Juju: The Nine Lives of a Mystical Cat

JUJU

THE NINE LIVES OF A MYSTICAL CAT

By Aswad 

Dedication

For Juju

For thirteen years no one had a better friend.

Smashwords Edition

© Copyright Aswad 2012

ISBN#978-1-4661-7298-2

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Life One

Juju! Juju girl, git’ yourself down here for this Jambalaya missy!

My goodness how that woman can scream! But I love her anyway.

By the way, I’m Juju. I’m the First cat of Madame Tituba.

We live in this great old house in a place the humans call New Orleans.

Madame found me, well all of us, in Africa. She was there meeting with the Shamen. Mother was a First cat of a great Shaman in Ghana.

I know that when Madame has humans over, and the candle flames are burning and the spirit people come, it’s lots of fun!

I love to talk to them! I think my favorite one was that bank president man who was shot by his own wife. He had a lot to say to me! Even though Madame had called him to speak to his wife at the candle party, he seemed more interested in speaking to me. I’ve yet to figure out why. But then humans have never ceased to fascinate me.

I have to say though; I really do miss my brothers and sisters. It started out that there were eight of us and now there’s just me.

What’s funny is, I didn’t mind being eighth cat to Madame Tituba. There wasn’t as much responsibility as now.

Madame has always needed a First cat. The humans call her, The most renowned Voodoo Priestess in New Orleans. I don’t actually know what that means. I just know she’s a good cook and holds great Candle Parties!

MMMM! Good Jambalaya, Madame!

I’m glad you like it, chile!

It always fascinates me that she can understand what I say. Most humans can’t. It’s very frustrating.

If I ever find the person who said, meow is all we cats can say, I swear I’ll scratch his eyes out!

Juju baby, we’ll be having people over tonight. So you go and get yourself ready, now hear?

OK fine! As soon as I’m done eating I’ll have my bath and be right down!

That’s a good girl!

Madame treats me so well! Ever since I was a kitten!

There have been times when I thought I was going to loose Madame.

When the humans in the blue suits and the guns came to the door that one afternoon. That was scary.

But it was also funny. They seemed to be more afraid of Madame than she was of them.

That’s one thing I have noticed. The humans who are pale seem to be very afraid of Madame. Maybe because Madame’s more my color. A sleek, elegant Black. Of course Madame doesn’t have fur, but hey, she’s a human. You can’t have everything.

Oh boy! The people are starting to arrive! I love this part! I always get great strokings when people come!

Good Evenin’ darlin’! Glad you could make it! Why Reverend Christianson! What an unexpected surprise!

Madame. I’m here more to observe than I am to participate. You know this type of thing goes against everything I stand for! I’m here to try to get you to see the error of your ways!

Whatever you say Reverend! Whatever you say!

Oh, it’s that guy again! He’s such a wet blanket!

He keeps coming and spoiling our Candle Parties! It really puts a kink in my tail!

He thinks that just because he’s got that funny white flea collar on that he’s better than everyone else at the party.

Juju! Darling, how are you?

I’m great Katherine! How are you!?

I love Katherine. She’s so much fun. She loves to pick me up and stroke me, so I give her a great big kiss whenever I see her.

Madame says Katherine is the owner of one of the finest spirit stores in New Orleans.

It shows too! I love that purple glow that always surrounds Katherine. It’s so calming. She’s my favorite human to hang out with during the Candle Parties!

Can we call be seated?

Madame really knows how to run a good candle party.

Shall we all link hands, and breathe deeply?

Excuse me Madame, but whom are we trying to contact tonight?

Katherine’s sister, Reverend why?

It just seems to me that since Katherine’s sister died of Aids, that she pretty much got what she deserved. Don’t you think?

Oh! How I cannot stand this human! The unfeeling arrogance!

Reverend, Katherine’s sister may have been a prostitute but that doesn’t mean she is any less deserving of our love and attention in the after life.

Yes, but…

Reverend I don’t come to your church and tell you how to run it, so don’t think you can come into mine and do it!

That’s right, Madame! This is our church! What ever that means. I think, I’ll pay the good Reverend a visit.

What… what is your cat doing?

Why, I think she likes you Reverend. Juju doesn’t sit in just anyone’s lap.

By the way you never mentioned it before, but what does JUJU mean?

A Juju is an amulet for protection!

I see.

Shall we begin, Reverend?

I suppose.

What a twit!

We call on the spirit of little Tina! Sister of Katherine! Daughter of this earth! Tina can you hear us?

I don’t hear anything do you?

Tina can you hear us?

You know what? There’s a bad energy in here and I think I’m sitting on the source!

Madame! It’s the Reverend!

Hush, kitty!

Reverend, her name is Juju, and she tells me your emitting a negative energy. That’s why we can’t contact Tina.

