Trooper

by Forrest Bryant Johnson

  Soon it became impossible for us to cover the high cost of operating the ranch. Perhaps its existence had only been necessary for Trooper to enjoy freedom. Life works that way sometimes.

  Teri relocated to the Phoenix area where she would be closer to her twin brother and younger sister.

  Herman fell in love with one of our Japanese tour guides, and together they moved to another part of town.

  And our surrounding desert began to disappear as the city continued its phenomenal growth.

  Jim Butler, our eyes and ears of the neighborhood, sold his property and relocated to a senior retirement community. His “old Navy buddy” joined him there.

  We sold our ranch and moved into a town home where Brother became an “inside cat.” He appeared to have no objection to his new lifestyle, but I believe he was lonely, and that worried me.

  We enclosed the back porch with rabbit-wire fencing, and placed two carpet-covered cat trees with the ramp Herman constructed for Trooper leaning against one of them. This provided Brother with good exercise opportunities.

  One day, orphan two kittens made our small backyard their home. They soon discovered they could slip through the four-by-three-inch openings of the rabbit wire and enjoy Brother’s dry food.

  This feasting continued for a few days until the kittens became so fat they could no longer fit through the wire. Fortunately, they were trapped inside Brother’s exercise area.

  Chiaki named the smaller kitten BB, and the other, with a peculiar black spot on her nose, Dot Com.

  Brother now has two playmates who admire him greatly. We continued our desert tours, on a limited scale, knowing Brother was no longer lonely.

  Sometimes the three fuzzy creatures will, as cats do, sit and simply stare at one another for a long time. I wonder if Brother is telling them about places he has been, where they could never go; of the many adventures shared with his big friend; and of how he and Trooper once ruled the desert, or how the two of them outsmarted a dangerous coyote.

  Brother had become a very macho cat, though still mischievous and lovable, so I suspect that in his version of those adventures, he was the leader.

  We humans, however, know the true story of the cat who came in from the wild.

  Acknowledgments

  I HAVE LEARNED THAT THOSE who met Trooper never forgot the encounter.

  A view of an elusive bobcat crossing your yard or a chance sighting along a trail in some wilderness is a thrilling experience. But entering my office and seeing one peacefully sleeping on my desk was unforgettable.

  Though many years have passed since our adventures on the ranch, once in a while I still meet someone who will say to me, “I remember that big, beautiful cat of yours. Is he still roaming the desert?” (or something to that effect).

  “Yes. In a way, he’s still out there,” I always answer.

  My wife, Chiaki, became the self-appointed family photographer the first day I brought Trooper home from the pet hospital. Searching through his photo album, I discovered that our collection, as it usually is with our children, was mostly limited to his younger days. We have many photos of him as a fuzzy kitten, or as a chubby young adult. But there are few that were taken after we moved to the ranch and he became busy, enjoying his freedom.

  Having the camera handy at just the right moment was impossible. Except at night, or napping in my office, he seldom remained in one place very long. In those days, cell phones did not contain cameras, so getting a photo of the cat in a tree, or in the flower garden, was a matter of luck. Look away for a second and he was gone.

  I wish to thank a few special people.

  First, my literary agent and friend, Agnes Birnbaum, of Bleecker Street Associates, Inc., New York City. She has unmatched perseverance, with her marketing and editorial skills, and has guided me successfully for over fifteen years.

  I write the old way, with pen and paper, and needed someone with the ability to read my scratched-over notes and place them in an acceptable form, electronically. I was fortunate to meet Ms. Marcia Baum, an extraordinarily talented and pleasant lady, who accomplished what seemed to be the impossible. Her efficiency in typing and computer science produced the needed results.

  My special thanks to the wonderful people at Skyhorse Publishing, especially editor Veronica Alvarado. I appreciate Ronnie’s faith in my story, her sharp eye, and her suggestions. Her professional editorial work was extremely creative and, as a bonus, she is a great pleasure to work with.

  Lastly, thanks to my wonderful wife, Chieko (best known by her stage name, Chiaki Keiko). You cared for Trooper from his playful days as a kitten, sat up some nights worrying about him when he was on one of his territorial patrols, and helped nurse his injuries when he returned after a battle. I am forever grateful for your love, understanding, and encouragement, especially as I prepared this biography of our friend from the wild.