Ramona

Ramona was short for her age, with inquisitive eyes and narrow shoulders. She always stood at attention, her chest puffed out, feet together, and rod straight posture extended through the top of her head. It was easy to imagine her in a bow tie because her frame was so slight, and neck so small. Her mouth was a narrow line, turned down, and she kept her lips together except when she was speaking. Ramona was Japanese, polite but insistent, and she was also a small cat.

Technically Ramona was Japanese American, her mother had birthed the litter shortly after the family arrived in the states, but her parents were xenophobes and paid extra attention to rear Ramona and her siblings with all the manners and tradition of Japanese cats. Even though she had never been there, she felt thoroughly native to Japan, and considered herself an expatriated kitten.

The time came for Ramona to move away from her parents, and she was adopted, shockingly, by a family of white people. Ramona was always taught to pad around the house silently, and moved on her paws with a smooth lightness. The people didn't even make an effort, they thumped around the house indiscreetly. The house smelled differently. It was very rare to smell fish or the earthy umami tones she was so familiar with, there was much more meat but they didn't like when she tried to get a close up look. Ramona would clean herself fastidiously, down to her tiny white gloved paws, and they would pick her up and get their smell all over her and she'd have to start over. She was used to a more aloof household. One day, in the kitchen, looking at one of their backs, Ramona decided to complain. It was a high and sustained cry, and they turned around to look at the fuss Ramona was making. They talked at her but didn't seem to understand. They gesticulated and finally settled into a sympathetic but oblivious attitude. Ramona realized it was hopeless, they didn't even speak Japanese, but to be fair she had never bothered to learn English. She decided a compromise could probably be reached.