Baldwin was glad
to be visiting his favorite Aunt Agnes while his human mother was traveling out
of town. He ventured out into the misty
rain of the early evening, and lifted his nose into the air to breathe deeply
of the city’s scents. “I believe I detect
the smell of bacon and eggs. Oh such a
delightful fragrance. Yes, it is nice to be in the city again.” he meowed.
Baldwin was
watchful of cars and people as he walked down Washington Street, for he did
not want anyone to assume that he was lost.
He knew exactly where he was going, and his stomach was rumbling with
the thought of great food.
He ran until
he reached the familiar lights of one of his favorite restaurants, then stopped
as he entered the establishment’s outside dining area. The patio chairs were leaning against the
tables, and the tables were wet from the light rain; everyone was inside, and the
place was packed.
He sat down on
the wet ground and began to meow loudly, for he wanted to be noticed over the
noise of the crowd. Shortly, he heard a
little girl speak up and say, “Look at the kitty, mommy. He’s getting wet. I bet he’s starving too. Can I give him the rest of my pizza?” “All right, dear. But don’t get too close to him; you never
know, but he might be a little wild,” responded the mother.
Baldwin’s ears picked up the entire conversation, and he meowed back in protest, “For heaven’s sake, lady, do I look like a wild cat?” So he stood up and lifted his head high to show anyone who wished to see that he had on a bright red collar. But of course, the humans could not understand his language, so all they heard was Baldwin’s incessant meowing.
Baldwin’s ears picked up the entire conversation, and he meowed back in protest, “For heaven’s sake, lady, do I look like a wild cat?” So he stood up and lifted his head high to show anyone who wished to see that he had on a bright red collar. But of course, the humans could not understand his language, so all they heard was Baldwin’s incessant meowing.
The little
girl ran out onto the patio and set her plate down at Baldwin’s feet, then ran
back to her mother, and they both watched to see what he would do. Baldwin sniffed the food, took a little nibble,
and then proceeded to eat. “Wow, this is
fantastic! I taste bacon and egg on this
pizza as well as fresh basil and mozzarella; this is delicious. I must be in heaven!” he meowed with joy.
He stopped to lick his whiskers and caught sight of the little girl sitting on her mother’s lap. They were obviously talking about him, for she pointed at him as both mother and daughter smiled. “No,” said Baldwin, “this is not heaven; this is Athens, Georgia.”
He stopped to lick his whiskers and caught sight of the little girl sitting on her mother’s lap. They were obviously talking about him, for she pointed at him as both mother and daughter smiled. “No,” said Baldwin, “this is not heaven; this is Athens, Georgia.”
