Strange Bedfellows

by BlackJack

It was a dark and stormy night, back when I was still living on the streets. I had no home, and could see that a huge storm was brewing. But it was dinner time first, so I started out on my nightly hunt for food.

This was a fast moving storm though, and the thunder and lightning began almost immediately. Then the rains came, and it was a veritable deluge! I was going to get soaked if I didn't find a dry place to ride out the storm, so I began to look for a nice covered area to stay.

Ah, there is a good place, a nice carport, with plenty of room, and it looked like there might even be a food bowl there too. So I made tracks in there as fast as my paws would carry me, but I still got soaked in the pouring rain. Once under cover, I proceeded to dry myself, not even looking around much. Then, to my surprise, a little white dog appeared and gave a gentle woof. A dog!

Oh no, I surely picked the wrong place to stay. But the little dog was friendly, and he let me know I was welcome to stay there, and then he even offered me some dog crunchies, which I gladly ate. Well, this was not going to be as bad as I thought.

The storm kept raging, the lightning was lighting up the sky as though it were daytime, and the thunder was so intense it hurt my ears. The little dog and I huddled together as we were both frightened by this time. We heard a terrified little squeak then, and lo and behold, a little field mouse scurried in and ran right into us. Now this was surely an unexpected happening! My first thought was "dinner", but the terrified little mouse kept squeaking thanks, and huddled in close with the dog and I. Now, how could I contemplate chowing down on such a thankful creature.

We all stayed close together, keeping warm and dry, and chatting as only animals can. The storm finally abated, and the stars came out, leading to a beautiful moonlit night. The three of us, cat, dog and mouse, had ridden out the dreadful storm, and learned something too. That animals of all species can get along, and that it is sure nice to have friends on a stormy night.