The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

ONCE THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN WHO OWNED A PET CAT. HE
LOVED IT DEARLY. THE MAN HAD TO GO TO EUROPE ON
BUSINESS AND ENTRUSTED HIS ANIMAL TO HIS BROTHER
GEORGE. IN EUROPE HE MISSED HIS CAT AND CALLED
GEORGE TO FIND OUT HOW PUSSY WAS DOING. "OH, HIM, HE
DIED," GEORGE REPORTED. HEARTBROKEN THE BROTHER HUNG
UP. TWO WEEKS LATER GOERGE PHONED BACK AND APOLOGIZED
FOR BEING SO ABRUPT. THE CAT'S OWNER ASKED, "WHY
COULDN'T YOU HAVE TOLD ME MORE SLOWLY? YOU COULD
HAVE FIRST SAID, 'THE CAT'S CAUGHT ON THE ROOF.'
THE NEXT DAY YOU COULD HAVE PHONED AND SAID, 'THE CAT
FELL AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WITH INTERNAL
INJURIES.' FINALLY, YOU COULD HAVE CALLED AND TOLD
ME, 'THE CAT PASSED AWAY IN HIS SLEEP LAST NIGHT.'
GEORGE WAS REMORSEFUL, "I JUST WASN'T THINKING."
THE BROTHER THEN ASKED, "BY THE WAY, HOW'S MOM DOING?"
GEORGE THOUGHT FOR A MOMENT AND THEN STAMMERED,
"WELL, ER, ER, SHE, SHE'S CAUGHT UP ON THE ROOF...."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: NOT GIVEN