My student, married to a vet,
told this story: A woman
entrusted her precious cat to
our clinic. The cat promptly
got loose and disappeared.
For two weeks we searched;
then the woman was due back.
I ordered my husband to meet
her but he vanished to far off
locales. I dreaded the moment
when the owner returned. She
came rushing into our clinic
calling out “Oh Sweetums!
Mommy is here!”
I opened my clenched eyes
to deliver the bad news but
instead Sweetums come
sliding out between ceiling
tiles to greet his owner. I
didn’t tell my husband until
he asked.
2026 Jacqueline Jackson
This article appears in March 26 – April 1, 2026.
