The Eyes of Mr. Ash

He disappears without a sound… then reappears like he never left.
From ancient myths to late-night stares, Mr. Ash’s eyes seem to see more than the rest of us ever could.

Join me as we explore the mystery, the folklore, and the quiet moments that make you wonder — what do our pets really see in the dark?

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Transcript

It’s late.
 The house is quiet. Too quiet.

You tell yourself it’s just the wind — just the house settling.

But then you feel it… that unmistakable sense that you’re not alone.

Your eyes adjust to the dark, and in the corner — two glowing orbs.
 Unblinking. Still. Watching.

Mr. Ash.
 Or… is it?

Cats have always had this reputation.
 Guardians of temples in ancient Egypt.
 Witches’ companions in medieval Europe.
 Bad luck — or good luck — depending on who you asked.

They’ve always been… more than pets.
 Somehow in-between.
 Not quite of this world, not quite of the next.

And if you live with one — like I do —
 you know exactly what I mean.

Mr. Ash has this way of appearing out of nowhere.
 One second, the room’s empty.
 The next — you look up, and there he is.

Just watching.
 Like he’s been there the whole time.

And then there’s his disappearing act.

One minute, he’s curled up behind my computer screen, sound asleep.
 The next — gone.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve searched the house looking for him.
 On his tree, under the couch, by the patio door, in the window — you name it.

And when I do find him, he’s just sitting there, staring at me.
Like he’s been watching me the whole time.
Like he’s saying, “What took you so long?”

There’s something in his eyes when that happens —
 something almost human.

Like he’s not just a cat…
 but someone who’s been here before.

It’s uncanny sometimes — the expressions he gives.
 Too close to human for comfort.

It’s comforting in one way…
 but unsettling in another.

There’s a reason we’ve always tied cats to mystery.
 Their eyes — especially in the dark —
 don’t just look at you.
They look through you.

Folklore says cats can see what humans cannot.
 Spirits. Ghosts.
 Shadows that move when nothing else does.

Science, of course, says cats just have incredible senses.
 They can hear things far beyond what we pick up.
 Smell things we’ll never notice.
 And see almost perfectly in the dark.

But try telling yourself that at three in the morning…
 when your cat is staring at the doorway like someone just walked through.

I’ve seen Ash do it —
 ears twitching, pupils wide,
 locked on something I can’t see.

And in that moment, I can’t help but wonder —
 is it just instinct?
 Or is he tracking something I’ll never understand?

Here’s the thing.
 Eyes don’t just see — they reflect.

Sometimes, when I look into Ash’s eyes,
 I don’t just see curiosity.
 I see calm.
 Patience.
 Even truth.
 And sometimes… mischief.

I’ve wondered if Mr. Ash is more than a cat.
 The looks he gives me — it’s uncanny.
 Almost like he’s been reincarnated from a human,
 and he’s just quietly keeping his secrets to himself.

Maybe that’s the real secret.
 Not that cats see into other worlds…
 but that they show us more of ours.

Our moods.
 Our fears.
 Our hopes.

Reflected right back at us.

Maybe that’s why those eyes are so unsettling.
 Because sometimes…
 we don’t like what we see staring back.

You can call it instinct.
 You can call it science.

But if you’ve ever locked eyes with a cat in the dark…
 you know.

There’s something more there.
 Something ancient.
 Something beyond us.

The question is…
 do you dare admit what the eyes of Mr. Ash might see?

This is How Did We Get Here?
A podcast about the choices, cracks, and crossroads that shape us.

I’m Jim Richmond.
 And I’m still here for a reason.
 Maybe you are too.