Sandra’s Miscellany

Dash The Incredible Swimming Cat nearly became a star when a National Geographic Kids freelance journalist contacted me about including Dash in an article. We were thrilled. Dash kept her coat groomed in anticipation of the glamour shot we knew would be forthcoming, and I thought up witty repartee for the interview.

Alas, swimming cats have turned out to be too common to be of interest.

I expected Dash to be devastated when I told her she’d been passed over, but as her English has never been good, I’m not sure the news had any effect.

Dot, the brain of the two cats, had much to say about the development. Her English is quite good, despite stumbling over words like “postmodernism,” “existential quandary,” and “staircase.” She does much better with “dinner,” “hungry?”, “get your mouse,” and “where’s the feather?”

For Dash, the answer to all questions is, “the feather.” Given the stretch of movie stars I’ve seen on Letterman over the past few years, I’d say Dash is easily as good a conversationalist.

But perhaps her fifteen minutes of almost-fame was fulfilling enough.