SUSAN LOESCH

CATS IN THE STACKS

Barney was on the job first thing this morning and he has kept busy all day. After all, he has a lot to learn about being a library cat even if he does sport the title “Acting Head Library Cat!”

When he is ready for a break he heads to the stacks for a snooze, much like Alex did last fall when he first took over the job. It wasn’t long, though, before Alex was hanging out with us all day, and I imagine it will work the same with Barney.

He has already discovered Big Footsie’s prized green frog, with the bald spots Footsie created over the years by “kneading” the frog’s head. Mary spent some time brushing Barney while he was on the frog and pointed out to him some spots on the ears that still have some green “hair” which needs to come off.

He was enjoying the brushing so much that I don’t think he was listening.

Mary is fast becoming Barney’s buddy.

He plays Follow the Leader with her as she moves around the library and he was on the counter trying to help her on her work-study job today as she checked in books.

Helping? Maybe not so much!

The fourth graders came in to check out books. I wonder what Barney was thinking as one of the kids showed him the book on rottweilers that he was checking out. We already know what he thinks about live dogs.

He met Chopper, a teacher’s guide dog, in the hall one day, and every hair on his body stood on end as he growled and hissed.

The kids had to have a group picture, and then Barney moved to the tables to help the secondary kids. He has already developed the habit of standing and sitting on Braille books as the kids try to read!

Every day Barney is here he seems a little more relaxed and outgoing.

Everyone thinks he is really campaigning hard for the head cat title to be his permanently and we think he would do a great job.

This weekend he will get a chance to work an outdoor gig. Feline Rescue and Rehome will have our spring fundraiser sale this weekend and Barney will be there.

If you are in the area, we hope you will drop by the sale at Kavanaugh and N. Cedar and meet him!

SUSAN LOESCH
CATS IN THE STACKS

As our students began to drift in, Alex and I were in the main hall walking around – or at least I was walking. Alex was enjoying an over-the-shoulder chauffering event.

From down the hall, I heard, “Ms. Loesch, is it true that Big Footsie died?” Gulp. I knew this was coming. “Yes, Makayla, it is true.”

Makayla’s sister piped up, “Makayla was crying.”

“Sure she was,” I said. “I did, too. In fact I cried for two days straight. It’s ok to cry.”

“Did you have a funeral for him?” she continued. “I think we should make a big poster and have Big Footsie’s picture on it and put it up in the hall so everyone remembers him.” I told her that we will decide together how to honor Big Footsie and we can certainly do posters.

I went on to tell her that Alex was going to be our Acting Head Library Cat for now. The first picture I have of Makayla and Alex together is when Alex was a bottle baby and Makayla was a preschooler.  She wanted  to take a picture of her and Alex so we went to the library to get my camera.

Alex squirmed a bit in her arms as we took pictures and then settled down.

Makayla lay her head on him and said, “You know, I don’t think Alex loves me like Big Footsie did.”

“He will”, I told her. “And you will love Alex just like you love Big Footsie.”