At Least You Tried

Smoke billowed out of a house and sirens rang in the distance. The lawn was covered with
working firefighters running in and out of the burning building. A distressed woman stood by an
ambulance. She had been the only one in the house. Well, only person. A paramedic checked her over,
and she was perfectly normal, except for the shock.
Then, one firefighter brought out the tiny, limp body of a kitten. He carried it away from the
house to safety. Over by the ambulance, he put an oxygen mask over its face and poured water on its
body to wash off the smoke. The kitten didnt stir. The firefighter patiently waited for what seemed like
eternity. He stroked the lifeless body. The kitten was only the size of his hand. He was about to give up
when suddenly the kittens stomach began to rise and fall. It opened its meek eyes and let out a little
squeal. The firefighter removed the mask and held the tiny kitten in his hands. The kitten struggled as it
pawed the air and squeaked again.
The fireman took the kitten home. Alone in his apartment, he bottle-fed the kitten. He smiled,
for the first time in a long time, as the kitten began to drift asleep in his arms.
The next morning the kitten seemed to remember nothing from the previous disaster. It
excitedly ran around the firefighters leg as he cooked breakfast. While the firefighter was sitting at the
table, eating, the kitten jumped onto his lap and let out an enormous purr.
You sound like a motorcycle, the firefighter chuckled. Harley? Hows that for a name? he
asked the kitten still contently rumbling. The kitten paused for a moment to cough and then continued
to purr again.
Since the firefighter was off duty, he decided to stop by the pet store to get some things for
Harley. He bought little mice and balls, and two porcelain bowls, one for food and one for water. Once
he arrived home, Harley galloped at him and squeaked. He stopped to cough and then began to purr.
The firefighter stroked the kitten, then grabbed a marker and wrote Harleys name on his bowls.

That night, the firefighter was awoken by Harley coughing. Harley wouldnt stop. Concerned, the
firefighter rushed Harley to the nearest vet, were Harley was taken in immediately. The firefighter
waited again for the kitten to come back to life. But this wasnt like last time. The vet walked out and
said, Im sorry. The kitten had inhaled too much smoke in the fire. Hes gone.