HUNGRY CAT

ONE NIGHT WHILE I WAS CAT-SITTING MY

DAUGHTER’S INDOOR FELINE,

IT ESCAPED OUTSIDE.

WHEN IT FAILED TO RETURN THE

FOLLOWING MORNING, I FOUND THE

BEAST CLINGING TO A BRANCH ABOUT

30 FEET UP IN A SPINDLY TREE.

UNABLE TO LURE IT DOWN,

I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

“WE DON’T DO THAT ANYMORE,”

THE WOMAN DISPATCHER SAID.

WHEN I PERSISTED,

SHE WAS POLITE BUT FIRM.

“THE CAT WILL COME DOWN

WHEN IT GETS HUNGRY ENOUGH.”

“HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?” I ASKED.

“HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A

CAT SKELETON IN A TREE?”

SHE SAID.

TWO HOURS LATER THE CAT WAS BACK,

LOOKING FOR BREAKFAST.