SUSAN LOESCH
CATS IN THE STACKS

“Ms. LOESCH!”

When I hear that tone of voice from one of my students I know I’m in trouble. It was Trinity.

She then spoke to Shadow. “Shadow, look at you. Are you so secure in your manhood, wearing those flowers?”

Oh, no. I know just what she is talking about. The collar. The one that Alex and I got on our trip to PetSmart. The one that matched Alex’s ID tag…and is decorated with white flowers.

“Ms. Loesch, WHY did you put flowers on Shadow?”

“Well, um.” I tried to explain what is obviously another kitty fashion faux pas on my part. “The collar is blue…”

“I know,” Trinity said. “But flowers? Shadow, she dresses you in flowers and you can’t even say anything about it.”

I promised to head to Petsmart to see if I can find a Harley collar for Shadow.

Personally, I think he looks cute in the flowers!

Luckily, Shadow was unaffected by my blunder and spent his day happily eating treats, helping students with their work and posing with some of my seniors.

The kids must be feeling nostalgic; many are carrying around cameras, wanting to capture these last few days of their time at Arkansas School for the Blind.

This time of year always makes me feel a little nostalgic, too.

As Terry, who is graduating this year, held Shadow I couldn’t help but think back to when he was in the 4th grade and Big Footsie was new to our school and they met for the first time.

The thought makes me smile.