The Story of a Lost Kitten Who Was Almost Named "Naoyuki" | Naoyuki Agawa (Dean, Faculty of Policy Management)
2007.07.05
It was just the other day. I was walking briskly from the Dean's Office toward Kappa Building, where my office is located. Just as I was about to enter the building, I was stopped by G-san, a member of my research group.
"Professor Agawa, a kitten."
And there, near my feet, was a calico kitten, about a month old. It was not only small but also thin and staggering. Had it been separated from its mother?
"It looks like its face is injured," said G-san. "Professor, you're the dean. Please take care of it." I wasn't aware that the duties of a dean included protecting kittens on campus, but when put that way, I had no choice.
"Yes, I understand. I'll ask someone to take it in."
I replied, and called the Dean's Office.
Meanwhile, the kitten continued to stagger around. If left alone, it looked like it would get lost again. No one was coming from the administrative office to pick it up. I was in a hurry. As I was wondering what to do, a young person who was crouching down and petting the kitten offered, "We'll take care of it for now at the Umegaki lab." Relieved, I told the Dean's Office where the kitten was and left the scene.
An hour later, when I returned to the Dean's Office, K-san said, "Professor, no one from the administrative office has gone to pick up the kitten. And just a little while ago, we got a call from Professor Umegaki. 'Where is the dean? No one has come to get this kitten.'" K-san looked worried, as if the new dean had caused yet another troublesome problem.
Just then, the phone rang again. When I picked up the receiver, it was, as expected, Professor Umegaki.
"Listen here..." Here it comes. When Professor Umegaki starts a conversation with "Listen here...," he's in a bad mood.
"Yes, it's about the kitten. I'm very sorry. I was in a hurry and ended up asking a kind-hearted student from your lab to take care of it."
"I gave him a real earful. Told him not to just take in lost kittens on his own."
"I apologize for the trouble. I'll have someone from the office come to pick it up and take appropriate measures immediately."
I answered, standing at attention in front of the phone.
"But, you know," Professor Umegaki's tone suddenly changed. "If no one takes it, it'll be sent to the public health center and, well, you know, put down. If we release it on campus, in its condition, it might get attacked by crows. It's a pitiful thing, so I guess we'll look after it for a little while longer."
"Thank you very much."
"In return, though," said Professor Umegaki.
"I'm going to name the kitten 'Naoyuki.' If it misbehaves, I can scold it, 'Hey, Naoyuki!'"
A few days later, I heard through the grapevine that the kitten was a female, that she had become popular in the Umegaki research group, that a student had taken her home and given her a thorough washing with "flea shampoo for cats," and that she was scheduled for a check-up at the vet because she seemed to have a cold. I also heard they are still looking for someone to adopt her and are taking suggestions for a name.
There are so many kind-hearted people at SFC, aren't there? And it seems she wasn't given an uncool name like "Gakubucho" or "Naoyuki." I'm so glad for you, little kitten.
(Date Published: 2007/07/05)