storytimewithjoe | Entries tagged with gay

Part of growing up involves various rites of passage. Each culture marks rites of passage as marking-points in the life and development of the children of the tribe. Such rites can include religious ceremonies such as baptisms, confirmations, blessings, marriages, etc. In physical terms, rites of passage include the awkwardness of puberty. For out n' proud members of the gay community, one of the most uncomfortable rites of passage involves coming out of the closet. I know that for me, coming out so damned late, I had a very tough time - not with society, but with myself. Had it not been for the ever-patient and compassionate peacockharpy and my other dear friends, I would have gone absolutely mad.

But now, I am facing a new and relatively unusual gay rite of passage - gay pets. Here in the zoo known as the Claycomb house, we are owned by three cats - Karma, Piddles, and Cosmo. Karma and Piddles travelled with me across the country from Florida. Cosmo is our latest addition, having decided to adopt us. Cosmo looks very much like a younger Karma. Both are marmalade kitties with beautiful hues of orange in stripes. When we decided to add Cosmo to the menagerie, we weren't sure how things would work out. Karma, the fat and dominant male of the house, did not take well to having another male appear. The two cats fought like figurative cats n' dogs (work with me here on the allusion). Then, after a couple of weeks, they began to get along. All seemed well and normal. But then, we began noticing the change.

Karma and Cosmo began spending a lot of time together. In time, the two bonded - a LOT. They even went so far as to begin acting like litter-brothers. "Aww.... how cute!" I thought, as I would occassionally notice them grooming each other. How sweet! Frequently, the two spend time near each other, and palling around like kitty-buds. Eventually, every day we would notice the two of them wrestling and playing like friendly cats do. Yet, something seemed odd. One day, our straight but not narrow roommate Gavin said, "Dude... I think your cats are gay." "What?!" I said. "They're cats! They can't be gay. Heck, they've both been fixed."

"Well that may be the case," he said. "But then why do they do that?" Looking over, I noticed the two cats, both laying on their sides facing each other, with their paws on each other's bellies, kneading each other. "Well.... that IS a bit odd." I said. "Maybe they're just.... Maybe they're... oh heck, I don't know WHY they are doing that."

Over the next few months, I couldn't help but notice the behavior continue. The two are virtually inseperable. They sleep together. They eat together. They play together. They both tag-team to beat up Piddles. If they aren't gay, they sure do act it.

The other day, I walked in the house to find the two perfectly poised and positions asleep on the settee in the entry way. The two were outstretched, each with their tales facing the armrests on either side. They balanced their heads perfectly against each other, cheek-to-cheek. A taxidermist could not have posed them more perfectly. And then this morning, another act of intense cuteness. Laying in the center of the cover of the hottub, the two of them lay together. Cosmo lay in a fetal position, curled up cutely, while Karma spooned him with his head laying delicately across Cosmo's neck, and his paw outstretched over his body. "Ye gods!" I thought to myself. "They are spooning! Cats don't spoon!"

Yes ladies and gentlemen... our kitties are gay. Is there an SPCA-FLAG around here?