For Marsiale

WAITING FOR TINKY

In the evening he waits

an anticipatory meandering

peering out the window

he stands over the sink

filling his glass

water pouring freely

he waits to hear her bell

He calls her Tinky

although that’s not her real name

we suspect it’s Frankie

we heard someone

over the fence

near the lemon tree

call out to her

we’re pretty sure its her they were calling out to

he offers her smoked ham and pets her

a nurturing side to him that is pure and childlike

That is before Tinky came into our lives

fostering a feline seems to come easy to him

I guess that makes me foster mother to a cat

to the neighbours cat

who has disappeared

we last saw her two weeks ago

Fretting now as to her whereabouts

he sighs

where could she be?

maybe she won’t appear again

maybe she’s dead

hit by a car

stunned by glaring headlights

Shh! There is movement in the tree

maybe oh

please let it be her!

he puts his glass down and walks hastily past me

maybe she’s back

Tinky tinkerbell…