| I was sound asleep at 6: 30 in the morning, May | | | | built in entertainment center. He had tried to open |
| 20, 2002, when I heard a voice in my right ear. | | | | the file cabinets, but had abandoned his attempt |
| The voice was calm and spoke clearly, "There's | | | | since they were locked. |
| someone in the house." I immediately opened my | | | | Had he come into the bedroom? How long had he |
| eyes, and standing on my chest no more than 2 | | | | been in the house? How much time had it taken |
| inches from my face, looking me directly in the | | | | for Isis to wake me up? I don't know; all I know |
| eyes was my black Egyptian cat, Isis. | | | | is what Isis told me, " There's someone in the |
| My first response was to grab the remote control | | | | house." |
| for the closed-circuit television for my house. | | | | There was no sense in calling the police. They |
| Turning on the remote with my right hand, I | | | | would never be able to find this person in Los |
| reached with my left hand for my 38 revolver | | | | Angeles, California. |
| under the covers, as I balanced Isis on my chest. | | | | That evening my best friend Kerry came over to |
| As the picture appeared on the monitor I saw a | | | | visit, since I had telephoned him about the |
| black man in my courtyard opening the gate to | | | | burglary and Isis' notifying me of the event. "I |
| leave. My first thought was, "Thanks Celina (my | | | | can't believe Isis spoke to me in perfect English. |
| caregiver) for not locking the gate!" I was able to | | | | She's the reason I knew somebody was in the |
| follow his actions through the different cameras. | | | | house." |
| He moved to the front door and bent down to | | | | Isis had never liked Kerry; but she came prancing |
| view the packages the United Parcel Service man | | | | up to him as soon as he entered the door and |
| had left the night before. As soon as he bent his | | | | started meowing. It was as though she was |
| head, he was right next to the intercom speaker, | | | | saying, with great pride, "You heard about what I |
| I pushed the intercom button. | | | | did? Aren't I incredible? I saved my mother's life." |
| "Can I help you?" I said loudly. The man took off | | | | Kerry picked her up. "I always thought you were |
| running like a ghost was chasing him. I couldn't | | | | just a stupid cat. I didn't know you were this |
| believe what had just happened. Isis was still on | | | | intelligent. I have great respect for what you did." |
| my chest looking me in the eyes. | | | | Isis stayed in his arms basking in the praise. From |
| "Thank you, baby, for protecting us," I said with | | | | that date they had a close relationship. |
| deep gratitude. Her green eyes acknowledged the | | | | What a mystery Isis is to me. As I gaze into her |
| thanks with a blink. I was shaken by the event, | | | | green eyes, I can't help but wonder how she |
| but I knew I had to get up to look around the | | | | came to be so insightful. |
| house. I put Isis on the table next to the bed. | | | | "What do you know that I don't know? What do |
| Moving from the bedroom into the adjoining living | | | | you see that I can't see? How were you able to |
| room, I could see where the man had entered | | | | communicate to me on that day?" I ask her |
| through one of the windows that Celina had not | | | | silently. |
| locked. The burglar had tried to steal the big | | | | Her silence tells me that it is a mystery I must |
| screen TV that weighed 400 pounds. He was not | | | | unravel. |
| able to move it more than a few inches from the | | | | |