JBot Mania

The scene–three medium sized kittens running free in a field. The music– “Born Free”. The sun–I would say, mid afternoon. As you close in on one of the kittens, a muted calico, you see as she runs, one paw in the air, with the middle finger extended.

Such is the state of Muff Watch 2006.

This evening, I decided to get serious and go buy a rather LARGE fishing net from the WalMart. That trip alone should have proven my dedication to this cat. Upon returning home, I got out of my car with net in hand, or hands is more accurate. I began talking with some neighbors across the way who had wondered what the heck I was trying to catch. We exchanged stories and hypotheses about why my cat left and would continue to taunt me, when one of them pointed to a car a ways behind me in the lot next door. As I proceeded over and crouched under the car they pointed to, Little Miss Muffin Face, had already made a break for the street, crossed it, and proceeded down a driveway. I was alerted to this, and my need for glasses, and proceeded after her.

She was nowhere to be found.

I crossed into the next backyard and in the distance; I saw a little white face in the bushes. I approached and the face disappeared. I got closer, in just enough time to see, not only what appeared to be my cat, but two others as well. “I see”, I thought. “She belongs to a gang now. A gang that is showing her the ropes. The ins and outs of the neighborhood.”

Seeing that it was impossible for someone my size to proceed after them directly, I went to the next yard where I met more neighbors. I had a delightful chat with some older polish men and a younger polish woman with her daughter. We speculated, in English and some Polish, about where this gang of roving felines was going. It soon became clear that I could not ‘get thair from heeyuh’. We were all in agreement, however, that she was a good-looking cat, and I was told, from one of the wistful older gentlemen, that I was a good-looking owner.

I departed the backyard social club and made me way around to the next street. No kitty to be found. I can’t imagine what people thought of me as I carried my big black net.

And thus, I have officially been abandoned for the freedom and adventure of the outdoors. Perhaps she will return. I think I will get another kitty, regardless. If she comes back, well, then I will have two. If not, I am sure she will be having fun with her legion of comrades, “The Clover Street Panthers”.