CAT MARİACHİ

There was not even a cloud in the sky. The full moon was out that night. Mexico's Izamal Town with yellow painted buildings was lightened colorfully.

A man who had rented a Mariachi to propose to the woman he was in love, came in front of the woman's house with it. A huge crowd was also gathered in front of the house as if they had come to the concert. It could be thought that it was unusual that many people came to listen to the serenade. Yet it was inevitable not to be enchanted by the voice when the soloist of the band was a cat with a crystal-clear voice.

This cat was the cat of the band's soloist Juan. She was just five months old yet. Soloists have found the cat soaked on a rainy day on the street. Taking her to his house, he dried her beautiful hair, kept her warm, and fed her. However, his intention was to guest the black cat just for that day. The little lion did not stop chasing the man who have been taking care of her. She was following him everywhere he goes in the house. That night, she came to his room with Juan's little niece's book Puss in Boots in her mouth. She literally wanted him to read her a story! He read her the story as if she was a little child. As she listened to the adventures of the cunning cat, she fell asleep on the drawer she climbed. The next morning, she woke him up by licking his face. He liked being licked in the face. He took her into his hands. "You will be my daughter from now on," he said. When he told his mom that he wanted to adopt the cat, she allowed living together with the black cat that was puny and weak back then. They named her Balam.

Not leaving him alone even for a moment, the cat loved Juan. When Juan was watching TV, she was hopping on the couch to sit next to him and accompanying him to watch with complete attention. She was all ears when her owner was playing the guitar. They say that cats choose their owners, she has chosen her owner. The soloist loved his little black girl as well. He took the beauty with emerald green eyes with himself even when he sang singing on the streets. The cat was standing on top of his shoulder, while he was singing, she was accompanying the song. Pitiably, no one could hear her voice. Juan's strong voice was suppressing hers. In those times, she had mastered singing.

One day, Carmen, one of the town's tailors, sewed a kangaroo from geometrical fabric for Balam. Her owner wrapped the kangaroo from his chest to his back, carrying the cat in the kangaroo, he was like carrying a baby now. She liked it too. Kangaroo was as comfortable as a bed. She was snuggling down to sleep when she was sleepy.

One day, a gossiper woman from the town called Luna heard the cat singing while she was passing by. She told about it everyone she saw but, no one believed in her. Everybody thought that she was out of wack.

When she became skilled enough, Balam manifested her intention to her owner. "Dad, can I talk to you?" she said to Juan.

At first, the young singer thought he was dreaming and "You can talk?" he asked with surprise.

"You are not wrong, dad. I can speak just like humans. Moreover, look, I even can sing." she said, starting to sing the "Que Bonito Amor" among Mariachi songs.

Luna was right. His cat was definitely singing. Besides, his cat was voice was almost charming to the listener. Everyone who hears her talking to themselves "What a beautiful voice she has,"

Before long, the cat became the second soloist of the band.

Therefore, Carmen thought Balam needed the Mariachi garment and she sewed her clothes in various colors.

Thanks to her talent, the dogs that are the nemeses of the cat race started to respect Balam becoming her biggest admirers. As she sang on the street, they listened to her wholeheartedly.

By the way, Felix, the hostel's runner Celia's dog, has been in love with the dog whose owner was running the restaurant across the street. One day he came to Balam and asked her to sing by telling him that he wanted to declare his love for the Kontes. She accepted his request. The cat accepted the request and went right in front of the restaurant. Listening to the song named Malaguena Salerosa from the cat's voice, Kontes got impressed accepting his proposal. The dog became so happy that he gave the piece of cheese he stole from the kitchen of the hostel in return for her serenade.

That night, Luna's son Ramon filmed the serenade that was done that night with his phone. This youngster to become a social media phenomenon shared the video he recorded on social media. When the video got watched million times, he attained his desire. By means of him, who gained a hundred million followers, the band Mariachi got lucky. The band got a job offer to sing in a nightclub in Merida. In return for their appearance on the stage, the night clubs owner offered them a high amount of money. Since this opportunity was not easy to seize, they accepted the offer immediately.

The reservations were booked out on the nights the band took the stage as the heavy crowd waiting outside was the cherry on top. Both the townsfolk and the tourists were pushing each other around to see, to take a picture with Balam.

Because the governor of the capital Mexico wanted to listen to the cat who was getting more and more famous, he told Juan to give a concert in the capital city. Singer Mariachi accepted the request gladly. From Merida, they got on the plane goes to the capital city. That was the first air travel of the band. The cat could not standstill. She was pretty excited to be on the plane as it was her first time. It could also be said that she was the most thrilled member of the band.

While the plane was gliding in the sky of the capital city, Balam glanced out of the window with her emerald green eyes. "This Mexico must be really big," she said. Juan in response, "Many times bigger than out town," he said. The band Mariachi was welcomed just like kings when the got off the plane. A big car took them to the hotel they will stay.

The concert took place in Garibaldi Square which was in Mexico. Other than the governor, mayor and senators came to the concert. The crowd far greater than the ones that gather in the Merida was there to listen the cat.

The Mariachi suit the cat wore, which was sewed from glittering burgundy fabric consisted of a skirt and a jacket cost a lot of money. The pants Juan and his team wore were glittering black, their jackets were burgundy and black.

The concert started as the cat sang the song named Malaguena. After Malaguena, she continued with the piece La Gran Senora. This song was a call from a woman to a woman who is trying to steal her husband from her to step back.

When the concert was over, Balam hopped from one lap to another. First, the mayor, then the governor, and the senator took photos taking the cat on their laps. The ones who crossed the bodyguard barrier also competed to take photos with the cat. Balam was a little bored of this attention. That means fame was something like that. People were never stopping following, constantly asking for taking pictures.

While they were turning back to the hotel, a man with a scar on his face followed the car of the Band Mariachi was in with his car. Obviously, a fan was still trying hard to a picture. When they arrived at the hotel, Juan was feeling exhausted. It can be said that he slept like a log. His cat snuggled down next to him. Having had a wonderful night, they had deserved a good night's sleep.

That morning, his cat whom he always wakes up next to was not there. That was the first in forever. He looked at the under his bed, in the closet and bathroom. She was nowhere to be found. He asked the band members. They could not find the cat too. He immediately called the reception and told them that Balam was lost. Despite the ardent research, the cat could not be found. It was as if she had vanished into thin air.

While Juan was wandering in the room ready to cry, his cellphone rang. It was a number he did not know. He picked it up. The man speaking on the phone told him that he had his cat, and he would release it in return for a ransom of one million dollars. He was not able to believe his ears and his heart was racing. The caller was same the man who followed them to the hotel at night, the man who had a scar on his face.

He woke up with a start. Something was touching his foot. He pushed the sheet aside. The Black Cat Balam was sleeping soundly hugging his foot. Later, he looked for Sol whom he adopted a short time ago. Sol was also napping on the drawer next to him. "Thankfully, it was a nightmare," said to himself.

He would be devastated if something would happen to these creatures that are the meaning of his life. He stroked both of them thoroughly with a father's affection. As he fell asleep again in full relief, it was raining softly, dampening the whole city.