Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Allowed - Aloud (01/05/23)
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TITLE: Kitten Kaboodle | Previous Challenge Entry
By LINDA GERMAIN
01/12/23 -
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His mama owner (henceforth referred to as MO) had arranged to spend three months away from a college back east to get a little perspective on health matters in a sun-filled state out west.
Her mother, a resident there, had discovered a clinic that offered a plan of diet and supplements that sounded promising.
The young woman (MO) and the cat (K-K) were surprised to have a cute little mobile home awaiting their arrival. Her mother figured if the daughter had a place of her own, she might be persuaded to stay for good. Although MO agreed to pay monthly, it was not a stranger’s rental property. Mother and stepfather had purchased it.
The charming trailer park was immaculate and well-landscaped. Children were nowhere to be seen. It wasn’t long before MO realized this small community was geared toward senior citizens. She was the youngest one there! Not only that, but her well-meaning but misinformed property owners had also overlooked some serious fine print.
NO PETS!
That brings us back to K-K, a handsome and well-mannered gentleman kitty who caused all the trouble in the end. He marched into his new quarters and took one loop around the square footage to be sure there was a food bowl in the kitchen and a litter box elsewhere. Then, he settled down for a long nap on a real bed. Seemed easy enough.
After a bit of sensible family assessment, it was decided simply to keep K-K quiet and out of sight. Three months would pass quickly and they would be on their way. That lasted for a few weeks.
One day when MO and her mother drove into the attached carport, there sat K-K in the window yowling like a trapped mountain lion.
“Oh no,” the mother panicked,” they’ll hear him!”
“Hear him?”
MO sputtered with disbelief and frustration.
“He’s practically waving to passers-by who can only see his mouth moving!”
She was right. There he sat in the lovely sunshine with one paw on the window and his jaws opening and closing like an excited opera singer stuck in a pivotal death scene.
“Maybe,” MO offered with a dash of humor, “the song is, Hey, look me over--now kick me out.”
Feeling confident in the goodness and understanding of most people, MO marched over to the office and smack dab into an ambush. The snarly-faced woman behind the desk seemed loaded for bear—or possibly cat.
“I’m so sorry,” MO tried to explain. “I’m only here for a few more weeks and was not aware of the pet rule. K-K never goes out. You cannot hear him. How is that hurting anything?”
The angry commandant was having none of it. Mo wouldn’t have been surprised if the woman suddenly sprouted a tiny, ugly mustache and clicked her heels together as she yelled.
“Those are the R-U-L-E-S!”
Mo was stunned by the outburst but tried to stay calm.
“We’re not trying to hurt anyone. I have been ill and came out here to get some wonderful help and will be gone before you know it.”
The agitated manager never looked up from her immovable pit of inexplicable wrath as she convicted the wayward regulation violator with no chance for discussion.
“Someone saw your animal in the window and reported it. You will be receiving an official letter to vacate the premises.”
Sure enough, she did. Mo packed up and left.
On the way out, she noticed one eye peeking through a window curtain across the street as if monitoring her exit of shame.
She tried to utter some forgiving words in the direction of the nosy neighbor and mean park manager. They couldn’t hear them, but God could.
The best part was holding K-K in her lap and making his sweet little paw wave bye-bye as they eased out of the silly place and out to the road to home where cats and people were more appreciated.
K-K lived seventeen more years and never stopped being the best housemate ever. MO finished school and promised herself always to consider all sides of a situation.
With prayer and discernment, some circumstances, especially as fixable as noise and permission, are usually negotiable.
_____
*Non-fiction. Names changed to protect the human and the animal.
Ephesians 4:32 (NLV)
You must be kind to each other. Think of the other person. Forgive other people just as God forgave you because of Christ’s death on the cross.
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