Trapped On The Edge Of Traffic
Four tiny white kittens pressed their noses against the clear plastic film of a tightly knotted produce bag sitting directly on the asphalt shoulder.
Heavy semi-trucks and commuter cars roared past only inches away, blasting gusts of exhaust and wind against the thin plastic shell.
The kittens opened their pink mouths repeatedly, pawing against the transparent walls as their breath fogged the inside of the sack.
Several pedestrians walked along the shoulder in the distance, their footsteps moving steadily forward without glancing down toward the curb.
A Tapping Cane Approaches
The plastic bag shifted slightly with each passing vehicle, threatening to tumble closer toward the active highway lane.
Further up the road, an older man in a flat cap and dark sunglasses made his way along the edge of the pavement, sweeping a red-and-white mobility cane from side to side.
The metal tip of the cane clicked rhythmically against the rough stones and cracked tar of the road shoulder.
As he took another step forward, the white cane made contact with the flexible plastic, bouncing back with an unexpected soft thud.
The man stopped his stride, his brow furrowing as he leaned slightly forward over his cane to inspect the obstruction at his feet.
Untying The Knotted Plastic
Lowering himself down onto the rough asphalt, he set his cane aside and reached both hands toward the bundle.
His fingers worked quickly at the yellow twist tie bound around the top of the plastic sack.
With a firm tug, he loosened the gather and pulled the plastic open wide, letting the outdoor air rush inside.
The white kittens immediately tumbled forward through the opening, their tiny paws scrambling across the gravel and asphalt.
He kept his hands cupped low to the ground, blocking them from wandering out toward the traffic lane as they emerged into the daylight.
Gathering On The Grass
Moving off the hot pavement, the man shifted his weight onto the patch of green grass beside the guardrail and sat down cross-legged.
He scooped the four kittens into his lap, his fingers gently stroking the soft white fur behind their ears.
The kittens climbed over his jacket and nestled against his chest, blinking in the bright afternoon sun.
The man rested his hands across the cluster of kittens in his lap while the cane lay flat in the grass beside his knee.
Send this to someone who always watches out for the most vulnerable among us.
