Cat Picture Led to A Gift

On a winter morning,

in the neighborhood, I was cycling.

I saw this cat sprawled in a driveway.

soaking the tender sun.

New to this land,

I was taking pictures

of everything I saw.

This cat was too adorable

not to photograph.

A man saw me,

asked for a copy of the picture

and gave me his email

on a little piece of paper.

Before I sent it,

he went to his parked car,

brought a wooden bead necklace.

He said it was a souvenir

from his trip to Africa

and now it was a gift for me.

I kept it safe

for years and years.

The string has snapped now,

thanks to curious kids,

but the beads are still there.

A cat picture

led to unexpected kindness,

a memory I treasure.