Out of Place

He was always hungry. Always. He couldn't remember a time when he didn't wake up hungry or go to sleep hungry. It was his life to search for food.

Garbage can aromas drew him in. Some of the cans were too heavy to knock over and too tall to climb into despite his efforts. The smells foretold of food he would be deprived of. His little body would have to stick to tearing into bags on the ground.

People would try to grab him like they did the rest of his family but he would growl and run. He would hide under the cars to stay warm by their silent engines, his coat oily from the undercarriage.

There was such a delicious smell it woke him from his slumber. He stuck out his head and sniffed the air. He shimmied from underneath the car and stayed next to the curb looking for the food. He scurried across the sidewalk to the plate he was sure was meant for him. He inhaled the food in several mouthfuls, stood with a paw on the plate to lick a few swipes and then darted back beneath the car. The licked his muzzle to clean up the tasty morsels.

Again, he woke to the smell of food nearby. He peaked out and could smell the feast awaiting. He scampered to the plate but could not quite get to it. He sniffed and drooled. He walked around and found a way to the food. He hesitated. Stuck his head in toward the food, sniffed and walked in. The loud sound startled him for a second but the food was his focus. He ate quickly and turned to leave. He found himself trapped and frantic.

"Easy does it, fella," said a man and then it went dark.

He cowered in the corner of the trap as he was jostled around. Surely he would die both frightened and hungry.

Eventually it was quiet, like he had never heard before. Food appeared and he ate until he could hardly move.

Once morning came there was more food and he could once again see his surroundings. As he ate, he eyed the opening in the cage. Wolfing down the food, he then darted out of his prison.

There were no sidewalks, no cars, no honking taxis or smelly buses to be seen. Just open space. He ran frantic for a place to hide and returned to the cage and his empty bowl. With a full belly, he struggled to stay awake but soon his eyes were closed as he dreamed of food.

He woke with a start and quickly exited the cage. He sniffed the air and began to explore his new world. He walked and smelled everything. He could not smell his beloved garbage anywhere and plopped down with his head in the grass. The warm sun and gentle breeze soon coaxed him back to sleep.

He saw a person near his cage. He backed up and growled. Smelling there was more food to be had, he inched his way back to the cage, quickly darting past the person's legs to his food.

There was always food. Everyday. He ate greedily even if he was not hungry. The person brought the food and he watched him as he ate. His growls kept the person away.

The food and the person was late one morning. Would there ever be food again, he wondered. Then the person arrived. He was so excited to see the person, he pranced around the person's legs.

A quick rub on the head and food appeared in the bowl. He began to follow the person and to sleep beneath his swing.

One day, he was coaxed into the swing by a tasty treat. He sat next to the person and contently chewed on the bone. He was finally home and no longer out of place.