Weather-Wise

  Weather-wise, it was a great day. Mid-January in California is late march in Tennessee. There I was, sitting on a stoop that did not belong to me smoking some grade-A that did. Four grams for $20. As far as street prices go, that’s insane. I don’t think I’ll ever get over the fact that weed is legal over here. But anyway, there I was, sitting, smoking, when this cat walks up. He looked at me and I him. In that moment our individual appraisals brought forth a mutual animosity towards one another that was at once palpable and oppressive. From the way he gazed I could deduce nothing but thoughts of ill intent. I watched him and he me. After half a minute of this sizing-up he decided to move along. I was content.

   Ten minutes later a white sedan creeps past. Instinctively I make my personalized cigarillo less visible. The lady inside seems as if she’s looking for a pet. Out the window I see a hand shaking a can of catnip. She’s calling out to a ‘Mittins’ to ‘come back home’. The sedan passes from view. Not a minute later I see the cat from before, moving in the same direction as the sedan. I hope he missed his ride.