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The Cathouse

copyright comidacomida 2023

Having lived at The Cat House for nearly a year, Bornyr had seen numerous renters come and go-- some of them left after getting their life back on track and others left because they couldn't figure out how to find something better, but, while they were there, he was confident that each and every one of them was living a better life than the one which directed them to the half-way house for down-on-their luck Catfolk. He certainly felt that way about his own situation, even if he couldn't say for sure where he'd end up.

Even if the specifics weren't the same, Bornyr's situation wasn't that much different from most of the others. He had grown up far to the south in the central Egnol Ellis plains. His life was fairly normal for most of his people far away from the hustle and bustle of the amazing technologies of the Maan Ellis metropolis, or even the large city of Lakeside in which he finally ended up. The simple living out on the plans had, in many ways, been much more difficult than in the cities.

His village had few priests and only one magic user, thus there were many weeks where his family had little but, then again, it took very little to survive. The cities were not so straight forward. He and his family had moved to Maan Ellis for only a short time before continuing north to Lakeside. While it was still a city, the tech-focused Cityfolk and the centralized collection of mechanisms and technology were much less a central portion of life and, with the larger influx of Humans aside from the technologically obsessed Cityfolk, things were quieter, and much more traditional. For the Lion family, traditional was good.

Bornyr's father got a job working on the docks, loading and unloading the merchant ships that plied their trade on the lake. His mother spent her days split between doing odd jobs around town and taking care of their four children; Bornyr was the second youngest of the four and, along with his older brother and older sister, often helped with their baby sister. At fifteen years of age, Bornyr spent his first stretch of time at the public school in Lakeside and learned very quickly that what he knew from his life on the plains meant very little; he was far behind in his education and, as he quickly came to understand, the gap was simply unable to be overcome.

The Lion grumbled to himself, careful to avoid scratching the table with his unsheathed claws; he hated thinking about his past. Fortunately his thoughts were cut short as a small cup of tea on a saucer was set in front of him by a small, wrinkled, arthritic, dark skinned hand. He looked to his right at the smiling, grizzled face of the owner of the home where he stated. Although Bornyr had lived there for almost eleven months, he still didn't know the Human woman's name; everyone just called her Mama Chan. She patted his paw before sitting down beside him. "You looked as though you would benefit from some tea, and so I brought you a cup, sweet cub."

Bornyr snorted dejectedly, but he accepted the cup nevertheless, resting a finger on the rim of the delicate ceramic as he gruffly stated "I have not been a 'cub' in almost two decades, Mama Chan."

Her smile never wavered as she looked to her own cup in front of herself then back to him. "Oh... when you reach eight decades everyone is a kitten or a cub."

The old Human woman's simple response almost got a smile out of him; he hated smiling-- it made him feel stupid and silly. Reluctantly, the massive Lion took ginger hold of the cup and lifted it to his muzzle. He took a sip, feeling the vibration of the liquid on his whiskers, and the hot, soothing feel of it washing over his tongue before it trickled down his throat. There was something almost magical about Mama Chan's tea; it never failed to make him feel better-- even on nights he didn't want to. Letting out a sigh, Bornyr set the cup down, unwilling to finish it in one go.

Letting out a long sigh, he spoke to the cup even as he addressed his benefactor. "The two new ones... how long are they staying?"

Mama Chan, as usual, didn't seem to have a plan. Offering a casual shrug, she blew softly on her own cup. "That is not for me to decide. They look as though they are new to town so, Gods willing, perhaps just for tonight."

Bornyr grunted. "They looked like they were going to bring trouble with them."

Seemingly completely unconcerned, Mama Chan slowly lifted her mug, holding it almost to her lips, yet she didn't drink-- she spoke instead. "Everyone brings trouble, but not always in the same way... isn't' that right, my sweet cub?"

The statement was vague, but Bornyr knew exactly what she meant: when he first arrived he had no small amount of trouble on his own. He'd been brought to her by some well-meaning folk who had found him beaten and bloody in the streets. His mid-20s had not been easy for him and numerous bad decisions had led him to a less-than ideal life. Shaking his head, he forced himself not to think about that; he'd come a long way and was an entirely different Lion than he was back when he ran with the wrong circles. "Some of us want to improve our lives. Do you think they're the same? Lana said that--"

Mama Chan released the hold of her cup with her hand closest to him in a gesture that was unmistakable; she had several rules around the house and one of them was very specific and he was about to break it. "It does not matter what Lana says. They needed help and came here asking for it. Anything else is inconsequential."

Bornyr wasn't done wanting to point out the problem, but he tried a different approach. "Lana worked for the Cougar's parents. He's a runaway... and he's pretending to be a Lynx. You don't see a problem with that?"

The old woman chuckled warmly and finally took a sip of her cup; Bornyr found himself copying her and, even though he was still concerned, his agitation lessened a little... until Mama Chan provided her answer. "Mmm... I did see a problem. His disguise was falling off. Is that not why Lana offered to help?"

