DINHI and Her cat

Once upon a time, in a land far, faraway, lived DINHI, a ten-year-old girl, her mother, and RITO, her late father's cat. Before, life had always been rosy for the young girl. But after her father's death, her mother struggled to survive. It was then that moments of loneliness suddenly intruded upon DINHI's life. She needed someone to talk to, a friend, a companion. And RITO became important. He became her best companion, her perfect confidant, her ultimate friend. However, as the days passed, the cat turned eleven; he slept more, played less, and this bothered the young girl. Then she decided to go to the dark forest to meet the genie.

"What brings you to me, young girl?" asked the genie.

“My father gave me a lot of advice, some of which I’ve forgotten; he told me many stories, I only remember the ones that interested me. But I won’t forget a single comma in his will until the day I can no longer remember my own name. That’s how I remembered that you owe my father a debt.”

“That’s right. After your valiant father’s heroic act, he touched my heart, and I asked him to grant me a wish that I could fulfill for him free of charge. I think that’s what brings you here.”

“That, but also, and more importantly, the reason I came today and not sooner. RITO, my partner, is getting old. And yet I want him to grow old with me, for us to grow old together. So I ask that he become human so that he can have the same life expectancy as me. That it would no longer be of the cat breed, which rarely lives more than twenty-five years."

"Are you really sure that's what you want? Because, you should know, you only get one free wish."

“I thought a genie paid off debts without question.”

“And me that a girl who thinks she’s the cleverest would never answer a question she finds obtuse. Fine! KURA KOSRA KADRA! May your wish come true!”

DINHI was immediately transported back at her house. Beside her was a handsome young boy of about eleven.

“RITO!” exclaimed the girl. “You’re so handsome!”

DINHI then took Rito in her arms. But it didn’t last more than five seconds.

“Sorry, DINHI !” said RITO. “I have to go to my room. Save your joy for later ! I’ll be back later.”

Then RITO locked himself in his room and returned to the girl six hours later.

Another day, DINHI came home from school very worried and wanted to share her troubles with her best friend, as she used to.

"I'm sorry, sis, but when are you going to stop complaining?" said RITO. "It's getting annoying."

On another occasion, when DINHI wanted to feel RITO's warmth on her feet, like he used to with his fur, RITO replied :

"Move over! Give me some space to sit down properly. Stop touching me like a stuffed animal."

Of course, at times, RITO was there for her. He helped her, listened to her, respected her, but it was no more than the affection her mother gave her. DINHI had even lost the security she once felt.

"A mouse! A mouse!" RITO exclaimed, frightened and seeking DINHI's protection.

This was how it was every day, and the young girl was beginning to realize how much she missed her cat. Perhaps the two versions of RITO sometimes reacted the same way, but the fact that his human version spoke and thus translated his desires, wishes, and feelings into words, was more hurtful than the silence of the past. DINHI finally decided to go and see the genie again.

"You were supposed to be living happily with your friend," the genie asked. "Who disturbed that happiness?"

"RITO. Or, to be clearer, his current state. He's not at all the friend I imagined."

"Isn't he handsome?"

"That's not the most important thing."

"Doesn't he make time for you?"

"Yes. But not always when I want him to."

"Every animal or human needs their moments of solitude!"

"Yes. But I put up with it, for my cat's sake. I thought he was innocent. I searched for every possible excuse to give him when he left me alone. Except his human version talks too much. The words that come out of his mouth, however logical and polite, are cruel to a friendship."

"Do you want me to make him mute?"

"No! He's not wrong at all. I'm not going to punish him for something normal. That would be selfish of me. So my mother was right. She does her best for me. She sometimes leaves me alone but always makes sure to spend at least one full day a week with me. I was selfish to ask her for more. Especially since she was going to such lengths for my own good."

"You're not in a house of whiners here, little girl! Tell me what you want and let's get this over with so you can leave!"

"Put my cat back the way he used to be : an animal!"

"I don't do anything for free, my dear! And you know that."

"I have no choice . RITO now has a boy's hands, but he rarely uses them to hold my hand. Of course, my cat will die one day, but that's precisely why I'll love him even more today, as a cat."

"Hmm!"

"What makes RITO important isn't his ability to live a long time or to speak like humans, but his ability to be present, silent, and calming when the human world is difficult or too noisy."

"You're becoming wise, it seems."

"My cat used to smile at me even when I got a zero at school; he didn't care at all. But now this boy is calling me lazy. I don't want a judge; I want my friend back. RITO is starting to tell my mom my secrets. Whereas I could tell him everything without fear. His silence always brought a smile back to my face. Even if he were to die today, those moments we shared will always be etched in my memory. I miss his fur; his purrs, the way he slept on my feet—I want to cherish every moment with him."

"So I was right to ask you one last time if that was really what you wanted!"

"My most beautiful wish turned out to be my worst nightmare. In the future, I'll learn to see better from a distance. I was angry with my mother for nothing. She's irreplaceable for everything she does for me."

"An animal can't replace a human, but also a human can't replace the gentleness of an animal either. To love someone is to love them for who they are, not for who you wish they were. I'm glad you understood that. I'll come and claim what's rightfully mine later. But know that it will be cruel."

"I'm ready to endure anything for my cat."

"So I'm giving you back your cat. KURA KOSRA KADRA! May your wish come true!"

DINHI was once again transported back to her home; RITO, her cat, was right at her feet. She smiled and kissed her friend. She held him tightly against her chest.

"RITO! How I've missed you! I'll never want you any other way. I love you just the way you are."

At these words, the cat began to purr, but very softly. DINHI immediately looked at him and noticed that RITO was starting to cough up blood.

"RITO! RITO! Please! Stay with me! I'm so sorry for everything. It's all my fault that everything is happening to you. I love you, my friend. You're the only one who always smiled at me. I'll never forget you. You must know that!"

Then DINHI began to cry uncontrollably. Her mother came and took her in her arms.

"Calm down, darling!" said her mother. "I'm with you."

"Mom! I'm sorry. I was selfish. I killed RITO."

"No, my dear daughter! Time has passed since then."

DINHI then realized the reality that it had been veiled for a few seconds already. She paid closer attention and noticed that she had enormous hands, she was taller, the clothes she wore were much smaller, about to burst, and her mother had wrinkles on her face.

"RITO is dying of old age; continued the mother. He is thirty-six years old today and you are thirty-five. You have been away for a long time."