Three Steps, To The Cottage Door

I crushed a leaf under my feet then paused. Did anyone hear that? I hope not. I mean what’s the point of being stealth if I’m crushing leaves the whole way. It was just one though, and the moon is still hanging in the sky, shining a thin white river along my path.

I dashed in and out of it, a dance of the sleuth, hiding in the shadows as I stalked up the street. My trek was slow but important, and with persistence I continued my path, until I came to the tall tree. It was a particular one, with tan bark and golden, oval-globes that hung from it for only two seasons. This time it was bare, the leaves stained with brown blotches, threatening to turn red.

“Must almost be autumn,” I purred to myself.

I stared up the cobblestone driveway, which was empty. Except the grey beetle car, that sat in front of the wooden fence. It was a tall fence, even taller than the pear tree. Most would be intimidated by a fence such as this, but me? Nah. This fence was nothing!

I crept my way up the driveway, looming behind the beetle car. I swiftly stalked around the left side, until I touched the fence. Slowly, I lowered to my belly, stretching out my arms and legs until I was flat. Then I crept under the fence. Sounds impossible, but not for me. I was the perfect size to do it, like the fence was made just for me. Maybe it was! I mean, I claimed the folks who lived here way before they built it. Maybe they considered me in the blueprints. I like to think they did.

Lying flat on my belly, I held my position comfortably under the fence, and peered out at the yard. It was a decent size yard. There was enough space on the cobblestone path for, a picnic table, and three huge umbrellas. Off the path, was some yellow grass, and a couple planter boxes with fresh carrots and kale.

Sometimes the woman, would dangle a piece of kale in my face when I caught her in the garden. To see if I would eat it, I guess? But between you and me, leafy greens, and I, don’t really get along.

I could see the whole yard from under the fence. It was a perfect hiding place to scout for the dog. Yes, they had a dog, a pit bull. She is on the smaller side, but has a bark like a shepherd, I swear!

I didn’t see her around, so I slowly crawled from under the fence, and crept under the picnic table. This was another favorite vantage point of mine. Although it wasn’t the best hiding spot. She could easily fit under this table if she caught me. Then it would be a race back to the fence.

Lifting my nose to the wind, I could smell her. She was nearby. Her musty scent was all over the yard. This was her domain. These people were HER people really. I was just the stray cat, begging for scraps.

This was the routine. Every day, as the sun began to rise, I’d stretch my arms and claws on the trunk of the pear tree, and happily strut my way up the stone path. Then I’d crawl under the fence into the yard. The dog was usually inside the main house eating by then, and the yard was mine for the time being. I’d climb up the three steps to the cottage door and let out my loudest meow. Usually, it’s the man who opens the door, standing over me in the doorway. He’d kneel to my level, and stroke me, head to tail. His arms are like tree trunks, dark and strong. Then he’d open the door wider, and the woman would kneel into the doorway. Her voice is sweet, like the blue birds who sing in the pear tree. Before I know it, I’m in her copper arms, staring up at her dark eyes, as she carries me to the picnic table. She places me on top of it, next to my silver bowls filled with food slathered in gravy. I proudly eat, as she continues to stroke me from head to tail.

That’s when I feel the safest, but I wasn’t at the door yet. I was still under the table, and I could still smell that dang dog!

“Where is she?” I thought, quickly dashing my yellow eyes from left to right.

“What are you doing here?” she growled behind me. I could feel her hot breath on my tail, as she let out another low growl. I didn’t dare move! She was right behind me, blocking my beeline to the fence. I was trapped!

“All this time I’ve waited for this moment,” she said licking her nose then growling through her teeth, “You felines are so greedy! You think you can come into MY yard? Talk to MY humans? Eat MY food?”

“Please,” I meowed softly, slowly arching my back and spinning around to face the dog. She was grey with a heart shaped head, with white fur flowing down her snout. In the middle of her forehead, was a grey diamond. I guess that’s why they named her Diamond. Her lips were pulled back, revealing her teeth, and drool dripped from her two front fangs, making me flinch.

“Please, I’m a stray, ok. I just need to eat, please,” I meowed.