The Lion huffed as his agitation returned. "He comes from a rich family-- why should he have to stay here? Isn't the Cat House for those who--"

Mama Chan cleared her throat and Bornyr found himself silencing immediately; the old woman had a way about her. Setting her cup down, the woman turned to regard him calmly. "I know you worry about me, and that you feel my generosity is taken advantage of--"

Grunting in agreement, the Lion added "All the time. Cheena does it, and I'm pretty sure Susuin and Keema--"

The old woman, despite being ancient by any standard, was still lighting quick as she stood, extended her arm, and rapped the enormous Lion on the bridge of his muzzle with two fingers. The action didn't hurt as much as it surprised Bornyr and, as with any other time she used the disciplinary measure, it got him to shut up. She sat back down and wrapped her hands around her cup, noting only "Do not interrupt me, and do not pass judgment on those staying here. Everyone has different needs to be addressed and different obstacles to overcome."

The Lion looked down at his cup, suitably cowed. "Sorry, Mama Chan."

Her hand immediately found the way to his forearm, patting it comfortably. "Bornyr... you know that I have no intention of asking you to leave."

The statement came out of nowhere, and surprised the Lion almost as much as the quick rap on the muzzle. Looking to her, he quickly stood. "I will, Mama Chan... as soon as I have enough saved up from my day work. You know that I respect what you've done for me and that I--"

She raised her two fingers in that warning way she was known for when threatening to apply her special brand of punishment; he went silent. She gestured to the table. "Sit down. Drink your tea and don't jump to conclusions."

He did as directed. "Yes, Mama Chan."

As he took another sip, she continued. "I know your plans, cub, and I respect that you are so independent and so interested in getting back out there. You have done amazing things, and I am full of joy every night you come back and have such wonderful things to say about how much you accomplished during the day. That is you. That is all you. It defines who you are to yourself, and it colors my impression of you and, I would presume, the impression the rest of my house guests have of you as well."

Bornyr took another sip of the tea before setting it down, making sure that Mama Chan had said her piece so as not to risk interrupting her. When he realized she was done, the Lion nodded. "I respect what you've done for me. I don't think I'd still be alive if you hadn't taken me in and helped me like you did."

Mama Chan slowly stood, wincing when two pops and a third offered a reminder just how old she was. She took her cup and her saucer with her as she moved toward the sink. "I help everyone. No matter what. Everyone needs different kinds of help, and people are different places in their life aren't always ready for the help they need. You were, and you are."

The Lion snorted. "I wish people here respected what you do for them more. Yejh and Zuri I understand-- maybe even Reen... Gods know that a female Tiger barely out of her cub-fur needs extra--"

Even with her back turned to him, the moment she raised two fingers the Lion shut his muzzle. She went back to cleaning her dishes as she spoke. "Everyone needs different things. Yejh's missing leg and Zuri's work accident are their trials to pass and barriers to overcome. Just because he has one foot and the other is scarred from an explosion does not mean they are the only ones with problems-- those are merely just the most visible ones."

It was hardly a new argument between the two of them, and it was one of the few things Bornyr was willing to challenge his matronly landlord over; he didn't like her being taken advantage of, and there were plenty of opportunities for feline folk to do that. While he didn't know everything about her past, he did know that she had been married long ago and that she and her husband, a Tiger, had been very happy. They had been unable to have children since they were of different peoples but, before his passing (far too early, according to her), he made her promise that she would have a house with many cubs and kittens-- Mama Chan had started the Cat House some decade or two later.

Her love was as unconventional as it was undeserved in many cases-- at least as far as Bornyr was concerned. As usual, the Lion had a difficult time putting his concern into words. "I just want to make sure that those who you're helping deserve it."

Mama Chan let out a sigh before turning back toward the table. She set the cleaned cup and saucer into the drain board as she returned to Bornyr. Patting him gently on the side of the muzzle, she said simply "Everyone deserves help, silly cub... now finish your tea; it's getting late."

He did as commanded, downing the final contents of the cup in one go. She reached for it but he resolved any possible argument by standing up; he was well over six and a half foot tall and she was barely a finger's width over four so he was able to take care of his own dishes despite her best intentions. As he washed them he said "Everyone may deserve it, but some are willing to put in as much effort into their own self-improvement as you do for them."

Mama Chan sat down at the table again. "Oh? And can you tell who will and who won't the first time you meet them? What about the young Cheetah that came in with his not-a-Lynx friend? Which will he be?"

Bornyr groused as he finished washing out his cup and setting it and the saucer beside hers in the drainboard. "That's not what I meant... I mean someone like Cheena-- she's been here for... what... three years?"

Looking back toward the ancient landlady, the Lion's body went rigid when he realized she was right next to him, two fingers up in a threatening gesture; despite the fact that she'd never be able to reach his muzzle from that far away on the floor, Bornyr immediately shut his muzzle, so powerfully in fact that his teeth clicked. Mama Chan lowered her arm. "Cheena, as with EVERYONE who comes here, has her own barriers and problems, dear cub."

