The Lost Codger

Or so it seemed, as AF led me to believe.

It was last weekend when AF had the word “pancits” on his Yahoo IM status. I was curious to know the reason behind it and began some idle talk with him. He just got back from a 10km run and we further went on to discuss about the different tints in our sunglasses (to avoid getting caught while oggling at scantily-clad conchitas in the park), when he mentioned that he had a four-day weekend.

I was of course, disgusted by that, since we only had a three-day weekend over here (May Day Bank Holiday). So I asked him what it was for.

“Tuesday is the Royal Cat’s birthday”, he said.

“You’re pulling my leg.”

“Why would I do that?”

Of course, I didn’t believe him straight away. All that fuss over a cat? I mean, I know zilch about Spain but to think the royal family was that obsessed about their cat? You have to admit, it sounds a bit odd. Maybe they’re eccentric; everyone knows Spaniards sleep in the afternoon during weekdays. Perhaps the extra slumber has made them a bit looney.

So I went on with my queries.

“How old is the cat?”

“Quite old. They started it right after the Franco regime.”

“Can it still walk?”

“I’m not sure. But I heard it has leukemia.”

“Cats can get leukemia?”

“Yes. Even cancer.”

“I still can’t believe they have a public holiday in honour of a cat.”

“Why not? In Malaysia we have holidays for farmers.”

“I guess so. Have you seen the cat?”

“No. I’m not that privileged.”

“Do they take it around the city?”

“No. The prince and princess just had a baby so the cat takes a back-seat. It’s probably getting frail. I guess when it dies, the holiday will be changed to commemorate its death.”

“Won’t they just withdraw that day as a holiday?”

“I don’t know. You actually believed what I said?”

“<insert-your-favourite-lengthened-profanity-here>”

I couldn’t believe I fell for that.

*****

It wasn’t long before I saw the status message of Idlan on Yahoo IM. Thinking she shared a similar fate, I went over to let her in on the little prank.

“We’ve been had.”

“Why? What happened?”

“`Coz I also believed there was such a thing as the royal cat’s birthday in Spain.”

“Whaddya mean you ALSO? Ahem, excuse me.”

“Oh, is it just me alone then?”

“<insert-cynical-laughter-from-a-girl-doing-PhD-here>”

My friends can be so cruel at times.

*schniff*