When I took this job as General Manager and Chief Security Office at Casa de Togo, my contract contained a nine-month probationary period. Pretty common in my business. It gave Daddy and Momma the right to fire me if they didn’t think my work met their standards. While common, I didn’t really like having the clause in there.1
My nine-month anniversary was last Thursday. I was . . . what’s that phrase? . . . “nervous as a cat” this whole week.2
I checked my file and all of my performance reviews had A+ reviews. I mentioned that to Daddy a while back. He mumbled something about that not being probative evidence seeing that I’m the chief HR officer and I had written those reviews myself. I didn’t take that personally and marked it up to Daddy’s past life as a lawyer and his unending desire to use legal mumbo-jumbo at least once a day. The instance that day was “probative evidence.”
However, I did have some concerns. I have worked hard and have done my best to bring noticeable improvements. Still . . .
Daddy was out of town on my review date last Thursday. So Momma called me into the kitchen, told me I had done an excellent job, and that my probation period was over. I was happy. I had to ask, “What about Daddy?”
Momma smiled and called me to join her in front of the sink.
“You know how we keep a gallon water bottle underneath the sink that we use to fill up your water bowls?” she asked. “Take a look at this.”
When she swing the cabinet door open and lifted the bottle to the counter into the light, I admit that my eyes misted a bit.
“Daddy left it for you,” she said.
It was the water bottle. But something was different about it. Looking closer, I saw that Momma and Daddy had my name printed on it. My very own water bottle!
There, my friends, was probative evidence that I’m going to be around a long time. After all, you don’t get a personalized water bottle if your job isn’t secure.
Daddy will be home soon and Momma is planning a big celebration of my nine-month anniversary. It feels good to be truly home.
As I was signing the contract, Momma assured me that I would never be fired. She already loved me on the very first day and assured me I was in my forever home. She swore me to secrecy and told me that she was Daddy’s boss and that I was safe from Daddy’s form contracts.
I think some things in human-speak are misleading. I’ve seen a lot of cats in my day and not one of them has ever appeared to be concerned about much of anything. I, on the other hand, am a nervous wreck when I’m around them. They’re fast, they’re sneaky, and they have no concern for my personal space. Perhaps my phrase should be “nervous as I am when cats are around.”
Always love the stories and had no doubt Mia would pass probation.
Congratulations, Mia! We had no doubts!