Did you see that?

What?

A cat crossing the street. A black cat dodging cars. Running to the other side. He’s up in that tree now. He’ll be safe.

Safe from what?

Cars.

Yeah. I guess so. Eventually, he’ll come down. Then what. He’s back to running in the streets again. Going through garbage. Choking on chicken bones. That cat’s going to die.

We’re all going to die.

Not like that. Not like some alley cat. He hisses every time I pass him. The thing looks me square in the eye. He speaks to me. I tell him, I don’t know where you’re going with this. This hissing. This madness. Then he just runs off. Like my words have no effect on him.

He’s baiting you. Waiting for the next time. I’d walk around with treats in my pocket if I were you. Gratuity is all he understands.

Gratuity?

Yes. He believes he’s entertaining you. Like buskers. Some kind of a sidewalk show. Like he’s walking a tightrope. He wants compensation.

This is a cat.

Yes. This is a cat.