Page 26 - Tomcats in Paradise

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Saliva dribbled from the corners of Eddie Puss’s mouth and sank
without a trace into the muddy recesses of his coat. Not the froth of
madness alone, but the drool of hunger oozed out, as well. Ordinarily
rage overcame confusion in his tangled network of motivation,
launching him against real or phantasmagorical sources of frustration.
But Eddie hadn’t even a clue to misinterpret; his erstwhile
companions had fled too quickly, their paws padding silently upon
asphalt and cement. His ears twitched violently, but not a feline
sound could they pick out of the urban white noise. He snarled and
hissed, just in case any adversaries were cunningly concealed behind
his back, and returned to his spot in the dirt.
Perhaps his mother, sensitive just this once to his plight, would
suddenly appear, live mouse gripped firmly but tenderly between her
jaws, ready to give him an easy kill. Or, if fortune’s smile were truly
wide, a sparrow hawk flying dead overhead would forget its mission
and yawn, dropping its prey at Eddie’s feet. He rolled over on his
back, lost in mad fantasies.