Gatito

the cat who growled at the rain

Gatito was born under a leaking roof, and he took it personally. He growled at drizzle. He hissed at thunder as if it owed him money. And in time, strangely, the weather began paying tribute. The wind knocked ripe pineapple and blackcurrant from the market stalls and rolled them to his feet. The rain doused the village fires and sent him their birch smoke to wear like a coat. He accepted it all with the dignity of a small king collecting taxes, and grew magnificent on it. Gatito is that swagger, bottled: bright pineapple and blackcurrant over bergamot, laced with birch smoke, grounded in oakmoss and musk. The little cat who won against the sky.