grounded

mere moments before happening upon the kittens, robert and i were having a discussion. about upcoming weekend trips. an impromptu getaway to his parents' mountain house. the one tucked in the corner of the road, with the split rail fence and rose bushes. where we sat on the smooth flat rock and held hands in high school. we were excited about the possibility. of just packing up and heading up into the hills on friday.

but then we saw the cloud of fur, and the kittens. others have said they saw them scavenging under the bridge on the rocks and sand the day before. it's no wonder they scarfed the cat food and nestled into my sweatshirt.

so we're grounded, for the time being. here until they all find homes. because they'd be okay on their own. the shed is nice and cool and filled with lots of old relics they can jump on, hide behind and weave between. there's a new fluffy bed inside and bowls of water.

but last night, i went to go check on them one last time before bed, and they were all curled up together, all four of them, in the little bed, paws overlapping on faces and legs sprawled off the edge. and i whispered to them, alone in the old shed, "i will never forget this. as long as i live, i won't forget these few weeks."

so i can't leave. instead, i will stay in wallburg these next two weekends. the town that most people, including a majority of my high school class, have left. and i will fall in love with it. with its one stoplight, old brick schools and little concrete pool, already filled for its memorial day opening. and i'll thank God for the little bodies entrusted to me, for as long as that might be. for as they are home, so am i.