Tater's Great Escape

        Freedom: that's what Tater longed for as he stared out the window. He could see it, and on the days when Shiloh opened her window, he could smell it.

         It wasn't that he had a bad life. Shiloh was a good owner. She was only ten, but very responsible for her age. He had everything he needed; food, water, lots of soft wood shavings, and she took him out daily to play. She loved him, and he would have probably been content with his life, if she just hadn't moved his cage next to the window. 

         Tater was startled as he turned away from the window to see Max staring at him.

         “Holy crap, Max, you scared me. Don't sneak up on me like that.”

         “Sorry dude. I'm a cat, it's what I do.”

         Tater turned back to his wonderful view, “Take a look Max. One day, I'm going to live out there.”

         “Why do you want to live outside?”

         “To be the master of my own destiny Max, like the squirrels, and that rabbit that lives over by the coy pond.”

         Max shook his head, “It's a good thing she keeps you in a cage.”

         “Oh yeah, that reminds me,” Tater said, and then rustled around under his bedding. He emerged with a twisted piece of wire, and stuck one end of it through his cage.

         “I've been having some trouble with this. I need the tip bent a little more.”

         “Hmm, let me give it a try,” Max said, and then bit down on the wire.

         Tater examined it, “Max, this is perfect!”

         “Hey, what is that,” Max demanded.

         “It was a paper clip that Shiloh dropped in here last week, but now it's my key to freedom!”

         Tater took the wire, and began trying to open the latch on his cage. Max stepped back, shaking his head, “No, no... I don't want any part of this dude,” and then padded away.

         It took Tater a couple of minutes, but finally his cage door swung open, and he was free. Not wasting any time, he darted out of the cage and around to the window. Luckily, Shiloh left it open. Tater made quick work gnawing through the screen, and as he passed through the torn mesh, he took a deep breath, savoring his new found freedom.

         When Tater finally made it to the ground, he reached out and touched a blade of grass. It felt strange, but good. He stepped off into the great out doors, and pondered what he would do first; maybe introduce himself to his new neighbors, the squirrels, or perhaps go for a swim in the coy pond.

         Suddenly Max tackled him. His sharp claws dug deep into his flesh, and his powerful jaws clenched his head.

         “Why...” Tater gasped.

         Max released his head, “Sorry dude. I'm a cat, it's what I do,” then bit down, crushing his skull.