Cat in Danger?: People Lose their Minds

We really are a compassionate lot.

Photo by Mitchell Orr on Unsplash

The people were all looking up and gathering around. By the time I got there, the commotion was in high gear. I asked someone who was already there what was happening. He, in sign language, indicated he was deaf and mute. OK, sorry, I said, in my best sign language version, which is near 0. So, I kept on looking up, but with my poor eyes, I couldn't make out what everybody was so intent on seeing. So I asked someone else. Excuse me… She moved away from me like I was a leprechaun. Oh well, that’s two for two, I thought. I chose to try my luck with this old timer and asked him.

He looked at me and asked if I did it. "What?!?... did what?

"Did you chase the cat up there?"

"Noooo!... I just wanted to know what’s happening. I just got here!” I replied, exasperated.

"Ahhh, ok! So you aren’t the one who caused this. It’s OK. I forgive you, my son. I know life can be difficult. My wife threw me out of the house last night, and for what? Just a little at the bar with my friends... What has this world turned to? Almost homeless, and for what?”

Stunned, replied, "For what?"

"How old are you, lad?"

"57," I said.

"You are a baby. I'm 82, and my wife wants me homeless!!"

As he turned, he grabbed a little bottle from his pocket for a quick gulp. I took advantage of the moment and politely said, "Ok, see you later! .... Thanks!”

I almost ran away from him.  But after that surrealistic scene, at least I found out there’s a cat in danger up there. The poor animal got too high up, and couldn't get down because he's scared, and now he's freaked out with all these people gathering and yelling down there. Because, by now, there are hundreds of people in that corner. And everybody disagreed on what to do next. Everyone! Some called 911 again and again, others called 211, some called their friends, others their husbands or wives. But before I had a chance to think how to help, they all had the phones out to take pictures, or to speak to someone about cat rescues and what not.

Finally, I reached a spot where I could see the poor animal hanging precariously from these electric wires, and yes, my heart skipped a beat. 

We need a favour from the angels to get that kitten down without a tragedy happening. I mean, he was really high, like 60 feet; there's no way he’ll survive if he falls. Where are the fire people when you need them? They could do it in a minute, with the ladders they have. But there was none to be seen. I wish they would hurry up! Some volunteers started to climb, but others yelled at them not to do it, for that might scare him more. So they climbed back down again.

Frustration was building up. One person threw up, right on top of another bystander, and a fight ensued because of that. Another fight erupted because someone thought the whole thing was funny and was laughing. He won't laugh again anytime soon. I started to have an upset stomach because of all this stress.

An old woman, typical, pulled out an umbrella and started beating up the people who were fighting. Another yelled that he was supposed to go on a much-needed holiday, and that his plane was taking off in an hour, and now he can’t because he wants to save the cat first.

The entire place was like a theater play, with all these crazy characters making the spectacle. A Fellini film would have been less dramatic and strange. If it wasn't because the kitty was in danger, we would probably all be laughing at the massive silliness everyone was displaying. But it’s countdown time. We all knew that he or she couldn’t hold on much longer up there, and we were all just looking, not knowing what to do. At least the weather helped out. Springtime had just started, so that was the good part. The best was yet to come… and it happened, probably how it all started.  

"Where is he, where is she, where is the cat?” said one.

“I can't see it any more!" said another.

"Me neither!"

"Nope! He’s not where he was before!"

"I can’t see him either." There was a chorus line of confusion.

True to a cat's nature, that is exactly what happened. With all the commotion going on below, the cat probably just walked to the nearby building he came from and made a fool out of everyone anxiously watching below. 

Incredibly, the more you think you know about cats, the less you actually do.

Lessons learned...

Bless his little heart! 

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