When I first spotted him
The boy charmed me to the core

His bright red hair was long and flowing
His nose straight
And he had the softest light brown eyes I’d ever seen.

I wasn’t expecting to be mesmerized
While shopping before a long trip
But he…
He was just there
Hanging out
waiting for the right person,
like me to walk by
and catch his eye.

But I couldn’t get further
Than a long achy look
I was in a rush!

I’m sorry
I know I am always in a rush
There was a long flight the next day
And I still had many more chores to run

There was no time for a budding romance!

So I had to pretend
He didn’t attract my attention
And walk on

But I thought about him all week
And on my red-eye home
I started to wonder with a little extra excitement
Maybe he would still be there
Maybe fate was waiting

I arrived back in town
three hours late
In a panic I rushed back to the very spot
where we first locked eyes
And there he was
nestled into the back of his cage
trying to catch a nap
amongst all the commotion
of a dozen other shelter cats and dogs
I lifted the latch carefully
so as not to startle him
He stretched out with his lean furry body
and did what I like to call -- the head butt

He vigorously rubbed his whiskers against my fingers
Whipping his face back and forth across my hand
With a loud and persistent purr
and the squeakiest of voices he communicated
“Welcome back, I’ve been waiting so long for you.
Can we go now, I’m tired?”

I bought a new carrier
and a soft fleecy pad
placed my six-month old little kitty inside
paid the shelter their fee
and took home the new love of my life
My Rusty Foxx…

© 2008 Sara Coslett