I felt constant warm air lingering around my neck; I wake to it. I turn around, attempting to open my eyes properly. The bed’s so warm; I just want to stay in this bed forever. I stroke the pair of arms around my upper torso. I smile faintly because I knew David was right next to me the whole entire night. His fingers gently grab mine and stroke them.
“Hey,” he whispers in my ear with his hoarse voice. He then rests his chin my shoulder. I hold on to his hands tighter.
Just then we hear a high-pitched snore from the foot of our bed. David and I let out a tired laugh. He sat up and said, “Come on, Pabu.”
David nudged Pabu, our red panda. Pabu’s ears twitched simultaneously.
“He’s been here all night...” I started.
“Yeah, I know, bringing him out for water and food,” David smiles at me as I stretch my arms. He gladly picks up sleeping Pabu out of the room. As soon as they walk out of the door, Pabu started squirming and twittering.
“Now, Pabu…” David’s voice fades as he shut the door behind him.
After minutes of stretching and stalling myself, I get out of bed and (finally) got ready for the day. Before heading out, I made the bed.
I yawn on my way out of the room. I smell scrambled eggs and breakfast sausages instantly. I hear the clanking of pots and pans and oil sizzling.
“Morning, sleepyhead,” David greets me. I walk over to him to give him a light kiss on the cheek.
“Where’s Pabu?” I ask, looking around the living room area. David and I (with Pabu) live together in an apartment. The living room, kitchen and dining area are all in one big room. Living in a cozy apartment was our decision. And yeah, we’re married. It took him a while to register the wedding night; it was hilarious once he finally did.
After a few weeks in on our marriage, I told David how I don’t want to have kids. I knew how much David wanted to have kids with me and probably one day…. Have grandkids. But he was pretty alright with me not wanting to have kids. So, instead, we got Pabu! He knew how much I love red pandas so we decided to adopt Pabu at a tender age where he can climb a wee tree. Since then we’ve raised him like our own.
Pabu’s been nothing but a sweet, trouble-making red panda. Sometimes David would say how we’re not raising him in the right condition a red panda should be—considering we’ve pampered him for the first few years since he’s been with us. And I’d say we’re raising him just fine.
Pabu usually lounges on our couch or sometimes wraps himself in the quilt that used to drape over our couch. Apparently the quilt’s his property now. It was a quilt that David’s aunt knitted together. David was furious at first but since we considered Pabu as our son, he let him have it.
This morning Pabu isn’t on the couch or wrapping himself in the quilt. Maybe he’s napping by the window sill, curled up on a pillow.
“Maybe he’s out on balcony,” he said.
“Hmm… Maybe.”
It’s our usual weekend: Pabu would be off somewhere in the apartment; David cooking breakfast; us eating breakfast he made; and I’m doing absolutely nothing.
Right after we cleaned the table, who do we see running into the living room? Pabu. His long bushy tail with rust-coloured rings swished happily in the air as he approaches me. His whiskers were bouncing in the air.
“Oh hey, there he is!” David exclaims as he put the dishes into the sink. Pabu twitters at him.
Pabu always responds to our sentences with the twittering he makes. It’s how Pabu communicates with us.
“How’s my adorable panda doing?” I coo as I lifted him up in the air. Pabu squirms happily in my grip. His paws were trying to grab hold of my face. I lowered him down and he nestles in my arms.
“What did you give him today?” I ask David.
“Nothing much just a few kilos of bamboo and bark,” he shrugs, wiping the dishes clean.
He was right. I smell bamboo coming from Pabu’s lips. I run my fingers through his silky soft reddish-brown fur to his white furry ears.
“Do you think we should adopt a lady friend for him?”
I suddenly get this wild idea to get another one. Raising Pabu’s already trouble but at times I think he’s lonely, you know? Not being able to be with his own kind is kind of depressing.
David winces, “It’s too soon to decide, don’t you think?”
I sigh in despair, “Yeah, you’re right.”
“Besides, what does he have to worry about? He’s got us!” David gestures to him and me.
I manage to smile a little, “Yeah…”
Pabu licks my fingers as a sign of affection. I think he doesn’t want me to worry about him too much especially when it comes to company.
David finishes with the dishes and dries his hands. He puts his arm around me, “Should we proceed with our weekend now?”
I nod and Pabu places his paws on my shoulder, licking our cheeks. I can tell you this: Pabu’s licks are like the topping on a sundae.
We move to the couch. Pabu bounces on it before settling down. I grab the quilt and drape it over Pabu’s corner (it has always been his spot; the right corner of the couch). He licks his paws clean before curling up beside me.
David plops down by my side with his arm around my shoulders and switches on the television.
Pabu decides to climb on our laps and watches the screen light up. We smile down at him.
“We raised him right,” I thought to myself. Raising Pabu is just like raising any other kid. I’m glad David was fine with it or else I wouldn’t have any company in the apartment when David goes overseas.