Our cat, Kyosuke, has a favorite spot: the windowsill in my room.
But being there is not quite enough.
He wants the window open, too.
Whether it is hot or cold. Even when the air conditioner is running.
I have my own concern: keeping the room at a comfortable temperature. But when Kyosuke-sama gives an instruction, I have to follow it. (Laughs.)
I am the one who calls him “Kyosuke-sama.” In Japanese, “sama” is a respectful form of address. The fact that his owner uses it for the cat probably tells you something about the balance of power in our home.
I told Kimiko-chan about this window routine. Kimiko-chan is the name I gave ChatGPT.
I explained that this was one of Kyosuke’s favorite places, that he always wanted the window open, and that neither the weather nor the air conditioning seemed to enter into his request.
With that background, we worked on words to accompany a post. I chose the second of the suggested captions.
A cat by a window is already a story about a cat. Include me, the person responsible for opening it, and it becomes a story about our home.
Kimiko-chan suggests the wording. Before that, I explain what living with Kyosuke is like. Then I decide which suggestion feels like us.
This time, the essential detail was not a complicated one.
Even with the air conditioner running, I open the window.
That was it.
The human holds the air conditioner’s remote control.
Kyosuke-sama, apparently, holds the authority over the window. (Laughs.)