MP3 Domino Man

Domino Man was written, produced and sung by Max Berry.
Max Berry on Guitar
Max Groove on keyboard
Dave Chael on Saxophone

Excerpt from The Cats, Max and Me, The Autobiography of a Cat-a-holic by Sharon Berry
Domino was from a litter of wild cats that my daughter-in-law was trying to find homes for. The nursing home where she worked was by an open field and Domino’s mother had had several litters. This time the nurses decided they were going to catch the mama cat and have her spayed. They took her babies and found homes for them. I was one of the chosen ones to receive one of these precious cargos.

The first night of Domi’s stay I put him in bed with me. He was so small and shook at the slightest sound. I didn’t expect to get any sleep but thought by holding him I could get him to trust me and maybe I could get a little body rest in the meantime. During the night I drifted off for a few minutes and awoke with a start. There was something on my face. A little tongue was licking my mouth, kind of a ‘French Kiss’ thing. Once I got my bearings, I saw it was Domino and it was then that I realized that he was doing to me what his mother must do to him. The poor little guy needed to be comforted. I kissed and licked his face like an animal would do and held him tight until he drifted off to sleep. He slid down my arm and positioned himself at my side. I sleep in T-shirts and Domi, still asleep, started sucking on my shirt right in the armpit. It seemed to comfort him so I let him do it. When I asked the Vet about the sucking, he said Domino would stop it in about two years. “Two years? Are you crazy,” I yelled? He never has. Every night when I got in bed he was right there ready to “nurse”.

I’d never had a wild cat before. Domi loved to fight and run through the house at lightning speed. He was cute, precocious and always plotting his “Big Escape”. The minute I’d open the back door to let our dog out he’d shoot across the yard as far as he could before I could catch him. Each time getting closer and closer to the fence that separated our backyard from the neighbors. As Domino’s body grew larger and his legs got stronger he would run farther and farther until one day he made it to the fence.

He’d been planning this day for a long time. Everyday he’d sit on the back of the sofa in the upstairs sunroom looking out at the yard. His keen eyes had seen a hole under the fence. So hidden Max and I didn’t know it was there. He must have seen this as his big chance to see the world. Just as his body slid under the fence, I grabbed his leg. He tried to fight me, but I held on, determined that I knew what was best for him. After that attempt he gave up. It was like he knew his fate was sealed. Domino Man was doomed to a life of hugs, kisses, ten meals a day, toys galore, and two weird, doting people that took his picture every time he tilted his head a different way. Or maybe he just realized he had a great gig.