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"Simon!" I ran out the door and down the hallway The tiniest hint of a thought took hold on a corner ofSimon call out to me as his feet hit the floor I flen the stairs, across the living rooainst the , searching, not wanting to let this feeling take hold, because I couldn’t bear it if it wasn’t

Meow

It can’t be He doesn’t knohere--

Meow

"Si a bat

"Is so about

I burst through the patio doors with Si fully and out of control

There, on the grass right below the dining roo

"No way," Siround and opened my arms

Clive washed his ears like he had all the tiest kitty grin I’ve ever seen He tried to play it cool, but I could hear his rusty purr from four feet away Tears ran unabashedly downmy cat Who purred and purred and purred He was skinny, he was muddy, he was cold, and he was back

Si his hand down Clive’s back as I held hiain as he stroked him and scratched between his ears When Sihtly

I stood finally, clutchinghiain or I’d kill him, and he could eat steak all day, every day Sier for more boy-on-boy lovin’

As I turned to take his and ju back into the bushes he’d disappeared into weeks ago

"No! Clive, no!" I yelled

But before I was even two steps across the lawn, he poked his head back through He ca his left shoulder And there,almost out of nowhere, was another cat A tiny calico, round and pluainst Clive, then sat companionably next to hi down onceto spook them

Simon crouched next to ot hiirlfriend"

Clive nodded at Siht it s to anyone?" Simon asked

"How do you know she’s a she?"

"Oh, she’s a she, all right," he responded, and Clive once more nodded at him If they were closer, a paw buht shoulder, and there before us was a third cat Beautifully adorned with the reen eyes and delicate features She nuzzled against Clive, as now flanked with stunning pussy

"I can’t believe it," I breathed as Si three cats isn’t that different froht?" he asked

"Simon, come on We can’t have three cats I mean, can--"

Clive cleared his throat as if to say ahe her way in between the plu Clive, there was a third newco herself on the grass in front of Clive, rolling on her back and letting out the funniest little sounds If I didn’t know better, I’d swear she was giggling

"Fuck ot hier contain his laughter As I shook ether with a bap and a nip, he paraded them across the lawn and, one by one, into the house Just as Clive crossed the threshold, he turned back to us Leaning against the door fraarded us with all the love in his eyes a cat can muster Which is a lot And when the catcalls started inside, he winked

"Oh for God’s sake," I said through a face-splitting grin Still laughing, Sih his, alked across the lawn and into our houe

The Last Word

I set off on patrol, keeping track of all the new smells in this new territory It was different from the last time I’d been here Shinier in some ways, baubles scattered here and there for me to play with Two shelves filled with curious bottles for ate that further tos on e city, boxed in by mountains on one side and water on the other Water I’d learned the hard way not to trust, fast hsteppers called it The Highsteppers were the wisest gang of street cats I’d coh but fair Not at all like the Whisker Sours, ere just hsteppers, which was a great honor that I appreciated But I knehich side my Pounce was buttered on and I knew the Feederfor the home I’d accidentally run fro to be outdoors; we long to run and jump and prance and play Butand here’s the secretyou can’t let us out

Because we can’t always find our way back

I was one of the lucky ones I never gave up I kneme, and I couldn’t have that But then? I found the ladies Or rather, they found meBut that’s a story for a different day

I knew my people would be so happy to see me, they’d not deprive me of my new lady friends Now those ladies were safely tucked into a pallet constructed of blankets underneath the coffee table The Tall One had originally put the bed right out in the open, but I tugged it under the table, knowingunders street-shta tree branch that was ainst aon the east side Not an immediate threat, but I’d keepdown thethat had led toadventure of azed at the outside, which had always see and beautiful and full of excitement It was

But now, as I turned to look out over this quiet space, inside, full of nooks and crannies to nap and bathe and run and play, I realized that this was a great adventure as well

I truly ise beyondat my own joke, I left theand made my way upstairs As I passed ; they were sound asleep I’d tuck myself in with them soon I had a spot on the back of roup bathe

Entering the roo forone, I was pleased to see The Tall One was curled into a ball on one side, the Feeder sprawled out like a starfish I’d seen one of those in the saltwater

Ju aout so that my front paws rested on the Feeder’s forehead,the Tall One’s chin, I at last relaxed

I was home