Abandoned

He had such high hopes of making the best snow fort in the world.

But got a little side-tracked by the Mayor.

The Mayor makes his rounds daily, greeting his constituents.  He always acts like he owns the place. 

We tried to keep him once.  It was clear that he was a stray and I'd never known a more friendly cat. He was a dog cat. We got a spare collar and tied a note to it asking if he belonged to anybody.
This was back in the day when we first moved here, when we were young and innocent. Back before we knew that people here were reserved, reticent, and restrained.  Before we knew they didn't share plates of cookies at Christmas time, or even say hi on the street.

I'm pretty sure now that if they don't say hi on the street then they don't send messages by collar.

But back in our innocent days, we sent the message and we waited.  We were so surprised when The Lady Next Door called the phone number we left! 

She said she didn't know who The Mayor belonged to but that she had been feeding him.  We decided that was perfect because The Lady Next Door was really the Old Lady Next Door that lived alone. So now, he belongs to her.  With a new collar and a license.

But he still visits everyday.  And has the same I'm-the-best-puss-in-the-world demeanor.  I've never seen him any other way.  He's a great little cat.

Abandoned no longer.