Good Evening to the Cat [Amano Writing Club]

　A stray cat wandering around the neighborhood is waiting in front of my house. I haven't fed it or taken care of it in any way. I've just seen it a few times. For now, I'll try saying something to it.

"Good evening. Are you hungry?"

　The cat said nothing and left the spot.

　The next day, it was in front of my house again. So I spoke to it once more.

"Good evening. Would you like some milk?"

　But again, when I noticed, it was gone.

　Since then, it started appearing in front of my house almost every day, but whenever I greeted it, it would always leave. Perhaps it has no owner, is just lonely, and simply wanted someone to speak to it.

　Eventually, the neighbors also started greeting the cat whenever they saw it. One day, I happened to ask an elderly man who was talking to the cat.

"Why do you talk to this cat?"
"It's nice to greet others and be greeted back, isn't it? Young people these days don't understand the importance of greetings. The cat is still better than them. That cat is just checking on the neighborhood."

　I thought, that makes sense. Neighborhood relations have become remarkably thin in this day and age.

Amano Writing Club, thank you for your support again this week.