You talk to your cat?

All the time? Don’t you?

Well, no. I always considered that a form of mental illness. Have you ever considered counseling?

Have you ever considered that you’re a very negative person and that the energy you give off is hampering my work?

I don’t quite understand what you mean.

She means you’re a big jerk and she wants you to leave! That’s what she means!

Ouch!!

I think Juju is trying to tell you something.

Oww! Stop that!

You know, for a jerk you make a really good scratching post! What’s all this soft stuff in your lap?

0www! Ouch! Stop it!

Maybe you should leave now Reverend. I don’t think JUJU likes you!

Quite frankly I don’t think I care for her either! Ouch!! I think I will leave. It’s obvious that you’re too far-gone in your Voodoo to be helped in any way Madame Tituba. I will pray for you, and I will be back! Oww!

Yea, yea, yea! You say that like we care, you big jerk! Now get out of our nice house, you big downer!

I never did like him. He talks so much, everybody always falls asleep and then nobody’s awake to pet me!

Let’s continue now. Tina! Tina, can you hear us?

Wow! Look at the candles! The little flame kitties in them are getting bigger! This is just like last time! Only better!

Tina? Tina, is that you?

Yes, Katherine! It’s me! I miss you!

Oh! I miss you too! Are you all right?

Katherine, I’m dead!

0h, I know silly! I mean, how does it feel? Are you in pain?

Oh no! Not at all! Quite the opposite! Since the fever was so great, my death was rather painful. But now that my spirit has been freed from my body, I don’t feel anything at all. It feels great. I only have to think of a place and I’m instantly there! And no worries about frequent flyer miles!

Oh Tina! It’s so good to be able to hear you like this!

Well I couldn’t get through before. Not till Juju helped by getting rid of that stuffy Reverend. Did you know he tried to hire me once?

You're kidding!

No, really! He pulled up to my corner last year before I got sick and wanted to hire me. I finally got a chance to give him a lecture on sin and he left!

Amazing!

Katherine I have to break contact now! There’s one of my old friends who is about to cross over and I want to be there for her!

Do you really have to go?

Yes! But I love you! And just know that I’ll always be there when you need me! And always remember that Juju will always know where I am! She’s a very special cat!

That’s right! I sure am!

Good bye Tina! I love you!

I love you too!

Wow! Look at that! She just disappears like a wisp of smoke. I love it when they do that!

Oh! Juju, Madame! Thank you so much for your help!

You’re welcome. And hey! Stop squeezing so hard! I may need those ribs later!

Oh Juju! Your going to get some very special kitty presents from me for this!

Oh goody! I love kitty presents! Except for that incredibly tacky sweater that one woman brought me. Really!

***

This is my favorite windowsill. I can see almost the whole neighborhood from here without having to go outside.

The kids play. The mailman comes. I feel sorry for him though. That big ugly dog across the street bit him yesterday.

He almost got me last month. You’d think he’d have something better to do than chasing me up trees. Like I’m supposed to be impressed.

I mean he’s not the fastest or brightest creature I’ve ever come across.

But I’ve never liked dogs anyway. They’re so unsophisticated. Some of them have nice coats, but must they slobber so? I mean really!

I’ve just never understood the point of all that.

And they forever pitch a hissy fit when they have to go outside. I would never waste vital energy pitching a hissy fit over something as mundane as going outside.

I mean if you want to go, just go! What’s the big deal?

Of course they don’t have litter boxes as we do. Which I’ve always found rather silly.

You’ll never catch me yanking on Madame’s dress needing to go out in the rain to take care of my business!

It was partly because of him that my brothers and sisters had to be given away. I really miss them.

Our Mother, Orisia, used to be Madame’s First cat. We admired her so.

She was so good at helping Madame talk to the humans without bodies.

We especially liked it when Mamma taught it to all us girls. How to talk to the humans with no bodies.

And most importantly, how to speak to Madame so that she could understand us. So few humans do.

Humans always make me laugh. They know my name yet they insist upon calling me Kitty cat all the time.

I knew a cat named Kitty once. She was ditzy little thing who was worthy of the name. I am not a Kitty!

But anyway, we had many a cat running about this grand old house. Just a year ago, in fact. But they're all gone now.

Madame had given one of my brother or sisters away at every other candle party.

Madame said they were going to be First cat to the people who needed one. I understand that. I guess. But I still miss them.

***

Yes? Who is it?

It’s Reverend Christianson!

Oh joy! It’s that pasty-faced human with the white flea collar again! Reverend No Fun, I believe is his name. Madame’s going to need me, I’d better get downstairs.

Why, Reverend! Come on in! Have a seat! Would you like a cup of tea?

"That would be nice thank you. Oh!