Darkest Before Dawn

This is a vignette that took me a relatively short amount of time to write. Would have loved to accompany with an illustration, but I am just too busy at the moment.

Get up. It's 2 a.m., drive to the shop with the squeky roll up door. Mornin' Al. Mornin', he says back. He's old, round, wise. He played college ball with Wilt Chamberlain he told me. He slept with over ten thousand women, Al told me one morning at dawn, putting along in his truck. I think I heard that about him too, wonder if it's true? I said.

Al says good morning, and pats me on the back. You missed a couple throws yesterday, he complains. Sorry Al, I'll throw 'em today, I promise, I told him. I know you will, he said back. I load my car. I spend and hour. I leave. The stars twinkle where the clouds break. Under the blanket of darkness I travel. Clutching a cigarette, music loud. Fold, bag, back seat. Trying to keep my deadline, sunrise.

A little gray kitten. The first time I saw it I slowed down. The second and third time I pulled over and got out of the car. Come here kitty, I would say on my knees with my hand out, tapping the cool, black road. It was a tiny little kitten. It was grey like a stone, its front paws had white boots. It just sat there on the other side of the road, staring at me from underneath the blackberry bush that mangled its way down the hill and all the way to the edge of the road. I wanted to take the kitten home and feed it. I was sure it would make a fine pet. Come here kitty, I say again, bent down on my knees, before it disappears into the dark brush.

The road is windy, it is dark. Clutching a cigarette, music loud. Fold, bag, backseat.

THUD!!

When I get out of the car the air is heavy and wet. The dew has been settling on the black road all night. I smell it. I squint into the darkness and take a few steps. On the side of the road I see it. Small and broken. Its white boots splashed with blood. Stupid fuckin cat! I say, as I stand over the kittens lifeless body, blood is beginning to pour from its open mouth. I know it cannot hear me. Should've come with me when you had the chance, I would have given you warm bowls of milk, I say to the dead cat again. I squash out the cigarette next to where the cat lay. I leave the cat on the side of the road. I get into the car and leave. I have a deadline to keep. Sunrise.