Micro Book Group Guide No. 7
- naamalg
- Apr 13
- 2 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
A guest who has stayed here before but the animal is new to the household, a rescue answering to a bombastic praenomen. Telemachus, an obese senior cat. It happens that the houseguest’s introduction to Telemachus was not ideal. A clash.
The houseguest having arrived in a bustling rush, Telemachus did what he will when exposed to a fast-moving object. He charged her.
A fast-moving guest. A youngish longlegged woman intent on the toilet after an interstate drive stalled by roadwork. She danced out of the cat’s way and completed her journey. As the toilet door closes Telemachus is completing his battlefield routine, his next move being unqualified retreat.
His heavy-pawed gallop vibrating the primitive stairs connecting the ground level to the basement. Tawny hairs floating in the kitchen air beside the cat door.
A dog door, actually. Telemachus requires the setup foreseeing a user of a basset hound’s circumference.
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The filmmaker on emerging from the toilet took interest in the feline perspective. She was not intimidated by Telemachus, having lived with a cat who would not have retreated as promptly. Marmalada was a fully feral indoor-outdoor individual belonging to a Jerusalem flatmate, as did the flat. To coexist uninjured in that space, per the guest’s account, you had to forfeit the hope of a rapport with Marmalada. You were to respond to no overtures from her. Every friendly gesture would prove a bluff, reinforcing the conclusion that you must associate Marmalada with pain, end of story. You must avoid any sort of encounter.
A houseguest inspecting her legs for scratches or punctures. Denim pants and hiking socks prove an effective barrier.
She regretted her part in the confrontation. She was happy to learn that Telemachus is inclined to forgive the perceived attack if the frightening pattern of motion does not persist.
He is an individual rewarding the patient approach. He will become solicitous himself when it is proven to him that his experience is fathomed and his presence cherished. Telemachus essentially is a companionable spirit disadvantaged by profound distrust based on his broader experience.
A houseguest’s curiosity is piqued by the suggestion of a cat’s unhappy past.
A young documentarian of the Israeli experience, at the dinner table she will prompt from her hosts the known facts of a domestic shorthair’s experience. Joe will assume the educative task.
He was my mom’s cat.
A houseguest’s mien transformed. The attribute of energetic speculation while Maayan lifts her wineglass and drinks. No further questions for now.
He has made amazing progress, Inbal says.
His extremes of physical and vocal violence, very much on the decline now. His more disgusting defenses retired, apparently.
(From Outpatient, a novel-in-the-works by Naama Goldstein)
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Your reading guide:
Resolve the following problem:
This reading leaves me…
1) Curious about the current filmmaking project of a fictional documentarian.
2) Sensing the parallels between my living pattern and that of creatures inhabiting seemingly unalike contexts.
3) All of the above.
4) None of the above. I could not get past the negligence of homeowners harboring a dangerous cat. I will not knowingly spend any amount of time around characters driven by dubious priorities.