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The Iberian Horseshoe — A Journey

Part IV. North East

Nino Goes to Hospital

Steve Porter

Global Fiction

First publication: July 2007

http://badosa.com/n250-58

Nino is shaking, vomiting and can barely stand up.

“I think we should take him to the vet ,” Mary says. “Josep won’t be home for another few hours. What if it’s too late?”

“They shouldn’t be feeding him so many things. He’s still only a kitten.”

We put him in his cardboard box with a jumper to keep him warm.

Mary closes the lid on the box to stop him getting wet. We hurry through the streets and are relieved to find the surgery is open despite the lightning storm that has caused a power cut. Fortunately the waiting room is empty and we get straight in to see the vet.

I describe Nino’s symptoms to the vet and admit the little kitten has been fed bacon. The vet places Nino on the table and sticks a thermometer where the sun doesn’t shine.

“He should be alright,” the vet says. “His temperature is not too high. Just be careful what you give him. He is not able to digest meat.”

Back home, the lights come on just as I am settling in for a night off work. Nino is in the middle of the floor, arching his spine. He bites his tail. Sometimes it seems as if his head and tail are fighting for supremacy over his body. The eccentric Nino is back to normal and follows me to the kitchen on the off-chance that there might be a chop or a pig cheek going spare.