It all started on December 3rd, 2016…
I was on my way to pick up my daughter from her babysitting job. Being December in Tennessee, the weather was pretty awful. It was cold and drizzling. The roads were soaked. And as always, I was running a little behind schedule.
As my car crested a small hill and prepared to turn left, I saw something moving on the side of the road.
One thing you need to know about Tennessee – wildlife is very common. It’s like a zoo – deer, horses, cows, raccoons, ground hogs, squirrels, rabbits, rats, field mice, moles, coyotes – you see them all. And often.
I only caught a glimpse, but based on the size and movement, at this point I’m thinking it was a baby opossum or raccoon that might need help back into the woods. Wildlife rescue is a daily possibility in this part of the country, and I was cautiously ready to do my civic duty.
When I got out of the car, however, it was nowhere to be seen. I looked around for a few seconds, eventually deciding that what ever it was had probably scampered back off into the woods on its own. I was a little disappointed, but also relieved that I had not added anything to my already tight schedule.
Thankfully, the story didn’t end like that.
As I was opening the driver’s side door, I heard a noise from under the car. Right away, I am thinking I was truly dealing with frightened wild animal. I imagined myself leaning down to help this thing and having it lunge from under the car, eating its way up my arm to my face. (Side note? I may have been watching too much Walking Dead at the time.)
Despite being a little nervous, I knelt down and cautiously looked under the car.
And that’s when I heard it… that unmistakable sound… the sounds that warms the heart of pet lovers everywhere. I heard a pitiful “Mew” and knew I had found a kitten.
I sat down on the ground, assuming I would have to pry it loose from something. Instead, this little creature emerged from under the car.
It was wet. It covered in mud. It stank of garbage. It was dragging its limp back legs behind it.
And?
It crawled right over – without missing a beat – and climbed up into my lap.
Wizard Cat Merlin found his human 
