Follow the neighbor's cat was always something I had dreamed about over the last month. Of course, it was nearing the one month that cats, along with other ghouls and goblins, were revered and "worshipped". I was not looking forward to the actual moment, yet I was not so much dreading that month either. Okay, back to the point at hand about my neighbor's cat. It was a solid black cat with a temperament and disposition to match its appearance. As I was getting ready to leave my apartment this one morning, there the cat was purring and trying to share something with me, that seemed important. I decided, after much hesitation, to follow this cat as it edged towards to the steps and downstairs through the front entrance. First it was just a "cat and mouse" game. or so it was seen as. I was heading in the direction that this cat was drawing my attention to, then turning to the left or the right. I was feeling silly following this cat to wherever it was leading me to. I believe I had past the turn where I usually catch my morning train to work, maybe a half a dozen times. I was beginning to think we were just going in circles, round and round. This black cat was on a mission and of course, I was the one it wanted to follow it, to wherever that may be. The black cat and I went into buildings, over cross walks and even down to the train depot that was in a different part of the city I had never known or seen before. We were slowing down by the fish market or over near the pier that many people were surprisingly trying to catch their "catch" of the day. As we neared a catholic church entrance, I stopped, being out of breath, by this time. The black cat was not the least bit off set by my needing to stop and take breaks more often than I care to admit. Finally, we both started again heading up the street, and down the street. Entering alleyways, and back alleys that seem to have an eeriness to their otherwise innocence. We then seemed to double back more than several times over the same area for what seemed like more than forever but had only been 2 or 3 hours at the very least. I was beginning to wonder the plan this black cat had in mind for me, and why I had been chosen at first. I was nearing an old, abandoned office building, that had seen better days. I saw homeless people, lots of school aged children, many people heading this way and that. I was caught off guard when one of the children approached me and pointing to the black cat, whispered that she believed that cat was looking for something and it needed my help to find it. I nodded, in reply , then proceeded in the direction the black cat was headed. Of course, the cat had stopped as well, so this meant it was not in too great of a hurry, yet was still wanting me to follow it. I was beginning to wonder if I was needing to contact my work, to notify them i was to running later than usual. I was the distracted by the black cat's insistence of my being lead wherever it was wanting me to go with them. As we turned left then right, we entered another abandoned structure that was being demolished and was ready to come down around us. The black cat ran faster towards a pair of stairs and inside the stairwell, was a small, yet noticeable bundle of baby kittens. I was wondering what to do, when I swooped up the kittens, in one arm and the black cagt in the other, and hurried towards the entrance of the building before the structure collapsed. Both I and the bundles were safe and sound. Then as I was putting down the black cat, I noticed and heard, the cat was meowing in a low growl, which I figured was a sign for me to follow further. I, then started to follow the black cat down the alleyway towards the open main street. I then seen the cat come out from behind a dumpster and I followed in that direction. As we neared the train depot for the, what seemed the million time, we headed off across town, back in the direction of the catholic church that I had stopped earlier. I was beginning to sense that the church had more to do with the original plan this cat in at first place. I was not sure whether to enter through the front door or head around to the side door. I then realized the church was not actually a church, but more a shelter for homeless animals and I was the priest who was in charge of this shelter. The black cat sensed my hesitation, meowing loudly, as if speaking to me directly. I then heard the school aged children approaching, this time dress in various costumes, with buckets and bags to hold candy in. The little girl who had spoke to me earlier, walked over to me and again pointed to the black cat. I leaned over and picked up the cat, holding it out to her along with the kittens, placing them in her outstretched arms. Then the black cat jumped out of her arms and still wanted me to follow, went over to a partly opened door on the side. I entered the door, after fully opening it, then proceeded back in the former sanctuary area, and then heard more louder adult cats and some more kittens. I then remembered, this place was no longer able to house so many animals, and it we were needing to find another place to go to. which was not possible to find. As I exited to catholic church, I was followed by the black cat, the other cats and two boxes of kittens. I then turned around to find not only the catholic church in disrepair, the children gone and the city crew wondering why I was just standing there. I looked to see my clothes had changed and I was not sure what to make of this.
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1 comment
You described the journey of following the cat well and I was able to imagine the man's route. It was a bit challenging to read with no paragraphs to break up scenes. Nonetheless, I like that the ending was mysterious.
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