This is The Pioneer Woman's Charlie's second cousin once removed:
"Charlie!" I called him. To which he responded that his name is Charles-René, and he would thank me to remember that it is impolite to drop a person's middle name as if it didn't matter.
And actually, it wasn't Charlie that we met first, but her:
Her name is Angelique-Jolie. She greeted us with an elegant twitch of her tail, and a 'come hither' look. Charlie - I mean, Charles-René - is very protective of her. He showed up 2 seconds later to check us out. After giving us a sniff and a tail wag, he decided we were OK, and allowed us to converse with her.
Angelique-Jolie loves crème fraîche, lace doilies and le clair de lune (which she says makes her look ten month younger and ten grams slimmer). She chose her human because he lives on Chemin Du Chat (literally, the Cat's Way). However, after meeting the other felines on the block, she is very distressed: they are disheveled, disreputable-looking, et pas du tout comme il faut. She has been forced to mingle with the canine society: Charles-René is alright, but Jean-Jacques is a real dog!
And actually, it was Jean-Jacques we encountered first (a cocker spaniel). The poor boy got stage fright when he saw us, just as he was going about his (big) business. He kept turning his bottom this way and that, trying to keep it out of our sight. We didn't take a photo with him, as we didn't want to cause him permanent constipation. He looked to be having enough trouble as it was (I empathize!).
And actually, it wasn't Jean-Jacques we encountered first, but Richelieu.
He goes by a single name. (Anything else would be superfluous!) He has a goatee and a tall wall from which he looks down on the world. He did not think our friendship would be advantageous to him in any way.
We believe he might change his mind if we introduced him to Angelique-Jolie. Although Charles-René may have something to say about it.
P.S. None of the above is true - except for meeting Richelieu, Jean-Jacques, Angelique-Jolie and Charles-René - or whatever their humans call them.
We have four cats that live across the street and we have named them all and watch their antics with great pleasure. We have no idea what their owners call them. :)
ReplyDeleteYour names are perfect for your French cat neighbors. I'm so glad you're starting to make friends. What beautiful animals and foliage you have around you.
There are lots of cats on Chemin Du Chat. I have also spotted doves on Chemin Des Colombiers. It appears that names here are literal. Back home, I don't think there is a single maple tree on Maple St., and Mountainview Ave has no view whatsoever. :-)
DeleteThe foliage is what's called here garrigue - small trees and bushes with waxy leaves and oftentimes, thorns. The climate is very very dry. There's no grass to speak of. Our garden survives by being irrigated each night for half an hour. But this makes it an ideal climate for vines (also, b/c of the significant temperature drop at night). Many famous wine labels are being produced all around us. It is very much like Napa Valley.