Meshak's Fate

We got home late last night and by flashlight found Meshak perched comfortably on his limb. He seemed numbed by it all, clocking in close to 30 plus hours high above earth. His friend Sally, our extra large Persian mix, sat watch under the tree for most of the afternoon. When the sun fell low and made the backyard cool, Sally moved on.

When Maggie and I shone the light on him and called out, he didn't even bother to stand up and meow. He just laid there, defeated. The pink irridescent reflection of his eyes made him look a bit crazy. We encouraged him again before heading inside for the night. We discussed options. Maggie felt it best if at first light I would go ahead and climb up to his perch and just get him. I agreed to this knowing that despite my agility and physical fitness it would be flat out stupid to try and climb that tree. She added that if when I reached him there was an altercation resulting in me losing an eye or large amounts of blood, then she would go ahead and call the local fire department. I was to have looked the number up in advance so she would have it handy. We went to bed with this plan. I prayed that Meshak would have a revelation or at least get really hungry.

This morning I stumbled to the coffee pot just as light was making its above the horizon. I saw a familiar silhouette in the kitchen window. I turned the light on above the sink. There he was mouthing words to me: "Let me in, I am starving." Meshak did it. He did the best thing despite his fear. He came down from his limb. From the looks of him now curled up in my chair, he seems pretty much over it.