Member-only story
Fiction.
Blanche’s beloved cat, Chester, was in the upper branches of the old oak, mewing. This had never happened before. Chester was a house cat — he’d stay inside and happily jump about. He was well-behaved. But today Chester slipped outside, panicked, and found himself trapped in the tree. He was scared and confused.
Blanche couldn’t climb the tree the way she did back in her younger years. She called 911 for help.
Blanche had expected Phil the fireman to come by with a ladder. But instead they sent a SWAT team.
“He’s right there, on that branch, just to the left,” Blanche helpfully told the SWAT team leader. “Can you reach him?”
“You bet your sweet ass I can reach him,” said the leader, pulling out a very large gun. “Freeze!” he yelled.
“Would it help if I brought out a saucer of milk?” Blanche offered.
Tony, the SWAT leader, shoved her aside. The team, weapons drawn, surrounded the tree.
Chester mewed frantically and waved his paws.
The SWAT team pulled back.
“Did you see that?” said one gunman.
“Damn right!” said another.
“He’s acting erratically and defying our orders,” added Tony. “Let’s do this!”
