backseat memories

Thanks Kelly Flanagan...for the memories. Years ago, a Siamese cat showed up on the doorstep. We suspect our neighbor was feeding it there. He appeared to be homeless. We adopted him.

Years ago

From the backseat

Came a five year old voice:

What happens

To the animals

Who don’t get adopted?

I know he was thinking

Of the cat

Who showed up

On our doorstep.

This mother

Finally came up

With an answer

As gentle

As truthful

As I could make it:

They gently kill them.

Long silence

In the backseat.

I have the answer

He said.

What is it?

I asked.

We should give them

To all the prisoners

So they won’t be lonely.

My mind conjured up

A cat on every lap.

A cat box

In every cell