Chapter 1 continued

After the morning greetings, Bubbles sniffed his bowl. The usual routine. He pulled the ten pounds of meat out of bowl and lay it on the ground. Then he lay down next to the food and ate it, after the manner of all big cats. He had a leisurely meal with Faber watching him, and Katy, Faber’s assistant, watching Faber from outside the enclosure. For safety, only one trainer would be in the enclosure at a time, with the other standing by in case there was trouble. A sally port, or double-gate, led to where the cat was housed.

“Okay, Bubbles, are you ready for playtime?”

Bubbles had finally finished his breakfast. Faber walked over to a corner of the enclosure that, somewhat inexplicably, was equipped with a computer, monitor, keyboard and mouse. It almost looked as if the big cat spent his free time surfing the net, but in the reality the equipment were heavy-duty, cat-safe theatrical props. A computer company had commissioned a television ad compaign and the director wanted to film a jaguar staring at a computer screen and manipulating a mouse with his paw.


The big cat was still busy grooming himself, and Faber settled down to wait until he was done. Many things are needed to be an Hollywood animal trainer: knowledge, courage, self-discipline, money, land, marketing skills, and perseverence are just a few. But the most important of all is patience, and Faber had that in abundance. Faber thought time spent in a companionable silence with the cat was valuable. They didn't always have to be playing or training. Even on a movie set, Faber never tried to rush a cat. He knew there was no rushing a cat.

He called over to Katy, "Is my Mom home yet?"

"No, she spent all night at the lab. She called again around 8 am. 'Said she'd be home soon." Katy was looking around the enclosure absent-mindedly, mentally cleaning up droppings, hosing down and sanitizing the concrete areas, sort of thinking about all the things she'd be doing once Faber moved the cat to another area for her. Manure management was a huge part of her job; it was a huge part of everyone's job at the sanctuary. "I don't think she's ever stayed there overnight before."

"No, I don't she has since you've been here. When I was a kid, she'd be there all night all the time."

"Really? I didn't think your Mom was like that." Katy shook a bit of beige dessert dust out of her hair. That hadn't sounded right. Katy knew what a devoted mother Becky was. She'd been a single mom from the very beginning and her son was always her number one priority. "Who'd you stay with when your mom was at the lab overnight?"

He stared at her for a moment. She almost thought he was offended. She had never seen him take offense at anything before. But he was just taking a moment to process what she said. "Overnight? Oh, I see. No, she wouldn't leave me at home while she worked. She'd bring me along."

"Serious? What did you do at the lab?"

"I'd help her with her work, and she'd teach me stuff. We'd do all kinds of things."

"All night?"

"Actually, I had a little room there with a little bed."

"What kinds of things did she teach you there?"

"Oh, this and that. Some math stuff, sometimes. Boring." Faber looked back at the cat. He was using his big right paw to groom behind his ears now. Faber knew his routine. The last step of groom was to wash the ears, first the left, then the right. The cat would be done and ready to train within the next minute, and Faber would have a natural reason to cut short his conversation with Katy.

His mother had not taught him any "math stuff." She had taught him many, many things, few of them were ever boring. She'd even taught him the response he had just used, and they had practiced it using role-playing several times over the years. If a friend asks you to list information, say 'this and that' in a bored voice. Say it relates to math or science or something the listener finds intimidating. Then call it boring. He had learned methods for evading questions in all settings. If in doubt, respond to the question by saying 'why do you ask?' This will usually deflect the question, but at the very least it will buy you time and give you clues how best to answer. There were other methods for other settings. Instead of answering the question asked, think of the question you wish they'd asked and answer that. If pressed, wear the listener down with a very, very long response with long sentences and big words.

Over the years he had learned all the responses to any conversational gambit. He had practiced nearly every social situation that could be anticipated. He was never at a loss for words, although he'd been taught, and had rehearsed, the situations where he should appear to be. And always, always, he'd been taught never to discuss this training with anyone.

Katy seemed interested. Faber realized that he'd never discussed his upbringing with her at all. One of the qualities that made him so well-liked and sought after was the fact that, per his training, he rarely talked about himself. Instead he would draw other people out and let them talk about themselves. Ironically, this would leave the impression that he was fascinating because he made other people feel that they were fascinating.

Katy asked, "What did the other scientists think of you visiting there and having a room and stuff?"

"Oh, I dont' know." Of course he didn't know. In all his thirty years, he had never once met or been seen by anyone she worked with. He had a vague impression that they believed she'd given him up for adoption at birth. But it wasn't his habit to volunteer information. "They didn't mind, I guess."

Bubbles suddenly walked over to the edge of the enclosure closest to the house and curled up next to the fence. Katy and Faber gave each other a knowing glance. The cat had heard Faber's mother's car. She'd be home in few minutes.

"Should we go in?"

Faber gave Bubbles a quick neck rub and kissed him on the nape of the neck - his way of saying goodbye.

"Sure, we'll pick this up later. Bubbles will be in a better mood when he sees Mom."

Faber watched Bubbles as he worked the mechanism to open the first gate. and walked into the sally port Then he checked that it was securely closed. Always two checks, using two senses: A visual check that the door was locked, and a tactile check. He shook the gate strongly to make sure everything was tight and secure. He did the same thing after exiting the sally port on the outside.

He gave Katy a kissed and they walked into the house arm in arm.