What a piece of work is Max! How noble in reason, how infinite in faculties, in form and moving
how express and admirable, in action how like an Angel!
Um…or not.
Yes, Max is a “piece of work” in every sense of the word (and yes, English majors, that opening bit is from Hamlet). And this month, Max has put me to the test in explaining his piece-of-workitude to smitten visitors.
There is something about Max that draws you in – into his gaze, into his room, and into his very deep and complicated heart. If I had a nickel for every time someone fell in love with Max within 5 minutes of arriving at Tabby’s Place…well, I’d have money for a lot of visits to the ice cream man.
It happens something like this: Visitor (let’s call him Joe – no, that’s boring, let’s call him Sven) arrives. I greet Sven, ask if he’s been to Tabby’s Place before. He hasn’t. I start my spiel. But Sven is already lost to me, locked on Max. And Max is very, very much locked on Sven.
Sven’s been at Tabby’s Place 45 seconds at this point, and Max has already stared into the depths of his soul. Gazing out his window in Adoption Room 1, perched like a panther on his window seat, Max commands attention…and affection.
“Who is that?” Sven asks me in a hushed tone.
“Ah,” I say. “That’s our Max.”
Inevitably, Sven will ask: “Is he up for adoption?”
And that’s about where words fail me.
Technical answer: yes.
Honest answer: it’s complicated.
Yes, Max is available for adoption. But, no, Max isn’t up for any ordinary old adoption. (Not that there is such a thing, but you know what I mean.) Max has shown that the sweetest person this side of pudding can scoop him up and shower him with sweetness…and he’ll go ahead and return the love with vicious attacks. He’s shown that he can be held like a cooing baby for extended periods of time…or growl and flash his fearsome, bigger-than-average teeth at innocent cats/people/walls.
It’s complicated.
I honestly don’t know the circumstances under which we might consider adopting Max out again. I do know that – thank God, and thanks to you, dear sponsors – Max is genuinely happy and content at Tabby’s Place now. We’re very cautious about changing anything (furniture, roommates, routines) in his room, and he’s very thankful for the steady situation – not to mention the below-the-radar roomies who like to spend most of their time below the couches. (That would be Lizzie, Emelia and Kylie – three sweet girls who are on the timid side. The far side of timid.)
So, for the time being, this is Max’s happy home. If it’s in his best interest to stay at Tabby’s Place, stealing hearts right through his window, for the rest of his life, that’s what he will get – along with all the love he could ever crave.
What a piece of work is Max! And we are so grateful.
Thank you for loving our Max-man so generously, dear sponsors. Have a blessed month.
PS: Thank you for your continued prayers for our beloved Jen, Max’s usual correspondent. She hopes to be back in July. We all miss her very much – especially Max.