Yelp

I’m stuck, can’t go further and can’t go back. No juice or “chesspa” as its pronounced in Spanish. Sirena at least got me to yet another gas station with a restaurant and canopy to cover her during the inevitable downpour arriving any minute. She won’t start and the motor’s leaking oil…hmmmmm…okay. Again, I just let things be and work on resolving the situation…though I tend to notice these things happen when I’ve actually got somewhere to be…apparently fate doesn’t approve of me having a schedule. The attendant at the gas station makes a call…a mechanic is buried under my hood 12 minutes later. I love the Latin American work ethic, nothing compares.

It’s Sunday, the day of rest…not for Fernando the newest mechanic in my black book, but apparently for the shop we need to fix my issue…my problems will have to wait until the morning. With clean pearly whites shining through a grease covered face he smiles as he informs me that I’ll be sleeping here tonight. “I’ve been wanting to try out my new hammock” is the thought that graces my mind as that downpour I mentioned arrives with a fury. We hurriedly push the truck under the canopy and agree to pick things back up tomorrow morning.

My day is wide open and after driving for six hours already I discover I’m famished. So I head to the restaurant for some lunch, make a few new friends and then I decide to test out my new digs. With the rain pitter pattering across the tin roof above I drift off into a peaceful sleep. My woven cocoon sways methodically in a breeze dusting my face ever so slightly with the cool mist of rain. I awake feeling refreshed but slightly sticky as the desert heat and humidity have replaced the rain and cool breeze. I’m up and off to explore a bit. There’s a toll booth 200 meters away so I take a stroll…not that interesting as you can imagine. I can’t help but laugh as I’m reminded of Toll Booth Willy, some will understand. As I exit a much nicer restroom compared to what my mind conjured up before entering, I stumble upon the tiniest little kitten all burrowed up within the dirt just inches from my feet. Oh great.

This little guy must have been 4 weeks old or so, I would have guessed much younger by the size but after my fingers grazed over his protruding ribs I knew he was beyond malnourished. I carefully picked him up as he meowed in the way only a very young sick kitten could…breaking my heart in the process. He was about as clean as the dirt he slept in and he shook from fright while continuing to serenade me with his adorable yelp. I carried him back to my base camp and laid him on the hood of my truck. First things first, water. 4 capfuls later he seemed to have his fill. I popped open a can of tuna I carry as an emergency backup for kittens and made a little plate for him…which he gobbled up. I was quite surprised by the amount he consumed. We got to know each other a bit as I caressed his head and ears thinking how by now Jessica would have named him, cleaned him, made an outfit from one of my shirts and of course explained to me how he was now “ours”…but she meant hers.

I did my best to follow suit. I washed him up with baby wipes, which then looked similar to the rags used to wipe grease from my hands after toiling under the hood. I wrapped him up in a towel, placed him in my hammock and went to buy some milk from the store. I smirked at the fact that all of my kitten rescuing know-how was gathered from Saturday mornings watching Tom & Jerry. I returned with some cream, watered it down and went to retrieve my new friend…but he had made his escape. He hadn’t gone too far though as I discovered him hiding in my tire…still nervous I’m sure from his change of fate. He enjoyed the milky concoction in addition to a second helping of tuna. After licking his chops I took him for a little walk in the grass…he lightened the burden, maybe he wasn’t as malnourished as I had previously thought. We headed back to the hammock, I wrapped him up once again in the towel and laid him upon my chest. He meowed for a bit before falling into a peaceful slumber as I caressed his bone riddled frame. This poor little kitten had it rough and I was certain he would have died soon. It made me sorrowful to think of how many beings, animals and people alike, suffer so unfairly…they deserve a better existence. I was providing that for this little kitten as I stroked his ears and felt the vibrating purr confirming the better existence part. This was the point of today, this is the point of every day…to help. Help…such a broad and general word but so very necessary. Help a friend by listening to their grievances…help dish out food at a shelter…help an elderly lady up the steps…help a city recover from an earthquake…help a child learn something…help your spouse by saying “I love you”…help a kitten…help yourself by helping others.

So here I am sitting with this little kitten on my chest and thinking how ridiculous all of this was…how crazy I was as I masterminded a plan to sneak him across the border. Nodding to myself dismissively at the mess I’ve gotten into, I contemplated names…Gato, Dirt, Tuna….I’ve been listening to a bit of Johnny Cash on the road so maybe I’ll name him Sue. “This world is rough, and if a cat’s gonna make it, he’s gotta be tough.” But then again I’ve always regretted not naming my dog Hobo, El Guapo…maybe now’s my chance…it’s quite fitting since I’m in Mexico. As I lay petting this purring little creature who got me into this predicament I too fell back asleep…we both laid there swaying in the wind…this dumb gringo and his kitten.

I woke to the tiniest paws stretching repeatedly across my chest…losing my thought within the pair of grey blue eyes peering back at me. It was late, the sun would be setting soon so I took my new friend for a walk through an immense field with knee high grass. The vibrant strands danced around him as he burrowed himself in the dirt once again. As the sun dipped behind clouds just beyond the highway the colors exploded across the sky…I thanked God for placing me here…enabling me to help this near death kitten enjoy some of the better aspects of life on this earth. The swaying grass moved as if choreographed by the wind…it tickled the tips of my fingers as I strolled through the immense field with intent…slowly filling my lungs with the sweet air it provided. It meant more to me to be able to help than it probably did for him to receive my aid…such usually is the case as I’ve come to learn.

As we made our way back I noticed a small boy, 8 or 9 years old, peering at me from the back of his fathers pickup truck. I walked over, let him hold my new friend and asked if he would like to buy a kitten…“He’s dirty but I’ll give you a good deal.” Of course I didn’t say that but I did ask if he wanted to take my new pal home free of charge. Without hesitation he shook his head excitedly in confirmation and then ran off towards his padre after I told him to ask for permission. Kitten in hand, I watched him plead with his father and imagined the negotiation being played out. With a hesitant nod the father gave his approval to the boy. I smiled knowing I made the most of the day and that kitten just might be okay after all. The boy returned with delight smeared across his face and asked for his new pets name…I told him that was his responsibility and watched his smile grow even larger as he considered options. With one last pat I said my final goodbye to Sue and began my trip back along the grassy path…humming a familiar Johnny Cash song as I walked.