FICTION: FINDING SAM

I am a cat named Flower. I had some fearful adventures getting to my little human, Samantha.

Before I found Samantha, or Sammi, or Sam, as she may be called, I lived in a little town named Millersville. My family there, a nice young man and woman, were moving away to St. Louis.

I had heard them talking about St. Louis and what good times they had there. I suppose it was a good place for humans, but it sure didn't sound like any place for a cat. At least a cat who liked to go out exploring.

I decided I must find a new family soon. I waited for night and my young family to fall asleep. Then, I went through the little swinging door they had made for me, and out into the night.

I had been out exploring at night many times, but I didn't go very far away from home. I would need to go beyond where I had ever been before to find a new family.

The first night out was dreadful. I was chased by a collie dog to a creek where I had never been before. I almost didn't find my way back to my house in Millersville. I sure was happy to run through that little swinging door my family had made for me. I began to wonder if I should go with them to St. Louis.

I kept going out at night to look for a new place. I was becoming discouraged as most houses had dogs that would chase me away.

One night, a house I visited had two dogs who just stayed asleep while I came near. Hoping they would be friendly, I was cautiously looking around. Those dogs turned out to be 'coon dogs. I guess I got close enough for them to be awakened, for suddenly they jumped up howling and barking. They were making so much noise that I was frightened and unable to move for a few seconds.

I soon began to run in what I hoped was the direction of my home. Those noisy dogs chased me so far. I thought I would not be able to run anymore, and finally, I climbed a tree. The dogs just stayed at the bottom of that tree, barking and howling for the longest time.

I was so tired. I wanted to sleep, but I heard an owl hooting in the distance. They sometimes scooped up cats the same as other small animals, so I knew I must find a place where it could not get me.

I got out of the tree and was running through the weeds and grass when I heard the swish and flutter of wings. It must have been the owl. As I jumped into an empty den, claws scraped my back and took a bit of my ear.

Feeling miserable and so frightened, I scrunched myself together as much as I could and tried to decide what to do. From the scent and appearance of the den, I thought it must have belonged to coyotes. I didn't think they would treat cat any differently than they would treat a squirrel or rabbit. Day light was near and they might be back soon.

I was so tired. I just wanted to rest, but I must leave, again.

Crawling as low in the grass as I could, and not knowing where I might be going, I came to a small creek. I was so thirsty. Coming out into the open for water would be worth the risk.

Near that little creek was a barn and I heard the neighing of a horse.

"Cat, Cat. Over here. Don't be afraid," said a small white horse. I could look inside the barn to see the horse was in a stall, eating his hay.

I didn't know very much about horses. I had seen them from a distance in pastures and on roads with humans on them. About all I knew of them was they could prance almost as good as cats. Some of them could "walk the walk."

Feeling that I had nothing much to loose, I limped from the creek to the barn and looked up at the horse.

"My name is Pete," he said. "Blacksnake came by and told me about your close call with Owl.

I jumped to some bales of hay and tried to hide myself among them as much as I could. I stared down at the horse.

The horse bent his head to his hay and said, "Well, talk when ever your ready."

"I was called Rose by my human family, but I will never find my way back to them," I said. "They are moving to St. Louis, anyway."

Pete looked up at me and nodded. "That's no place for a country cat."

"I'm so tired. Is it safe for me to sleep here?" I asked as I tried again to hide myself in the hay.

"Yes, you will be fine," said Pete. "Rest as much as you can. I think I know of some one who will be happy to see you."

The red bone 'coon dog, Chipper, later told me he felt restless the morning I came to the barn. He said at sunrise something seemed different to him. He would put his nose to the air, but couldn't quite get a clue as to what was different. Of course, the "different" was me, a cat, in the barn.

He remembered he would thump his tail and rest his head on his paws, but he still worried. He knew that pesky Blacksnake wouldn't tell him anything. He would just stay away from the dog. Blacksnake knew Chipper would bark and tease until the humans came out.

I was awakened by such howling and barking. I was up on my feet hissing, back arched, ready to attempt attack and self defense. I had no energy to run.

"Dumb dog." muttered Pete. "It's all right, Cat; he's harmless except for interrupting sleep. He will stay up at the house 'till Sam comes out."

I settled back into the hay, but from what I knew of dogs, I wouldn't be going back to sleep. I was right. The dog kept barking.

I was half dreaming, in spite of the dog's barking, wondering about the "Sam" Pete mentioned. Would she be coming out of the house up the hill from the barn?

I was happy to hear a young human voice in the distance say, "Hey, Chipper! What's wrong?"

I remember the first time I saw Samantha, Sammi, or Sam.

A pretty typical little seven-year-old girl she seemed to me. Blue jeans cut-offs, tennis shoes, and yesterday's socks was what she was wearing in addition to a blue soccer shirt. Her long brown hair appeared to have been touched hastily with a brush. The barking dog was much more important to Sam than having every hair in place.

That pleased me just fine. Barking dogs that I didn't know made me uneasy. I felt I could trust this little girl as I watched her slowly come down the hill to the barn trying to see where Chipper was leading.

Chipper didn't exactly lead Sammi to me, but his circling and criss-crossing finally got them to the barn.

Pete looked up at me and said, "I guess you know that Sammi can't hear us speak, but Chipper can, when he's not barking."

"Chipper, Chipper, listen to me," shouted Pete, "We have a new friend."

Chipper stopped barking. I think the word "friend" got his attention. Chipper likes friends.

I remember he stood there wagging his tail so fast the rest of his body was almost swinging. I could see happy anticipation in his eyes.

Sammi walked over to Pete, who had been swinging his head, and gently reached her arms up to his neck. "Good morning, Pete. What's going on down here?"

From my place in the hay, I could watch Sammi, Pete, and Chipper. This was a safe and kind place.

I came to the edge of the hay and looked at Chipper. He saw me, but just wagged his tail faster, so funny, almost lifting his feet off the floor.

I gave a weak "Meow," then,"Hi Chipper," I managed to say weakly in animal talk.

Sammi heard my meow and looked up to see me. She walked over to the hay and held up her arms to me.

"Oh poor kitty," she said, as I crumpled into her little sun golden arms.

I barely remember being carried up the hill to the house. I do remember soft voices and Sammi saying, "I will call her Flower."