“Eat? The last thing I need is a new pet stealing my food, after I’ve worked so hard trying to keep these humans happy!” She stood so still with her feet planted to the ground. Her shoulders could move mountains alone, she was so muscular. Her tail stood straight up in the air, the grey hairs along her spine stretching to the sky.

“W-well dog, y-you don’t want to eat me. I’m not tasty and b-besides… what would your humans think?” I hissed taking a small step back.

“What are you going on about cat!”

“If you eat me, you think your humans would still love you? THEY invited ME over for dinner, and you turn around and eat their guest? That’s unheard of! They’d kick you out for sure!”

“My humans would never pick a feline, like you, over a canine, like me!”

“I think they would,” I hissed, “Besides you wouldn’t survive on the streets long. If the coons didn’t get yah, then the white vans will.”

Diamond closed her mouth, a look of worry washing over her brown eyes.

“White vans?” she asked.

“Yeah! Don’t tell me you don’t know about the white vans? Those vans are brutal! Even the cats fear the white vans! They creep around in the night or the day, capturing cats AND dogs, with a metal leash!”

“Lies!” she growled.

“No! I’ve seen it with my own eyes! They creep up on yah! Holding out their hands, filled with those snacks that make your mouth water. Then they toss that leash around your neck. And next thing you know, you’re in a cage, in the back of the van, getting driven to a place that’s even worse than the vet.”

I had her now, her eyes grew supple and her hairs on her back started to lower.

“Nothing’s worse than the vet,” she moaned.

“This place is! There’s rows and rows of cages, like a prison for animals. All you hear are barks of agony, and meows of hunger. They give you food, but sometimes if you eat it, you’ll fall asleep! And when you wake up, you’ll have a giant gash going down your middle! Like they cut you open while you slept!”

Her eyes widened with horror!

“Then,” I continued, “They stab you with metal blades of grass, until you start feeling all queasy. Sometimes other humans come, and they’ll just stare at you in your prison. You meow at them to let you out, but if you’re not loud enough, they’ll just keep walking. But the worst part of all…”

She laid on the belly now. Her back legs were tucked underneath her hide. Her front legs were crossed, paw over paw, in front of her. She tilted her head to the side, waiting for me to go on. I relaxed a little bit, straightening my back slightly.

“If you bite or try to escape, they take you to the white room,” I meowed lifting my paw and giving it a lick.

“What’s the white room?” Diamond asked eyes still wide.

“No one knows. But I know that those who’ve gotten taken to the white room, have never come out!” I hissed.

She stood up on all fours, and I dashed from under the table. I sprinted up the cobblestone pathway, making my way to the cottage steps. She let out a sharp bark, and slid in front of me, blocking my path once again.

“Lies! You tell lies, kitty cat! To get to my humans!” she growled inching towards me.

“I have proof!” I meowed loudly, hoping the humans heard, “I was there! Look.”

I stretched out my arms in front of me until I laid flat on my belly. Then I rolled over revealing my underside. This was foolish of me, but it was the only way that I could prove that this terrible place existed.

Diamond stood confused for a second, then slowly came closer, until she stood directly over me. She then gently lowered her nose into my center, sniffing my underside. The wind from her nostrils blew my cream, and brown striped hairs apart. That’s when she saw it. Her eyes grew wide once again, as she stumbled back drunkenly, landing on her bottom. I rolled back to my feet.

“They cut you open?” she whimpered. I nodded slowly and sat in front of her.

“They stole my ability to have kittens of my own,” I meowed.

“How did you escape?”

“A human left the door to my cage cracked open. She turned around for a second looking for the food she was about to feed me. I took the opportunity and darted passed her. She screamed for more humans with metal leashes. But by then, I was already on the window seal squeezing through the open space. I ran and never looked back.”

A high-pitched whine escaped Diamond’s lips. Was she crying? I stepped closer to her, and sure enough her eyes were moist. She was crying! I made, THE, Diamond Dinero... cry.

“You listen to me,” she whined, “You come get food when you need. My humans are your humans. My food is your food. And my yard is your yard. No one should have to fear prison or the white room. Come Kitty, let’s eat.”

We walked side by side, up the three stairs to the cottage door.

Then together, she barked, and I meowed.