SWAT Kats: Dive!
Chapter 1: Kats Only
In a city called MegaKat City, one would assume that everyone in the city is a feline. Well, that is not exactly true. There are exceptions to that rule, but we are very rare. Some call us 'freaks' and 'mutations'. As hurtful as those words are, I don't let them bring me down even if I don't have a voice to do so, literally. My name is Ian. I am a harbor seal.
I was born a mute, and I have learned to live with that disability all my life. I use sign language to communicate, but I think it is easy to know simple words and phrases from the mouth like hello, good-bye, yes and no. Like a lot of kats that call this big city home, I have my dreams. In this city and among a feline majority, all they have to say is 'no'.
I refuse to give up or give in. My heart won't let me give in when someone tells me I can't do something. Still, I have only known rejection and being on the unwritten watch list of the police. I have never been arrested, but I see the looks some police give me. It's like they want to arrest me just for the fun of it. All because I am not of the feline species.
"Filthy seal," a cop grumbled
I turned an eye to him, and turned and walked away hoping to find some form of shelter. I am homeless, and always moving from place to place to find shelter. The only things I have are the sandals on my feet and a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. My clothes are worn with stains of dirty water from cars driving by and splashing me on those rainy days.
I have the body and appearance of a young pup, but should you know I am only sixteen. Most of the time I spend walking the beach and picking up cans and bottles that others leave behind. With that, I would take what I pick up off the beach to the local market. To me, a mere five dollars is a lot of money. I can go a whole week on that kind of money.
There are times that I just sit on the beach, and look out at the ocean. There is a quiet and tranquil calmness in the ocean. There is no past, and there is no future. I cannot age past the appearance I have now because of a condition I was diagnosed with when I was twelve called 'Barrie's Syndrome' because, like Peter Pan, it seems I will never grow up.
"Are alright, sonny?" asked a she-kat,
I grinned to her, and lightly shook my head no. The old she-kat grinned back, "Here," she said, and gave me seventy-five cents, "this is all my change," she added, I nodded in understanding and she went on her way to the supermarket. I was so thankful for her kindness. Something that seems to be lacking in most kats. Still, who am I to judge them?
I have no family, and no one to turn to in my times of need. I am alone. I have no intention of breaking your heart. I am only saying the truth as painful as it is. There are times that I cry because I wish for the things that kats take for granted. I don't have those kinds of things all because I'm different. This kind of pain is unrivaled, and this pain is mine
The soles of my sandals are so worn that I feel the rocks in the pavement stabbing through the padding. To me, an empty bottle or can is worth as much as gold. Every can and bottle I can pick up means I take a step forward to find something to eat. Even if it comes from a vending machine, I don't care. It is food, and that is the only thing that counts.
"Get lost, Water Rat!" yelled a security guard,
Once again, I am shooed away from the public places away from all the kats. As I walked the sidewalks of the city, I came across the suburbs where there was more peace than there is downtown. Some kats there are generally kinder while others will tell me to get off their property as I stare down the barrel of a shotgun. In the end, it just is what it is.
When you walk these sidewalks for as long as I have, there is a great to always look forward to seeing, a cardboard box with the word 'FREE' marked on it in sharpie. You never know what you might find in there. I know it is a stretch to say this, but in a little cardboard box I found my destiny. It is not a place to settle down for a day, but something else
In that little box, I found a swimsuit, a speedo. It was simple blue speedo, and it appeared to be in my size. I wouldn't know until I tried it on if I find a place to do so. Whoever owned this at least took the time to wash it before putting in the box to give away. Even if there might have been evidence of 'use', I still would've taken it and washed it myself.
"Hey, you can have it, little buddy," said a voice,
I looked to where the voice came from. I saw what appeared to be the homeowner trimming the bushes in his front yard. I lightly smiled to him, and nodded to him to say thank you for his kindness. As I walked away, I put the little speedo in my pocket. Now if you're looking at my big brown eyes, I have only a single question for you. Can you help me?