'Speechless'

Chapter 2: 'Peaceful Silence'

I'm eight years old now. I don't know where I am, or where I'm going. All I know now is to just keep moving. Plenty of old she-kats have helped me along the way, but there are times I have to help myself. I still wear the same t-shirt, and shorts. Those same flip-flops are still on my feet. I'm thankful for any help I get where I can get it on the highways.

I remember the faces, but few names. I don't know who my mother is anymore, nor do I care what she's doing now. Maybe one day I'll find another out there. I've grown up out here, and have learned to fend for myself when I cannot rely on others. There are times I won't get picked up, or helped by a kind stranger passing by. This is one of those times

'What a day'

I was out walking as I normally do, and found myself in a field of golden wheat. Since being left out on my own, I taught myself skills like how to read and write. As a seal pup, a skill that is inherited to my species is swimming. Hidden in the fields, I came across what looked to be a small pond or lake. There didn't seem to be another kat for miles around

I cannot talk, but it doesn't mean I'm stupid. I hear things, and see things. Some kind strangers that help me call me things like 'cute', or say that 'I'm a really nice pup' or they feel pity in learning the fact I was abandoned. A funny thing I've heard from a she-kat that housed me is that I have a bubble butt. I see what they mean when I look in a mirror

Starting at six, and using a Sharpie, I keep track of how long I've been out here. I was given a duct-tape wallet by a passerby that picked me up on a highway on one of those days I do not remember. There are eight tally marks on the side of the wallet for eight years, and all the time I've been alive. I'm going to keep on living, and learning out here.

My t-shirt had grease spots on there from fries, or any snack I could buy from a snack machine. Nowadays, I keep a small bag of supplies with me. I maybe homeless, but I can take care of myself. For one thing, I keep a toothbrush and toothpaste. It seems like when you're smaller and younger, it's easier to get money handouts from others passing by.

Now I said it's easier, I never said it was easy. I never stole, or cheated. Any money I did get went to things that I need like food. On these kinds of days, a swim sounds very nice. I went up to the water, not knowing why it's there or what it's for. All I can tell is that it looked like fun. I don't have much, but I still know what 'fun' is, and how to have it.

'It looks safe'

That's a thing about a pup like me. I don't talk, so I think a lot and express myself through other ways like smiling. I dropped my bag at the edge of the lake, and looked around. I can hear the sounds of cars and trucks on the highway far away. They can't see me. I closed my eyes, and grinned to myself hearing the sounds of the water. It's very relaxing.

I opened my eyes, and stepped out of my flip-flops. I took off my shirt, and laid it on a nearby rock. I took off my shorts, and laid it on the same rock. At times when I see it in the mirror, I giggle to myself. I admit it. I like my butt. It's round, covered in spots, and it wiggles. I stepped into the lake until it's up to my knees, and gently dived underwater.

'So wonderful, so refreshing'

I swam underwater, and surfaced with a breath. I floated on my back, and looked up at the sky. A light blue sky with patches of clouds. I turned over on my belly, and looked over at my clothes. I went underwater, and swam to the shore. I got out of the water, and moved my clothes off the rock. I laid on my back to have a little nap in the warm sun.

As I rested, I heard a pair of footsteps coming toward me. I opened my eyes, and turned to see a police-tom looking at me. I got up from the rock, and faced him with a tilt of my head, and a confused look on my face, "Alright son, let's go, fun's over," he said, it looks like someone might have spotted me, "get your clothes on, you're coming with me,"

I didn't think I was breaking the law. If this cop was here, then I soon figured out why. The lake must've been on someone's property. I was handcuffed, and placed in the back of the police car. I was taken to a little town called 'Katlin', and the local police station. There is a she-kat officer at the front desk, "What did you get, Jim?" she asked the officer.

"I caught this little pup skinny dipping, and trespassing on ol' Farmer Cletus's wheat field," said the officer named Jim, I didn't fight him and I couldn't be mad at him. He's just doing his job, "what's your name, kid?" he asked, I pulled out my wallet, and pointed to my name on the left side, "Nico, huh?" he said, and he inspected the wallet. He is smart.

"You're seven years old, and you're living out here, does your mom know where you are?" he asked me, I shook my head 'no', the Cymric police-tom pinched the skin between his grey eyes. I wrote on a post-it note with my Sharpie that: 'I don't have a mom'. The officer smiled, "sure you do...Gloria, see what you can get from the pup" he asked of her

"On it, sir," said the she-kat

I worked with her, and she too, like many others, realized that I am a mute. She was able to find my mom, and got cursed at on the phone. I can overheard her saying that she 'refuses to call me her son', and that 'he can die out there for all she cared'. Gloria hung up the phone and looked at me. She sighed, wondering where things will go from there.