Memories of FUKU
When I was a child, my family lived in the country and kept cats and dogs. I had a dog whom I can never forget. His name was Fuku, that means "luck" in Japanese. But I can't say with confidence whether or not he lived a happy life.

Fuku was a crossbreed. I heard that my grandfather had found him and taken him home from somewhere. He was so fierce and big that my family and neighbors were afraid to come near him. But he was quite tame with me. We were good friends. He came along with me everywhere I went. I used to give him pieces of bread that were left over from my school lunch.

He sometimes fought against a dozen dogs on the street--really a dozen!--I guess he was disliked by other dogs. I was always anxious for him. But he fought them on even terms. I used to shout "Come on, Fuku. Come on!" while they were fighting. He sometimes took a backward glance at me and continued to fight powerfully again. I was so proud of him. I loved his bravery and aloofness.

The funny thing about Fuku was that he had an uncharacteristic fear of thunder. As the rumbling of thunder started to roll in the distance, he suddenly became nervous. In a moment he started shivering all over. I used to hold him tight in my legs whispering in his ear "Take it easy. take it easy. It's nothing." I was a rather happy to protect him.

Entering high school, I gradually played with Fuku less and less. I was busy studying and going to club activities. He seemed to be fighting with other dogs as usual. Every morning he used to see me off to school. I always had to drive him back on the way. He looked as if he was asking me, "Why don't you play with me anymore? Why do you leave me alone?"

By and by I entered a university and left my hometown. It was when I returned home for spring vacation during my first year that I was told Fuku was dead. They said that he fell into a ditch while he was unsteadly walking down a street. When someone pulled him up, he was already dead. He was buried in the corner of the field. His grave lies under a pine tree, covered with a mound of earth and piled high with stones.

A few decades have passed since Fuku and I played with each other, but I remember his smell and his howl even now. Nobody has ever loved me as strongly as Fuku did. I can't remember him without some pain. I will never meet with a dog like Fuku.

I don't expect so much of cats.
 

NOTES
This is the fifth volume of Cat's Eye View. I was able to complete this movie with the help of Tamami Yamato and Mary Jo Pichette, who also helped me with the last volume. I truly appreciate what they have done for me. I also thank everyone who e-mailed me. Your mail is a great encouragement to us. Please feel free to also write to Tamami and Mary.
You need more than a 14 inch monitor and 8 bit color to enjoy this movie.
The Cat's Eye View series is freeware. You are free to print them  for personal use or give them to your friends. You can also copy this file freely under original conditions.  But I ask you to respect our copyright. You may not use the contents of this series for commercial use without our approval. I am the owner of these Cats and dogs, so I would be glad if you'd let me know where you found them wandering and what they looked like from your point of view.

eij
eij@ratio.co.jp
http://www.questions.gr.jp/kato/indexE.html