MindSpinner

There are moments when you come to realize that you only thought you knew those you live with, and this is especially true when you live with a cat.

Our cat loves to spend time outdoors, and I like to oblige him whenever possible, after popping an allergy pill into the back of his mouth before breakfast.

Today I looked out the front door, and he was crouched on the grass, clearly fascinated by something.

“Have you found a cricket?” I crooned. (Yes, I talk to the cat.)

I walked over to give him a friendly pat and to see what he’d found. I could see, down in the grass, what looked like a worm thrashing, but rather vigorously for a worm. A white paw batted it, and it suddenly lay in clear view, white side up, a black stripe along its length, a darker back. It was not a worm. It was a tail, and just a tail - the last two inches of a small snake. One end narrowed to a tip; the other ended in a bit of meat. The head and all the rest were not to be seen. The cat commenced to munching, as if I’d slipped him a bit of chicken from the table.

I think I’ll leave him outside for a while. And he won’t be going out tomorrow. I don’t relish the thought of sticking that pill into his mouth tomorrow morning, but if I don’t, he might throw up.