The only kitten that wound up right in the heart of the city was Vesper. Stealthily, he moved through the bustle. Unlike his sisters, Vesper had wanted to apprehend life. Not life in vast terms, but the life such as that which resided in the city. Vesper's mind was practical. In the city, it was all right in front of him. Every human being that he encountered in public seemed solicitous. Despite that Vesper did his best to keep himself hidden, he'd been seen by several humans. Every time, the person would simply glance at him without much expression and continue on their way. Clearly, every person had something to be involved with or concerned about.
Coming to understand this was one thing, but Vesper knew he needed to figure out his place as well. Vesper observed life, and his perception grew. But what, to life, could he contribute?
Vesper would see a human walking along a sidewalk with a leashed dog at their side. What, Vesper wondered, did the dog contribute to the life of the human? Companionship, he thought. Security.
Vesper silently asked, would a kitten such as himself be able to offer companionship and security, in a way that would make him more than a kitten?
Surely. Thyme, Vesper's mother had once given him a look that touched his soul. It had told him that there was more, and that he was more.
For hours, Vesper wandered the streets. He peered in business windows, as well as the windows of residencies.
By dusk, Vesper was making his way up the long, narrow stair steps of an apartment building. The stairs were black and made of cold iron. The building was very run-of-the-mill. But that was the least of Vesper's interest. Vesper wanted to understand and become a part of the community that lay before him.
Vesper soon found himself on the roof the building, watching a human. A young man curiously stood alone on the high, secluded whereabouts. The young man had a discontented facial expression, and as he stood there lonesomely, he stared at the darkening sky as if he were making plans and he smoked. Vesper watched him until the young man tossed his cigarette to the ground and left down the stairway without even noting the kitten's presence.
Vesper turned his attention from that young man to the thing which had been thrown on the roof of the building. Vesper did not know what a cigarette was, but he knew what it smelled like. It smelled of tobacco, which was familiar to him because he'd been brought up in the herb garden.
But Vesper knew something was not right about this thing that smelled of tobacco, because he knew that the tobacco was burning. The burning tobacco smelled like danger. Smoke ferociously rose from the small thing and Vesper was frightened. He knew this did not mean well for anyone nearby, and he knew the people within the apartment building might have been in trouble. This had been the time that Vesper needed to be noticed.
Vesper quickly ran back to the stairway and began his search for the nearest human whose attention he could reach. He found it when he found a man lazing in a chair on the small balcony of his apartment home.
Vesper didn't hesitate. He leaped onto the man's balcony and started to cause commotion. Vesper had always been a quiet kitten, so it wasn't like him to be so vocal but he meowed as loudly as he could, hoping to disturb the man and convince him that Vesper knew something of importance.
What are you doing up here? The man first said. As Vesper continued to cry, he said, I don't have anything to feed you, fella. Sorry.
Vesper knew the man was becoming annoyed, because he stood up from his chair and began to nudge Vesper away with his foot. Vesper was aware that he needed a new tactic, because the man did not understand.
It was then that Vesper spotted a possession of the man. It was a flashy, gold pocket watch that the man had set on on the ground next to his chair. Vesper had no doubt in his mind what would happen if he were to grab this item between his teeth and run off with it. He did just that.
Fussing, the man chased Vesper up the stairs. Vesper led the chase onto the roof, where the cigarette was already aflame. The man gasped and stopped at once when he saw the fire.
Vesper gently dropped the pocket watch at the man's feet and stared up at him with fearful eyes. He trusted that he'd made his point.
Not long after, the fire brigade arrived and put the fire out. The mess had caused many of the people who lived in the apartment building to gather and chatter about what had happened.
The man very proudly announced to his neighbors and to the firemen that a kitten had saved them from the building catching on fire. I thought he was just bugging me, but it turns out he'd wanted me to follow him all along. That's when he stole my expensive pocket watch and ran off with it. This is where he led me.
Vesper was still present, and the man pointed straight to him. The kittenshyly kept his distance from the crowd but he sat there in plain sight, knowing he'd made something of himself when the people all stared at him in awe.
To the people, Vesper was a savior and a magnificent sight as well. They not only raved about what he had done, but they raved about what they saw. He was not even a full grown cat, but he looked of majestic wisdom. His fur was sleek in the moonlight and his eyes shone brighter than any of the stars above. Some of the people called him an angel.
Evening became night, and the crowd drifted away. Vesper remained on the roof for a time, gazing up at the moon, wishing his mother could have seen every bit of it. Still, he had a feeling that Thyme wouldn't have been surprised at all.
