Ship's Cat
Container
Antwerp (stowaway, 2023)
Sleeps on the ECDIS. Has opinions.
Boarded three years ago in Antwerp, refused to disembark, and has since acquired seniority. Sleeps on whichever screen is warmest, generally the electronic chart display. Considered by the crew to be lucky. Considered by the electronic chart display to be a problem.
Portrait is a comic book invention. Under the conditions of my passage, no likeness of the working crew may appear here, names have been changed and faces drawn from memory.
19 August 2026The Pillow Has Fallen
Six weeks in, halfway down the Red Sea, and I woke at 07:00 with a cat's face two inches from mine, occupying territory that used to be mine.
11 August 2026From Russia with Love
Priya invited me to a film in the crew television room. I had no idea I was a Bond girl. I have decided that I like it.
5 August 2026The Pillow Campaign Begins
Container has moved two inches up the bed. This is not random. This is a campaign, and I am now taking measurements.
3 August 2026A Kite, Plain Rice, and a Respectable Second
Priya taught me to fly a kite from the bridge deck. Elena moved me onto plain rice and plain toast. Container has claimed the foot of my bed. We came second at trivia.
27 July 2026The Cat, the Eggplant and a Trivia Team I Did Not Ask For
I woke up to find the ship's cat at the foot of my bed. I also discovered I do not like eggplant. Priya has rostered me onto her trivia team. The seagulls are judging all of us.