January 6

“Best of the cold and cloudy to you!” came a merry voice, followed by Brodie’s head thrust under the car’s muffler.  He dropped a dead mouse in front of Pedgie as she lay with her very contented charge. “How’s the kit doin’?

The kitten at that moment produced a long, wet burp.  Both adult cats smiled.

“Beamer’s got the Community on alert, and we want you to know how grateful we are that you stepped in so quickly.”

“Oh, kibble,” said Pedgie, but she was pleased.  “Thanks for lunch!”

“Easy catch—barn’s full of mice now that the snow’s come.  When the weather breaks, it’ll be more of a challenge!” Brodie’s green eyes glittered above the black question mark that slid off his nose and puddled under his chin, forming a racy goatee.  

 “Berry and Marigold will be here this evening with some tasty throwers and Krebs will stand guard tonight—no worries.  On the way here I passed T.T. and he says since Chaos Jones is still in disgrace, he’ll have time to join the Company.  He’ll be here tomorrow—if he doesn’t have an accident.”  His eye whiskers raised mirthfully. “Pansy’s got a new home at Nerd Hall!   Old Gus has kidney failure, the flea season is expected to be light, Quim notes an early return of robins, and there’s a new cat moving into the manor at Redwood Common.”

Pedgie listened while pawing absently at her lunch’s tail.  She looked again at the slumbering kitten, thinking how lucky they all were to be cats.

Cats are independent creatures living cooperatively—an elusive arrangement not yet achieved by humans. Felines demand complete acceptance of individuality, but once that’s ensured, they freely volunteer to maintain their Community by taking on specific responsibilities.  There were Scrappers (scrounging garbage for edible “throwers”); the Nursing Network (like Mama Pedgie); Nocturnes (those who are nightly protectors); the Company (temporary companions); members of Mice Meals, as Brodie currently was, and many other kinds of duties.  Each cat chose a trade he or she felt suited for and liked to do, and all jobs supported a Community with no direct ruler or authority.  No trouble or circumstance ever compromised cats’ basic creed:  “Respect for Self, Respect for Others, Awareness of All, All Part of the Whole”. 

Not yet knowing it had been born into a native, wise culture, the kitten nestled against Pedgie’s warm splotches. The late afternoon turned to early evening and a colorless sunset struggled to depart through icy clouds.  When heavy snow began to fall, the three cats drew close together, sheltering beneath the junked car.