Dedication: 

To my daughter, Miranda, and to Grandma's big girl, Zara.  

In memory of Mama’s Boy.

We found a tiny kitten beneath our neighbor’s house. We named him Mama's Boy; he was no bigger than a mouse.

We loved watching him play with a ball of string, and fetching candy wrappers was his favorite thing.

When it was time to snuggle, he would curl around our neck. His favorite place to hang out was our backyard screened-in deck.

When we picked him up, he chose then to stretch. When we threw a ball, we learned he could fetch.

He was like a puppy who came when we would call. Running from the kitchen, he would slide and hit the wall.

We would laugh hysterically, and he would shake his head. Then, he would ignore us to play with a piece of thread.

He would find a toy of his to bat around the room, Or jump up high in the air to swat at a balloon.

Then, one sunny morning, he darted out the door. It was something that he had never done before.

He must have had an efficient plan for his getaway. He must have had a jolly time cause he was gone all day.

I bet he chased and maybe caught a butterfly or bird.

I bet there were unusual sounds he had never heard.

I wonder if he came across a turtle or a frog, or maybe he encountered a grumpy barking dog.

I knew he was a curious cat who liked to explore, but we were overjoyed to find him back at our front door

He must have gone a distance of which I have no doubt. He ate and drank his fill, and then his energy gave out..