The Face at the Window

Though the term ‘the face at the window’ often evokes, especially in stories, plays and motion pictures, mystery, menace, fear and even horror, that is not true in this instance.

The other day, I had come home from work and, after being greeted by the beasts, I noticed that they then became agitated and excited. There were small sounds of growling, and the cats hissed at each other as they haunted the glass doors in the sitting room. I knew that that meant some form of external distraction. When I joined them, I saw what kind of distraction it was.

It was a long-haired black and white cat. She - such is the gender I will arbitrarily choose - was not menacing or dreadful. This face at the window was calm, curious, perhaps eager to meet those within. Certainly she was not afraid of my lot.

I was reminded of another cat who tried to meet Cammie and Renn at the house some time ago. (I described this encounter, with video accompaniment, in my December 2nd, 2015, post.) Like that one, I am convinced that this little visitor had no antagonistic intent. She sat peering at my cats with an almost innocent expression.

“Hello,” she seemed to be saying. “Are you new to the neighbourhood? Would you like to be friends?”

I believe this particular cat, though obviously an outdoor creature and possibly a stray, has an eye kept on her by someone near by, and is fed, even sheltered when necessary. My beasts kept their eyes on her. In fact, she had visited my bedroom window once or twice before, and Cammie batted the glass to warn her off.

The stranger was not put off by adverse reactions on this newest occasion, and departed eventually, perhaps to tell her friends of the family who had just moved in. Maybe we will see her face in the window again. I hope so. The beasts do not.