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THREE ORPHANS
While visiting my orphan brother, Wayne, in Gainesville, Georgia, I saw a little kitten running along the roadway.
We were five miles from the nearest house. It was obvious that someone tried to get rid of it and dumped this cat. I asked Wayne if we could stop and at least take it to a safer place.
"I don't want a darn cat," said Wayne.
"Well, I didn't ask you to adopt the cat. Just move it to another location so it will not get run over," I said.
With one of those mean, old, gruff looking moods that some people get on their face, he pulled off the highway and let me pick up the kitten. As I got back in the truck, I looked at him and said, "Now that didn't kill you, did it?"
"I got a dog and that's all I need," said Wayne with that mean, old look still on his face.
I picked the cat up from my lap and held it toward him.
"Why don't you reach out there and scratch that mean, old man?" I told the cat.
Wayne gave me that out-of-the-corner-of-your-eye looks, but did not say a word. After arriving at his house, I took the kitten and stood beside the truck petting it.
"That cat is not coming in my house," Wayne said pointing at me.
"You want me to just throw it out in the street?" I asked. "I guess I don’t have to tell you that this is just a little orphan kitten."
Wayne and I both were orphans, and we both know very well what it is like to have no one give a hoot about us.
"Don't pull that one on me," he replied.
"Well, it's hungry and it needs some water."
Wayne did not say a word as he nodded toward the house, giving me permission to bring the kitten in for a drink of water and something to eat.
"I ain't got anything but dog food. That's what it's going to have to eat or it can just go hungry."
As soon as Wayne sat down on the couch, the kitten ran over to him and grabbed his sock with all four feet. He shook his foot as hard as he could, but the kitten would not let go. Soon Wayne was laughing as loud as he could.
"Look at this darn cat!" he exclaimed.
All at once, the kitten let go of his leg; Wayne reached over, picked it up and began to stroke it.
"Listen to the motor in this thing," Wayne said.
About that time, Wayne's dog came walking in from the back bedroom. Instantly, the dog and kitten began to chase each other! They ran up and down the hallway, and around the couch.
"I guess they sorta like each other. I am surprised. My dog don't like any one."
"Yeah, like somebody else I know," I whispered to myself.
As the animals continued to play, Wayne and I got in some computer time. About an hour later, we walked into the back bedroom; there were Wayne's dog and the kitten -- both asleep on Wayne's bed. The kitten curled up in a tight ball right next to the dog's chest.
Over the next two days, I would see Wayne go to the refrigerator and cut up small pieces of his premium ham to hand feed the small kitten.
On Sunday morning, I awoke to the smell of breakfast. As I was about to take a shower, I walked through the living room and saw Wayne cooking in the kitchen. There on the floor were two bowls of food - one for the kitten and one for the dog. I knew right then another orphan had been saved.
I loaded my suitcases into my truck and then turned around. I stood there looking at Wayne, his dog and the kitten. All three looked back at me.
"Don't even think about it, unless you wanna fight," said Wayne as we both laughed.
Wayne and I hugged each other warmly.
I got in my truck and drove away knowing that my orphan brother had found another piece of his heart.