Lightning illuminated the alley, momentarily. Silence filled the atmosphere. I counted 1001, 1002, the thunder crashed around the cardboard box. It crossed my mind the piece of tin over the top of the box might attract lightning.
What the hell! If it fried me, I would be a relieved.
Squinting through the rain, I wondered what time it was. The red neon from the bar across the street had been turned off, which meant it was after 2:30 a.m. The stacked pallets underneath my box kept the deluge of water from soaking my sleeping bag. The one solitary possession I owned, other than the clothes I had on.
A movement caught my eye. Just a rat, I thought. They frequented the alley and I was used to them scurrying across my box. One had been so bold as to take a small chunk out of my ear. Bled like hell.
But tonight I was mistaken. I'd nursed a bottle of Boones Farm until I passed out and now this damn storm had robbed me of my inebriated sleep. I squinted trying to get my eyes to focus. Something was there. Between my legs, the black cat crouched. I'd seen it around. A thin mangy, looking creature living on the edge of society just like me. It turned to stare in my direction and I noticed it had only one eye. Had the wine tricked my mind? I would've noticed if it had been missing an eye. I pulled my glasses off the top of my head and looked again. It arched its back and foamed at the mouth.
Rabid? Man lie still I told myself. Don't move!
The rat inched its way across my arm and down the opposite side of the box. The cat waited. The rat misjudged the distance to the end of the box. The cat misjudged nothing. Now obviously worried it might have to share with me, he ventured into the rain, the rat in its mouth.
Relief flooded through me and I took the opportunity to fill my lungs with much needed air. Crap! It smelled like cat piss in here. The damn cat had peed on my box! My sock felt wet to. Could be the rain, I hoped. The storm seemed to be sliding away and the pitter-patter on the tin metal drummed me back to a drunken sleep. Cat piss could wait!
Bang! The box jolted from right to left and then another bang on the tin brought me out of foggy dreams.
"Jonah, wake up. Get your shit and move on." It was the patrolman making his rounds before the downtown business district woke up.
"I'm movin', Officer Taylor. Just let me get my bearings and gather my stuff."
I'd know this cop for nearly two years. He knew where I slept and didn't bother me except when morning came.
"I just came from Souls Harbor and they're havin' flap jacks this mornin. You better get yourself over there before they're all gone."
I rubbed my hand across my face and beard. My head hurt like hell, "I believe I will, Officer."
He moved on down the street to give me a little privacy. I had to pee and it couldn't wait. I crawled out of the box and made it to the back of the alley where I leaned against a rusted barrel. Ahh, relief flooded my brain. I heard a crash and turned, midstream, to see crazy Matilda hit my box home with her grocery basket of belongings. The box collapsed and slid into the puddles of rain.
)
