Walter

A HAT TRICK

Codger had enjoyed lazing in the sun, soaking up its warmth in his fur. The sounds of the passing trains and the people moving along the platform seemed to shift into the background as he lay there, content and relaxed.

The sudden onset of clouds callously interrupted his lazy dog day. He lifted his head to look up at the increasingly darkening sky. It would be a great opening of the skies and the downpour to follow would be quick. He knew they would be soaked before they could make it home.

Watching the skies, his bones felt what he already knew was coming. Knowing it wouldn't be long he rested his head back on his paws, watching for the inevitable downpour to come.

It only took a few minutes for the rain to arrive. It was as if a dark curtain had been drawn over the landscape, blocking out all views as it closed in.

His owner wasn't paying attention. He was deep in conversation, regaling some of the railway workers with one of his longwinded stories about his adventures in the jungles of South America or some such place. Codger never paid much attention to these stories as they seemed to be all cat speak to him anyways.

So deep into the story he had been that when the curtain of rain hit, he jumped just enough for Codger to know that he'd been caught off guard. Had he been ready, he would have been able to hold onto his hat when the wind and rain hit the platform.

Instead, Codger watched as the hat spun top over bottom like a leaf dancing on the wind's sweet embrace. He watched as the old fedora finally came to rest on his head. It even ended up facing the proper direction.

When he raised his head to stare at the group with his new found accessory, the group's gazes went from stunned amazement to howls of laughter.

Shouts of "Oh my, did you see that?", "Wish I'd had a camera." and "That was amazing!" could be heard amongst the laughter. This was immediately followed by the retelling of the story of the flying hat to those who had rushed out, wondering what all the excitement had been.

His owner came to reclaim his hat, sat down and lit another cigar.

"Looks like we'll be here a little while longer, my old friend," he said as he took a few puffs.

He always liked the smell of them as he rolled onto his side and drifted off with the sounds of the rain.