May, 1998
From private mail:

Omar's mom reports on his behavior following his first fluid treatment at home:
[I'm] trying to curb the optimism but the little booger got off the table and pooped in the middle of the floor two minutes after we were done. Take THAT!!!

Good job, Omar.
Irene, purrrrrrrring for his recovery

Fangu, Ms Irene, ma'am! shuffle Dat (ahem) reely meens a lot to me.
Did yu enjoi my refenje poop inda middull ov da floor? I fot das wuz a nize touch mineownselv!
Omar, who actually ATE, not nibbled or licked, a little of his breakfast this morning

That was mighty ^%$#ing impressive, Omar. I'm so proud of you. You can have some of this Sheba if you'd like. I doubt Toto would mind us sharing our stash.
Irene

Ohmy....dats so generus ov yu! Fangu somuch, Ms Irene ma'am!
I hope yu wont be too offendid if I just eet a mouffull or too an denn sit heer an watch *yu* eet. I finds I'ze just not abull to eet a hole lot at wunse qwite yet.
Omar

Well, a &^%$ing lady can't eat by herself...try just a *tiny* bite, Omar.
Irene

If yu insisst, ma'am...it *duz* smell gud...I'll just haff a mouffull...
Omar

That's great, Omar.
Irene, staring intently

Uh...yu'ze makin me nervoss, ma'am. I cant tell whut yu'ze finkin.
Omar, pausing in mid chomp

I'm thinking how you'd better eat everything on that plate! Please....
Irene, stretching out a small gray arm, claws extended

(wary look at claws)
I wud if I cud, Ms Irene, ma'am. But luk (rolls over to smoosh furs against thin liddle body): I fink mytummy shrunk!
Omar

Then you'd better EAT, Omar!!!
Irene, alarmed

Oh nonono, dont be alarmd, Ms Irene! I'ze eetin, just liddle bits ata time seffral times aday....deffnitlee more denn beefor. An TED will be happy to heer dat I'ze drinkin lots (I'ze goin to see him agin tomorro mornin.)
Speekin ov wich....is dat a waderbowl offur dere? Let me show yu my waderbowl shuffle, it's a liddle soffshoe danse I do rite beefor I drink. Yu mite enjoi it, an denn mebbe we cud sit in frunt ov da windo an haff a qwiet tawk. Or not. Whuteffur yu'd like.
Omar, pleased and a little confused

(purrr-hisss) OK.
Irene, curious

Omar settles himself in a sunny spot near the window
So, Ms Irene, I'ze bin wundrin....haff yu allways bin a TGK?

(cackle-hisss) As long as I've been gray!
Irene, stretching out below the window, in a ray of sunshine

Hmmmm....I wuz just wundrin if mebbe yu got Tuff wenn yu moofd in wiff all da boyz an Giuliani. So, eefin wenn it wuz just yu an yurdad an yursisfur Toto, yu wuz alldatime angry?
Omar

(cackle-hissss) You bet!
Irene, rolling over in the sunshine

Hmmm...."alldatime angry".....Omar thinks that over Yu no, I cant reememfur effur beein angry at ennyfing myhole life!
Yu'ze happy *sum*timez, arnt yu, Ms Irene?
Omar, thoroughly relaxed, emanating his strongest "I'm no threat" aura

(puuurrrrr-hisssssss)
Irene, stretching out in thuh sunshine, dozing off peacefully

Omar rests his chin on the floor, nose not-quite-but-almost touching Irene's fur

(purrrrhissssssssnooooooooze....)
Irene, vaguely aware of birds chirping in the trees...

Omar opens one eye and takes a sniff of Irene's sun-toasted fur
Ummmm.....Ms Irene, ma'am? Do yu fink, errrr, mebbee, (aHEM) dat yu an I cud, errrr, perhaps....(gulp).....befurrygudfrends?
I, errrr, yu no, dont haff a lot to offur, I cudnt deefend yu wiff more denn wurrds if dere wuz reeltrubble (I cud help yu runaway) an I (shuffle) well, I haff sum healff problims as yu no so I cant in fareniss ask fur ennymore, but I like yu furrymuch an I wud....errrr....ahh gee...I wud like to sumtimez just hang owt qwiet wiff yu just like dis.

~~Irene opens one eye, closes it again~~
I'll think about it.
Irene, dozing off peacefully

Omar settles back on his side, stretches one clawless front foot until it lightly touches Irene, and smiles

(purrrrr-hisss-purrrrrr...)
liddle gray bitch dreams of chasing birdies through the field with Omar...and killing every damned one of them.