Last night, our little buddy Lewis, didn't come home.
The backyard behind us goes deep; then comes parkland - woodlots, green space, willow scrub and tall grass. As long as our two kitties travel in that direction (they always do), they won't be tangling with traffic. There is a railroad back there, but these animals have enough good sense to stay clear of locomotives pulling a mile's worth of boxcars.
Cats should have a real cat life; with birds and mice to stalk, high branches to climb on and bushy hiding places - so we open the door for them. Young Lewis went out at 10:30AM yesterday and didn't return. Not at noon, when he usually comes back for a nibble and a long nap. Not at 1:00, when I walked the end of the yard giving the special two-tone come-home whistle. Not at three or at four-thirty, when I mounted extensive foot-patrols into the yonder bush. Then dusk fell, as did the snow. As did our spirits. He's never stayed away all night before. We went to bed imagining the worst.
This morning, I was out at first light, walking the neighbourhood, tracking paw prints, calling, calling. No luck. Much gloom and discouragement. My partner called the SPCA from work while I got a 'Lost' sign ('Perdu' en francais) set up on the computer. The printer needed ink; I was just about to install when I heard a faint cat-like noise. It must be Henry, I was sure. He's our other, older cat or it came from the schoolyard - the kids were having recess. I decided to check.
What's this? There was Lewis on the porch with Henry right on his heels like the worried older brother making sure he got home. What happened? Where did he shelter? Why didn't he answer? We'll never know, of course. One of these would have told us, but we're eschewing gadgets at the moment. Anyway, Lewis was all "Doop-de-doop. Hey, I'm home. Is there any food in the bowl? Why is everybody so excited?" We squinted our eyes.
What was it Homer Simpson said to the partially-eaten, picnic-sized sub sandwich that had already given him food poisoning?
"I can't stay mad at you!"
It's all good.
Henry: search team member.
