Jack

Jack is in a weird place. But, he still constantly mystifies me. For example, he feeds to local wild rabbits. He leaves leftover fruits and vegetables. I have seen him in blind rages and know he has done acts of amazing brutality. And yet he feeds wild rabbits. He places the fruits and veggies at spots outside around the house, and checks on them.

He also has been feeding a wild, feral car that lives under the porch of a neighbor. He has been doing this for many months, leaving cat food, dry an canned, out in small dishes. The cat, a female, had a litter before Christmas. So, now more feral feline mouths to feed.

During the heavy snows we had a few weeks ago, one of the kittens got hit by a car, 2 teenagers, boy and girl. Sherry stopped to help, and brought the kitten home, in the hope that it was not dead and that Jack could help it. He could not. It was dead. I went out and sniffed it. Shore 'nuff. Dead as meat.

Jack left it in the garage. The temps were subzero. And he kept going out there, several times throughout the night, and to stare at that dead kitten. I didn't understand it.

That is another thing we do not understand about humans, is this obsession with death. When something, or someone, is dead, they're dead. Bye-bye. No time for too much grieving. Other things to worry about. This is probably why we do not understand the human need for and construct of religion. But, I digress.

Way past 3am, during Jack's last trip out to the garage to stare at the dead cat, it hit me. He felt responsible. He fed them. Had he not, it would not have been crossing the street to eat or go back to under the porch.

Jack is too kind. I think if he were less kind he would be less lonely.