The Last Meow | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: The Last Meow | Previous Challenge Entry
By Kimberly Mitchell
07/20/06
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Stifling a yawn, I was about to curl up and go back to sleep in my warm yellow basket, when voices began drifting from the kitchen to the den.

Ah, it was just my pets. Hmmm… should I go find out what kind of mischief they’re in or give my calico coat a good cleaning first? Nah, better go see what they’re up to.

Sashaying to the kitchen doorway, I see Caroline and Jack eating their supper: consisting of green beans, cornbread, and cabbage. Wonder how they eat that stuff. Why not a small rodent or even some of those cheap Meow Wow Kibbles they buy me?

Nothing of interest here, I’m about to deprive them of my presence.
A remark from my pet Caroline causes my ears to prick up.

“You know that ancient saying must be true about a cat having nine lives.”

“Why do you say that honey?” Jack peered up from the headlines of the newspaper.

She takes short sips from her mug of coffee. “Well because the Bentley’s cat has had nine incidents where the train has almost hit him, and he’s still alive today.”

Remarkable, why have I never heard of this? There was no need for me to be careful and cautious. To think I could have been out roaming the city freely without a care in the world,instead of being an average housecat. Oh, what an exiting dangerous life this cat must have been missing.

Well this is the night I become an alley cat. I shudder at the thought, yet at the same time look forward to the escape into the un-traveled dark paths of the outside world. There was no telling what mysteries and adventures those paths held for me.

Ah, but mum would never have approved, she had always taught us kittens to be fine law abiding, respectable housecats. To think I was to attempt quite the opposite un-nerved me.

That night I waited until my pets were safe in bed asleep,then crept out through my private cat door onto the porch, and out on the sidewalk.

Free to do what I want after all I have nine lives.

First place the back alley, where the Bentley cat hangs out. Patiently I wait for him to leave his home then follow. Finally he reaches the filthy alley behind the pub. Trashcans line the streets flowing over with garbage.

Taking a step at a time the foul odor grows stronger; this had to be Cat heaven.
All the popular cats were here, desiring to fit in I jump onto one of the enormous garbage pails. Mum said never to join the in-crowd. Didn’t listen, never have, never will. Spilling over the trash and eating the delicious mixture. I look up into the face of the ugliest Bull dog ever seen. Cannot repeat what happens next. When I recover all the cats are gone leaving me alone. Scratch soul number one. It’s time to explore my next destination of “fun”.

Cat’s have nine lives you know.

I move across a highway that lies in my path. Mum said never cross the street. Didn’t listen, never have, never will. The automobiles whiz past honking their horns in my face. Scratch soul number two.

Don’t they know cats have nine lives?

A rough tabby stands in my way, he hankers to fight and I oblige. Mum said to be kind to others. Didn’t listen, never have, never will. He fights with tooth and claw. Scratch soul number three.

For as I said before cats have nine lives.

Spying a Mocking bird on a power pole, I climb after it. Mum taught us to respect the life of others. Didn’t listen, never have, never will. ZAP! Scratch soul number four.

How sweet it is to have nine lives.

A light breaks over the eastern horizon. Hearing a noise in the distance, curiosity gets the better of me. I chase after the sound. A monster of a train speeding down the tracks sends chills down my spine. Do I dare race this beast across the tracks? Mum told us to avoid things we’re uncertain about. Didn’t listen, never have, never will. Scratch souls number 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.

What happened I thought I had nine lives?

Mum was right the world was not “fun” but full of heartbreak, sorrow, and disappointments.

Now I’m ready to listen, but it’s too late.

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