|
Hearts and Humor Archives Index
|
Subscribe
|
|
|
February12, 2006 - Hearts and Humor >> |
|
Hello, My Friends I am trying out the new ezine today. I hope this comes through OK for all of you. Word Count: 978 Pyramid of Friends I sat on my deck. Smoke from the barbeque drifted into the air. As the steaks cooked, I put my feet on an adjacent chair, picked up my book, and quietly read. It was another peaceful spring evening in Nova Scotia. In the corner of my vision, I sensed movement. It was a large white cat. His long coat of white was a stark contrast to the green and brown of the awakening world of spring. I watched the cat. He approached my flowerbed, sniffed at the newly turned soil, and began to dig. "Hey!" I jumped from my chair, "Get out of there." The cat ran so fast, it was nothing but a white blur as it fled. A couple of days later, I was on my deck again. The cat appeared. I chased it away again. This continued through spring and into summer. Every time I sat on my deck, the cat would appear, and I would chase it away. One evening, as I sat, I heard a "Meow!" There was the white cat standing a few feet from me. It'd come around the house from the other direction. Its blue eyes showed no fear. It stood and looked at me. I looked back at it and admired its courage. I put my hand down, "Here, Kitty." The cat rushed to my hand and rubbed its head against it. A few minutes later, it was in my lap, purring softly. The cat had worn me down. I couldn't chase him anymore. I saw the direction it went when it left my lap. It was always in the direction of a new neighbor. One evening I saw my neighbor in his yard. I walked up the hill and introduced myself. His name was Ron. As we talked, the white cat appeared. "Ron, is that your cat?" "That's Matey. I got him a few months ago. I noticed he goes down the hill to your property almost every evening. I hope he isn't bothering you." "Not at all, Ron. In fact, he has become a friend." Ron and I became friends too. For several years we lived as neighbors, sharing Matey's love between us. A few years after meeting, I had to move for a new job. My family stayed behind to sell the house. While I was away, my wife had a mouse problem. Ron sent Matey to help. Matey stayed in our home for a couple nights. The mouse problem was solved. Ron also cut a Christmas tree, got it in our house, and on the stand for my wife that year. When I came home from my job, after being away for 3 months, there was a special Christmas gift from Matey and his Ron, a beautiful tree. Four years and two moves later, we crossed the border to the USA and into Ohio. My barbeque was on my patio. I sat, cooked a steak and read a book. Across the field, I saw a black cat. It glanced in my direction and continued on. One night, I went outside for a breath of fresh air. The black cat appeared. It walked in my direction, came within 30 feet, stopped, rolled onto its back, and meowed. I approached it. It fled. A few nights later, it was there again. The routine was repeated - it ran away. The cat became a challenge. I would look for it every evening. It would hear me, wander in my direction, and run away when I got close. One night I sat on the curb and talked to it. It grew brave and came within reach. I rubbed its head. A friendship was formed. I would step outside and make a noise. The cat would hear and come to me, rub against my legs, and allow me to pet it. My wife thought I was nuts. I talked about the black cat all the time. I told her how wonderful it was, but she didn't believe me. She thought I was just going out to avoid chores. I knew the cat's home was a house next to our housing complex. I saw the owner gardening one day and walked over to introduce myself. "Hi! I'm Mike. I live in the townhouse complex. Do you have a black cat?" "I'm Don. It's nice to meet you, Mike. Yes, I have a black cat. His name is Bob." We shook hands. "Bob and I are friends." I said. "Really?" "Yes! He comes over to my townhouse, whenever I am outside." "Bob's a friendly fellow. He likes attention." "I've noticed. He is always coming to me. He's a wonderful cat." A week later, I was outside, and Bob came to visit. He rubbed against my legs. I took a chance, reached down and picked him up. I held him to my chest. He reached out, put a paw on each of my shoulders, and rubbed his face against mine, one cheek after the other. A love was formed. My wife came outside, "Mike, what are you doing?" "Hun, meet Bob." She fell in love with my friend. "I thought you were kidding." She rubbed Bob's head. Bob pushed his head into her palm. "He's beautiful." she said. Bob won another friend. Don and I became great friends through Bob. Ron and I became great friends through Matey - two friends became four. No matter where I work or live, I make new friends. Through those new friends, I met more. Two friends become four. Four friends became eight. The chain of friends grows. Have you heard of pyramid sales? I have. I don't like them. This is different. This is pyramid friendship. Two persistent cats taught me a new concept - make friends, meet more through them, and meet even more. They taught me to allow my pyramid of friends to grow. Michael T. Smith You can read more of my stories at: http://heartsandhumor.com/blog/archives.php Now for some comments on last week's story. Mike, Enjoyed this story very much, as I do all of them. I was so glad that it had a happy ending. The suspicion of the story keep you wanting more. Thanks, Lu from NJ Excellent story Mike - You had me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. Steve Mike, I loved this story and did not want it to end! Seems you write exceptionally well under the pressure of a time limit and word limit. Way to go! Sandi Pound So many more of you congratulated me on my new job. Thank you To post a a comment on my web page, please go to: http://heartsandhumor.com/blog/?postid=67 To subscribe to this Newsletter: http://subs.ezinester.com/86758 Archives: http://archives.ezinester.com/86758 To unsubscriber from this Newsletter: http://www.ezinester.com/cgi/unsub.cgi?86758&0& |
|
|
February12, 2006 - Hearts and Humor >> |
|
Hearts and Humor Archives Index
|
Subscribe
|
|
|
Archives powered by Zinester's Mailing List Service
Details on Hearts and Humor |
Browse for more newsletters at Zinester's Ezine Directory
Managed by Zinester's Mailing List Management |