Cats at Midday

A Cat's Tale In Four Parts

The sun is warm, the breezes soft and our bellies filled with fresh field mice foolish enough to be unwary. We sleep and, upon waking chase one another through the meadow like kittens, joyous in the strength and power of our young muscles. We celebrate the day knowing that the purpose of life is the living of it. We are a part of all living things as all living things are a part of us.

"Tab, do you think we'll ever not want to play and hunt together?"

"I hope not', I told El, 'it's what we're all about."

Then, just as we were lazily about to drop off to sleep once more, came the baying of hounds.

"Should we run, El? Do you think they'll bother us?"
But my friend's whole attention was riveted on the barking which was fast approaching.
"Run, Tab! Run fast and don't stop for anything.
"But, El,....." "RUN," he hissed.

And run I did, looking back only once to see Elgin break for a tall tree across the fields. He must have known that with his bad leg he could never outdistance a pack of eager dogs fresh from their cages and enjoying their exercise. As I ran the sounds of the hounds grew more and more distant. There was a gunshot and a hoot as one obese and unshaven coon hunter exclaimed in disgust,
"Weren't nuthin' but a durned cat!"
"Iffin you didn' sit 'round all day drinkin beer, Billy Joe, I recon you could tell the difference."
Billy Joe scratched his belly and watched as his dogs savaged the remains of a once magnificant cat with a torn ear and a lame leg.

It's nearing sunset now as I hide near a fallen log in the woods. Where is Elgin and why can't he find me? I'm afraid to come out even if I don't hear men or dogs anymore.

So I wait. Please come, El. I'm so scared.......

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Story, painting and web design by design by Alix Kazan. All rights reserved.