But a Kitten

Before you continue on, let me explain some things that might be questionable. There is this girl I am very fond of. I've been smitten with her for a while now. But I hid that from her. When she asked if I liked some one, I couldn't lie. She could see through me anyway. So I made her believe it was some one else. Like a tiger within my being, this feeling of passion and love has been waking inside of me. I hid my emotions from her. I was positive it would scare her away. But no. Enjoy.1


-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- But a Kitten -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-2

And what is this? For two, TWO years now I've had this strange feeling of weightlessness dancing in my chest. Churning, tossing, sleeping, but slowly coming to consciousness, this little monster hides deep in my being. It's a tiger that I'm afraid to let out, for fear I might hurt you or scare you away. If only you knew that the tiger thirsted for your blood. I keep the tiger under heavy lock and key, and some times you ask to see him. I say "He's asleep. He cannot be bothered. He will sleep until he is very old and dies." 3

If only you knew that this tiger opens his heavy eyes every now and again to take a look at you, licking his thick black lips in a twilight dream of what you might taste like. If only you knew every time you hugged me, you rocked the cage just a little bit and stirred him from slumber. My, oh my. It's as if you WANT to see him. Still, I keep you at bay with "He's asleep. He cannot be bothered. He will sleep until he is very old and dies."4

But for you, oh, that is not good enough. No. You want to take the tiger out and play with him. You want to lift open his lids and see what colors his eyes might be or pet his fur to see if it is really as soft as plush. You use your wicked magic that you do so well. You put me in a trance, and without thinking or hiding the key, I fall into your trap. With your hand on my head, and my head in your lap, I nearly doze off. For near half an hour, you simply play with my hair and rub my back -- purposefully looking for the key. 5

Bingo. 6

It was behind the left ear. 7

Before I could wake fully and stop you, you had flug open the door to his chamber and let him out. As I feared, with a quick and nimble pounce, he had pinned you and began to claw at you. I was for certain he would either destroy you or make you run in fear but you stayed. You stayed as he... as he merely pawed at you. But a kitten in your lap. 8

"Is this magic?" I ask.9

"No," you say to me, "No, this is love."