Teddy

I have a huge kitty named Teddy, short for Teddy Bear. He is twice as big and heavy as any other cat and he has long fluffy black fur. When I first got Teddy as a six-week old kitten, it didn't take me long to figure out that he was extremely shy and skittish. During the daytime I have to leave the garage open a few inches as an escape hatch for Teddy. If he hears a loud noise or sees a deer, or if a car drives by, then like a flash Teddy is gone to the garage for safety.

One puzzling thing about Teddy is that as soon as it gets dark at night he suddenly turns brave and wants to wander around outside; up in the woods and even down the road to the neighbor's house. What I don't like is the fact that night-time is the most dangerous time here on the edge of the woods. Coyotes have been spotted and heard howling and yipping as close as just out the window. Big owls are always on the lookout for mice, voles and kitties. One evening last summer I happened to look out the window and see a wolf!

Last night before bedtime I let Teddy outside for a little break before putting him back in the garage for the night. I tried to keep an eye on him from the windows, but before I knew it he had vanished. We are in the middle of a cold spell here and it was only about 11 degrees outside, so I bundled up with my warmest coat, winter scarf and gloves. I grabbed the flashlight and out into the dark frigid night I went. I was surprised to see Teddy sitting just outside of the garage. But as soon as he saw me he started running down the driveway and down the road as fast as he could. Since the roads are covered with ice I had to take it slowly but I could still see his dark form scrambling across the white snow and ice. We have over a foot of hard crusty snow everywhere and it’s so hard that it can be walked on without sinking in. Teddy left the icy road and took off over the crusty snow to the neighbor’s house with me in pursuit. I got better traction on the snow so I was able to keep up with him. Finally realizing that I wasn’t giving up, Teddy stopped and crouched down waiting for me to catch him.

Making our way back across the crusty snow I had to step over and climb down a big snow berm to get down to the icy road. The snow was so hard that I slipped and when my feet reached the ice below, they continued to slip and I found myself flat on my back, looking up into the black sky, still clutching Teddy. It was not my activity of choice; lying out in the road at night in freezing temperatures stargazing.