something on it. Mama looked worried and I tried to tell her I was OK and happy. One day she snatched me up from where I was sleeping and her daughter Laura held me in the car and we went somewhere new.
There were two nice ladies there who seemed glad to see me. They all took me into a funny smelling room and the two ladies shaved my neck and cleaned it up. I’d never been touched by a human before mama and it was nice knowing they weren’t going to hurt me.
I was wrong about the not hurting me part. Mama gave me some good tasting stuff twice a day and said it would make me better. But it didn’t. I still played a little. I slept most of the time because it didn’t hurt when I was asleep. I’ll never forget the day mama and Laura laid me on my back and they HURT me! I knew they didn’t mean to because mama was almost crying and Laura was rubbing my belly.
I know they stuck something in my neck. Mama placed a hot rag around my neck after that. It felt so good I fell asleep on her lap with the familiar blanket on top of me.
It was that night I found out how much Lola loved me. I felt something moving around in my neck and it scared me. I ran to mama and she didn’t look very happy when she saw my neck. I was almost more afraid than when I was a baby. Lola followed me everywhere. I kept trying to get away from her. She held me down and then my neck stopped hurting.
I hid for a long time that night. I thought mama was mad at me. Then I got hungry and came out to eat. Mama was so relieved when she saw my neck. Whatever had been upsetting her was gone. I heard them talking about me and a worm and fly larvae. I even sat in front of the computer while mama pulled up a picture. I couldn’t believe that THING had been living in my neck. Mama kept giving me the good tasting medicine for a few more days.
I was feeling so much better I decided to explore Laura’s room. She had this really neat box with holes in it. I decided to hide in the box and take a nap. I stuck my head thru one of the holes to check the room for dog critters and then-MY HEAD WAS STUCK! Lucky for me that mama missed me and came and cut me out of the box. Some days I’m still not too smart.
I’ve been here for 7 weeks now, give or take a few days. I have everyone right where I want them. Dreyfuss loves me even though he’s only a dog and the other two dogs don’t give me any trouble. Mama feeds me out of her plate. She holds me while I take my day naps. She takes me to bed at night. She cries a lot because she’s lost someone like I lost my mama. I know my blue blanket has something to do with the human she lost.
Mama gave me another name this week. She says it's my Turkish Angora name and it means "home ruler." That would be me. Just call me Emri. Personally I like Furby best.
The only part I don't like is the camera. Holding it and making funny noises seem to make mama happy. Especially if I keep my eyes wide open. Sometimes I have to use my "cat powers" and stare at her. She'll put down the camera and pick me up for a nap.
I’m finished with this part of my story. I’m sure mama will keep writing about me. She loves me as much as I love her. We’re very lucky to have found each other. Can anyone tell me why I can't purr. It really worries me.
P.S. Here is a picture of me and Lola. She’s the sneaky looking one.
Photo by Elisa Sammons
Joyce
By Furby the Feral
