I’ve been getting quite a chuckle out of Gray Socks Ghost this week.

He’s been making remarkable progress in his recognition of me. Of course, he wants food, but he seems to be recognizing me as the provider of said food. Last night, I was talking to Zelda on the side porch. I turned and saw Gray Socks Ghost trotting across the lawn to me. I greeted him and went inside to get a couple cans of food. When I came out, he and Zelda were on the back porch — Zelda on the steps, Gray Socks under them. I emptied one can of food into the dish on the back porch for Zelda, then I walked around to the side of the house calling Gray Socks to meet me there. Sure enough, he was on the ductwork when I got there. This time, instead of waiting under the house, he came out in the open while I emptied the can in the bowl. When I set the bowl on the ductwork, he briefly retreated. I left my hand on the ductwork beside the bowl, and he only hesitated briefly before eating. When he reached the bottom of the bowl and began pushing the bowl forward as he got the last bits of food, I slid my hand over to hold the bowl in place. He only glance at me while he ate. When he got down to the last morsels, I allowed my finger to rest on the edge of the bowl. After he finished eating, he briefly sniffed my finger before heading back under the house.

Gray Socks has become quite interested in what’s on the other side of the window — I hear the inside cats interacting with him on a periodic basis. He and Zelda seem to be becoming companionable, and I like to see that. After losing Nick and Daisy, I think she’s been lonesome for feline companionship.