Bornyr carefully phrased his objection, knowing he could express how he felt even if he couldn't accuse a housemate of anything. "She doesn't pay rent and she has made no move to get a job or improve her life. I FEEL like she is a drain on the household and I worry that she is taking up a spot that can go to someone who will take a more active role in their self improvement. Even Yehj and Zuri are working on moving on, but Cheena doesn't even bother doing anything to--"

He realized that he'd gone from expressing his thoughts to active accusation too late to save himself. The old woman's fingers smacked soundly on the bridge of the Lion's muzzle and he had to do a double-take; had she jumped? Did her arm somehow grow twice as long? Had he leaned over without realizing it? Even as he stood shocked at how she'd managed the feat, she began correcting him without actually chastising him. "Cheena does what she can in her own way. She helps me clean up around here; she provides comfort and guidance to other guests; she is a warm heart during cold times and a brightness when things are otherwise gray. Just because she is not actively seeking work like you, or plying a trade like Adam does not mean that she is not doing anything."

Although he didn't agree that Cheena was specifically as helpful as Mama Chan implied he didn't have it in him to argue. Her mentioning of Adam brought up another question. "Why do you think Adam agreed to help those two newcomers?"

Mama Chan offered up a shrug. "Hard to say. I try not to read into the motives of others. He said he wanted to help, and assisting them benefits them and will give him some more practice in his chosen field."

Bornyr didn't have the patience to learn something as exacting as tailoring but the profession seemed to suit Adam very well. The Tiger was soft spoken, gentle, and personable, but the Lion knew that the aspiring-tailor had an inner strength rarely seen. Adam was another stray taken in and nursed back to health by Mama Chan. Although Bornyr didn't know the full story, he was aware that the Tiger, a year or two his senior, had been working in the metropolis to the south and had escaped an abusive relationship-- one in which he referred to his significant other as his 'owner', which certainly explained the tattoo of a collar around the Tiger's neck.

Bornyr had thought he'd overheard discussion involving prostitution and rape one night when Adam and Mama Chan were up late alone talking-- the Lion had not worked up the gumption to ask the Tiger about it. Rather than dwell on the thoughts or try to pick them apart, Bornyr simply acknowledged Mama Chan's statement. "He deserves to be happy, and he works very hard to get there."

The Human woman smiled, nodding. "Yes he does. And so do you. In their way, I'd like to think everyone in this house is going in the right direction. You all deserve to be happy, and I am overjoyed when I see you all making progress."

Unwilling to push his benefactor any further, Bornyr figured that he was done arguing with her for the night. "We owe it to you, Mama Chan."

Rolling her eyes, the old lady gave him a casual smack on the thigh with the back of her hand. "Oh shush. I just help all of you with the first step. I help people with unstable lives. It is much easier to build a life if you have a solid foundation."

Bornyr knew that many Humans had trouble seeing a Lion smile, but Mama Chan was not one such Human; she, in fact, often gave him grief over not smiling more. He didn't hold back as he knelt down to give her a warm hug. "Thank you, Mama Chan. I have work again tomorrow... a few more weeks and I should have enough saved to move out to make room for someone else who needs you as much as I have."

She patted him on the arm, acknowledging the hug (her arms would never fit all the way around him to return it). "You know I am happy to have you here as long as you like."

He nodded. "I know... but I think the best way to repay you is to get on with my life. One day when I'm settled in and not living from copper to copper I plan to help pay you back."

Mama Chan's brows furrowed as she planted her hands on her hips and addressed him by his full name-- something she only ever did when she was driving a point home. "Bornyr Mylek Greypatch, you know I don't do this to--"

Although he knew it was against the rules, Bornyr interjected. "I'm going to help you fund this place. Just like Timor does."

The old woman simply rolled her eyes. "Well he knows HE doesn't have to do that either."

The Lion leaned down to kiss the woman who was practically an adopted mother on the top of his head. "If he's like me, he probably does it because he WANTS to... not because he has to."

The statement seemed to placate her, and she responded with another gentle pat to the side of his muzzle. "Get some rest, dear cub... I know you work hard and you shouldn't do that without a full night of sleep."

He nodded. "I will, Mama Chan. Goodnight."

Before he left, she caught him by calling over his shoulders. "It'll be alright if you help me... but PLEASE promise you won't follow his lead and call yourself Daddy B."

Despite how hard he tried to remain stoic, she never had to try very hard to get a laugh out of him. Despite his disagreement with the way she ran Cat House, Bornyr held Mama Chan in great regard. Despite the way he felt about the other cohabitants and their individual hang-ups and problems, he knew that she loved each and every one of them and, if he loved her even as half as much as she loved them, he had to respect her decisions on who to let stay and who not to. It was an unconventional household, to be sure, but every one of them was, in their own way, unconventional too. Maybe that was why it worked.