Tuesday August 10, 2004

West of Axtell to Atlanta

What a weird day! At the start, you couldn't ask for better weather. It was in the 60s - in Nebraska, in August. Unbelievable.

So I was strolling along enjoying my good fortune, when I heard some faint cries. Perhaps birds. Perhaps critters or even squeaky farm machinery. I ignored it at first, but it became more clear that they were, indeed, cries.

I looked southward and saw a tiny cat head, all ears and eyes, peaking out from the high grass between the road and railroad tracks. It was crying as though it were half starved.

I didn't know what I could do for the little creature, but its' pleas were tugging at my heart. I had some emergency rations - peanut m&m's and a granola bar. Well… the granola bar's vaguely like cat food I reasoned.

I didn't want to scare the cat away as I approached. She didn't move. I tossed the granola bar in her direction. She came toward it, then kept right on coming toward me.

Poor little thing was just a few months old and thin as a politician's promise. I'll call her Lost Soul. She had a small open sore above her eye and another on a rear leg. She nuzzled my leg and I scratched her with the remaining granola bar (I was worried about touching her).

This was clearly someone's kitten once. She had no fear of humans. I tried to get her to eat the granola, but she wanted affection, not food.

I sat for a while and scratched and petted her with a pen. I didn't want to leave Lost Soul, but I couldn't take her with me. She seemed far to tame to survive on her own.

Then I called Travis and asked him to bring some cat food and milk.

When Travis arrived, we gave Lost Soul some milk and she wolfed down some food. But she still climbed and cavorted and nuzzled me while Travis tried to find a place to take in a stray kitten. Well, you know how that turned out.

I was there maybe an hour. It was time to go. I walked along the road and Lost Soul followed me as best she could, hopping through the grass. But - she couldn't keep up and eventually stopped and stood there looking at me as I walked away.

I don't think Lost Soul will make it. She was the most affectionate stray I ever met. All she wanted was a little love.

If anyone in the Holdrege, Nebraska area wants an affectionate black and white kitten. Try walking along the south side of Route 6 near mile marker 162 (head west).

If you're lucky, you'll hear some faint cries from the tall grass. Tell Lost Soul I said "hi" - and tell her I'm sorry I left her.