Just Like Always

---

This husband and I…

Pulled into Little Cottage around four pm…the drive easy, uneventful…unlocked the house and crossed the threshold, the heart a-pitter-pat…

Always forget how cute the place is…bright and colorful…fun and cozy…how much it’s loved…how much it’s missed…

Unpacking beckoned, but first things first…went to the back door, propped it open, just like always, and went outside and called his name…

As loud as two old folks could call…

“Pumpkin!” “Punkin!” “Puuuumpkiiiiin!” “Puuuuuunkiiiiin!”…and then, with anxious hearts, we waited…
And bustled and carried and bustled and lifted and bustled and hauled…but waited nonetheless…

Which wasn’t long, because suddenly, within the hour, there he was at the back door, just like always…peeking in, just like always…

And that sweet, dear, cat friend of ours…horribly thin…full of ticks…surviving a harsh winter without his people…

Cried and cried and cried…then came inside, ate whitefish and tuna…gave two old folks a little cuddle, then curled up on hideous man-chair and took a snooze…
​
Just…like always…

And that husband of mine…agrees…