MIGHTY LITTLE MAN

Payne’s debut memoir is an upbeat celebration of one man’s love for his four-legged feline friend.

It may be hard for some people to believe that a gun-loving, Harley-riding military veteran from Alabama would write gushing sentiments about his cat, but Payne has been an unabashed cat lover since he was a young child. This friendly memoir combines the story of Payne’s own life—he was an officer in the U.S. Air Force and later a mechanical engineer for the U.S. Army—with tales of his many beloved pets, particularly a spunky, oversized gray tabby cat named Little Man. Beginning with some humorous and some poignant childhood anecdotes (not surprisingly, his mother was also a cat lover), Payne describes several memorable pets, such as Butch, a lovable but dimwitted kitty who didn’t notice when a lit birthday candle set his tail on fire. Then there was Cindy, a mean little Chihuahua who was born with a crooked jaw, so that her tongue permanently stuck out. All of Payne’s animals had plenty of personality, but the one who held a special place in his heart was Little Man, who would head-butt the bedroom door until someone let him in. As the author tells their fast-paced story, it becomes obvious that he and Little Man are a lot alike. Both had their own difficulties to face—Little Man is diabetic, and Payne’s family struggled financially—yet they both thrived, despite the odds. Ultimately, Payne earned his “jump wings” badge in parachutist training and attended test pilot school. Little Man faced a much bigger challenge, as he struggled to survive a severe, mysterious illness. At times, the story rambles as the author jumps from place to place, including many details of his own life; for example, reading about his scuba diving excursion to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, and how he posed for pictures with the koalas at the zoo, can sometimes feel like one is watching a friend’s unexciting home movies. It also takes a while to get to the heart of the story, which is Little Man’s illness. However, pet lovers who hang in there will be touched by Little Man’s and Payne’s determination.

An often sweet story for cat lovers of all stripes.