Dreamer and his buddies huddled in his room. Dreamer’s cat, Lola, had wandered away. They focused on making a flyer that would help find her. When they had made enough copies, a Spring rain did not deter them. They put on rain gear and canvassed the neighborhood. House to house they left flyers saying, ‘If you see Lola, please call Dreamer!’
Lola was not just any cat. When Dreamer’s father died, his autism made the grief process difficult for him. Lola was his consolation. He could somehow pour out his grief and confusion to her and in return receive comfort and consolation. Now she had wandered away. He had to find her.
Days turned into weeks and no word or sight of Lola. A gloomy consensus grew that Lola’s indoor life had not prepared her for the dangers of a suburban wilderness of dogs, and cars and whatever else threatens a small pampered kitten.
Dreamer’s Mom and Step-dad were sitting on the deck in that delightful stillness that often comes with a Summer sundown. They heard a faint Meow! After considerable searching they found Lola!
At the top of a very tall tree in the backyard.
Mom climbed their extension ladder and was still many feet short of Lola’s perch. Step-dad steadied the ladder and got on his Blackberry. As Mom cajoled Lola with sweet words and tuna fish at the top of the ladder, Step-dad called the fire department, animal shelters, and veterinary clinics. Neither one had any success. Lola was too terrified to respond. The community services did not make house calls.
Many hours and much anguish later, Lola was back in the house.
Sometime after Lola had been restored to plump health and her privileged position in Dreamer’s room, an official government letter came in the mail.
It was a citation for violating Federal Law. It seems that a neighbor had complained to the US Postal Inspector that they had found Lola’s missing kitten flyer inside their mailbox on a rainy afternoon. This was clearly a violation of postal regulations. Now the twelve year old boys searching for a missing kitten were criminal lawbreakers!
I wonder! Where is Norman Rockwell’s small town with its kindness for kids and kittens when you need it?