The cat and I are taking things slowly. One of us on purpose.

Her name is Zulu. She is gray and white and considerably less interested in issuing a statement than I am.

We are getting used to each other slowly. Zulu appears to have read the word ‘slowly.’ I have read the word ‘together’ and brought considerably more enthusiasm than was requested.

My humans are helping us take our time. She has space. I have opportunities to practise having fewer opinions at once.

Recently, Zulu has been joining us more. I am trying to treat this as an ordinary development. Internally, I have commissioned a parade.

She can enter a room and simply be in it. No announcement. No immediate survey of everyone’s emotional availability. I find this both impressive and rather poor hosting.

I tend to express interest with my whole body. Zulu would prefer I begin with a much smaller department.

Still, a little more company is a little more company. Nobody has to become best friends by Thursday. Apparently we can just get used to having each other around.

I am working on it. With all my heart, and a body that occasionally receives the memo late.