Once upon a time, there was a cat. His name was TomTom, and he was an outdoor cat. He was an adventurous kitty who loved his neighborhood. He caught mice to prevent any of the houses from being plagued. He was fed regularly and given many treats. He even had a raccoon friend named Ronald.
There was the laundry mat on that one corner with fresh laundry he could lay in, and so many new people came through. Once, a strange man came through with this big lime-green, colorful bird! There was a small arcade and a snack machine inside the place. There were tables people sat on, playing on weird glowing rectangles. I sat on one once, and it got really warm, so I can understand why they'd want to keep such a toy.
Across the street is a strange place with a lot of what my owner calls "vehicles". I'm not the only cat and usually join the other cats up there for the perfect sun tan. I did notice my owner had been gone a lot recently for some reason. I'm a bit concerned since he smells like another cat when he returns.
Then there's our neighbors. Technically, one pair of them was our neighbors, where the barbers used to be, but they moved for some reason. There are four people in that house with a garden. One is an old lady who hates all cats. One time, she caught Jerald and tried to keep him in a clear plastic bin in a hundred-degree heat to kill him. Luckily, he was saved.
The other female in the house is younger. She's easily excitable and loves to try and pet everything fluffy. She talks to me whenever she sees me and takes photos. There are two almost fur-less males in that house. One, who recently lost his hind legs, feeds me tuna, and the other is an old man always in the garden.
Then we have our neighbor, the barber. He gives me treats and doesn't care if I'm in the backyard or not. There's a lovely perching spot up there, but I miss the old neighbors. Their dog went missing last year, though she was so sick it broke my heart to see her unable to use her hind legs anymore. She was going blind, too. They often called her something like Caocao. I think it broke their hearts when she left. They let me inside their house and often fed me tuna before they moved.
We have the neighbor across from them, an old couple with a dog that's all bark and no bite. They have plenty of squirrels and birds I can chase. Not to mention, recently, a rabbit family moved into nearby bushes, though I'd be careful, the giant birds that reek of death have been around recently, not to mention those strange birds with circular faces that can turn their heads all the way around. The humans seemed fascinated by them. Almost like that time, they saw that brownish-black flying rat at sunset last year. I don't know what it is about their fascination with photographing us.
Then there is that giant building on the hill with a lot of people living in it. It's almost like a hive. Janet and her doe joey often pass through their front yard, across the street, and into the woods where Bob waits. I've seen Ken stalking around trying to find any animal to eat, though he's been avoiding our street recently after a human with a giant knife was going through the snake-infested ditch at the back of the houses on the street.
There are also several houses with kids I like to say hi to for free food and pets. I've noticed several dogs going missing, and their owners are mourning them. At first, I thought the dogs were selfish for leaving their owners so sad. Then Ronald told me that the dogs never left of their own accord. The dogs were mentally diseased. Something that was breaking their bodies down to the point that their humans were putting them down as a form of mercy. Caocao had lost control of her bowels and bladder before she was taken. Ronald said it was the most heart-wrenching thing he had seen. Since none of the humans could afford a proper burial site for their pets in this area.
As time passed, I noticed my owner's belongings slowly disappearing until suddenly the house was empty, and I had to be looked after by the mean lady. Granted, the nice lady, apparently her granddaughter, and the man in the garden kept me fed and gave me toys. They looked sad. Ronald told me that my owner had moved and would come back for me soon. He helps me catch mice so I can give them to the old man for treats. Eventually, my owner came back and took me to his new place with his new cat.
He had replaced me; the new cat was mean and territorial. I overheard my owner trying to give me away, and it broke my heart. Eventually, I decided to play nice with the replacement cat, so I wouldn't be taken from my owner. In the end, he kept me, but I think if he tried to give me up or away that one of the neighbors would ensure I had a good home. After all, I'm no indoor cat. I catch and kill mice. I patrol my street. Even if I am neutered, I will protect my home. I am the outdoor cat known as Tomtom.
All it took was a week. I thought my owner had chosen me but to my surprise, we returned to the place I called home. he left me there on the porch as he drove away. I thought I was a street cat with no home. Yet the new neighbors saw me and took me in. I had heard rumors from the man in the garden that the ones who smelled of fried chicken were. Yet when I was brought to a warm home and they worshipped me like a god.
Regular food, pets, and everything I could want or dream of. It makes me wonder what would happen to the people in that neighborhood.
To the laundry mat with the happy laughter and clean clothes. With the ever-changing strangers who came and went. How would I function without myself to manage it?
To the strange lot with cars and the perfect tanning spot. I wonder what happened to the cats that soaked in that sun. I hope they have happy lives.
To the man with no legs and the energetic lady who lived with him. I wonder how they function with a staple part of their family missing. I hope they escape what their running from
To the old couple who hated cats and were as mean as a fiddle. I hope you realized you burned all your bridges. Maybe one day their loved ones will forgive them.
To the animals I normally interacted with. I wonder if Ronald is eating my old food. Maybe the mice will steer clear of the neighborhood.
To that building of homes like a hive. I hope the people prosper and thrive. I wish you all well in life.