Fred in Love

110 Pages·2005·0.24 MB·English

by  Felice Picano

Fred in Love

Fred in Love
c
Felice Picano
THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN PRESS
TERRACE BOOKS
The University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street
Madison, Wisconsin 53711
www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress/
3 Henrietta Street
London WC2E 8LU, England
Copyright © 2005
The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System
All rights reserved
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Printed in the United States of America
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Picano, Felice, 1944–
Fred in love / Felice Picano.
p. cm.
ISBN 0-299-20910-5 (hardcover: alk. paper)
1. Picano, Felice, 1944– .
2. Authors, American—20th century—Biography.
3. Cat owners—United States—Biography.
4. Cats—United States—Anecdotes. I. Title.
PS3566.I25Z465 2005
813´.54—dc22 2004025623
Terrace Books, a division of the University of Wisconsin Press,
takes its name from the Memorial Union Terrace, located at
the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Since its inception in 1907,
the Wisconsin Union has provided a venue for students, faculty,
staff, and alumni to debate art, music, politics, and the issues of the day.
It is a place where theater, music, drama, dance, outdoor activities, and
major speakers are made available to the campus and the community.
To learn more about the Union, visit www.union.wisc.edu.
For
kay salz
and of course,
fred
c

“You’re beginning to fascinate me.
And I resent that in any man!”
Alice Brady to Eric Blore in
The Gay Divorcee
c

One
c
I
first became acquainted with Fred as the result of
an act of sexual intercourse. A year later, I be-
came more deeply attached to Fred because of a
thwarted act of sexual intercourse. And I’m al-
most certain that I altogether lost Fred, some six years
later, because of one or more acts of sexual intercourse.
This might not seem like such a peculiar matter to
share in a relationship, until I reveal that Fred was a cat.
And no, Fred and I never had intercourse together.
Fred was my second cat of three altogether. Fourth
of five if you count the two I grew up with. I guess one
has to count them. Them and the cats around myself
afterwards, from lovers and pals too. Making him
about fourth of seven. That’s just the way it happens:
cats always end up leaving somekind of impression.
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