Cat-and-Mouse

A few nights ago, Mom was driving back home after having been at my house. With winter approaching, it was already pitch black outside despite the relatively early hour.

As she rounded the corner from my street onto her street, she saw movement dart in front of her car. She braked, peering over the steering wheel.

A black-and-white cat froze in a pointer position. Mom waved to the cat. "It's okay, I'll wait."

The cat seemed to understand. It turned its attention back to something in the roadway and crouched real low. It shook its heinie, then made a leap to the center of the street. A small reflection in the high beams, and Mom watched as the cat bopped a tiny mouse on the head. Having stunned its prey, it picked up the mouse in its jaws and trotted the rest of the way across the street. At the curb, the cat turned to Mom.

"Thanks."

Mom drove the rest of the way home questioning her sanity.