Kitties from heaven.

I was on my balcony tonight, enjoying the fresh air, when I heard a kitty meowing. It sounded really, really close, so I looked over the railing, expecting to see one on the ground directly below me. I didn't see it, though, so I stepped back and continued to enjoy the fresh air.

Then I screamed. The cat was RIGHT THERE. ON MY BALCONY. MY SECOND FLOOR BALCONY. Mind you, none of the other balconies are close enough for the cat to be a neighbor's visiting kitty or anything. No, this cat either a) fell from heaven or b) climbed the tree right outside our apartment (yes, the same tree that houses my bird nest--a realization which later caused my heart to sink as I thought of the destruction that could result from one kitty + 3 baby robins. Filled with trepidation, I checked the nest--and the birds were fine).

Back to my cat story. I opened my balcony door and let Boots come in (he was all black with white feet). I hurridly searched my kitchen for something he could eat--the closest I came, though, was chicken noodle soup and raw hamburger meat. Since Jeff was going to be home from work soon--the same Jeff that is so allergic to cats that I had to get rid of my beloved kitties when I moved in with him--I opened the front door of my apartment and let Boots run down the stairs and out of the building. Then I grabbed my keys and drove down to the gas station for cat food and milk (the milk was actually for us, since we were out of it anyway). Before I left, I sat down on the grass for a few minutes as Boots rubbed up against me and purred. I, of course, am already in love with this cat.

Once I got back from the gas station, Boots was nowhere to be seen. I hunted around the building with a flashlight (in hindsight, I suppose I'm lucky that no one called the police about the neighborhood prowler) to no avail. So I left the food in a bowl on our "front lawn."

I miss Boots.