hedgehog adventures

Saturday, April 30, 2005

Chinatown in the rain

This one is about my adventure rather than Fergus'.

There's something melancholy about rain. I get downright sentimental. Today, after my doctor's appointment, I found myself wandering through Gerrard/Broadview Chinatown first thing in the morning, way before everyone's awake, just walking slowly under a fine mist of rain. A grey, damp day. The restaurants and markets are still closed. Where the vegetables are normally stacked, you see only the line of tables with that green fake lawn stuff stapled on the surface and empty crates stacked beside it. There was a woman in a blue apron standing under the awning of a vegetable shop just staring at the street. Not much activity at 8:30 am yet.

Past the still-closed, restaurants (no barbecue ducks hanging from the windows yet) and small shops with phone card posters, past the still-sleeping neon signs, I went inside Rosie's, a newish coffee shop billing itself as a destination for fast food Vietnamese. There was a group of older men in dark suits sipping coffee, exchanging news (men don't gossip, do they?). I ordered my Vietnamese coffee and two steamed buns to go and chatted with the server. Another guy came in and ordered a "large coffee today, please" and said "hi Rosie" to the older of the two women behind the counter.

"You want the buns heat up," said my server while simultaneously pouring my coffee with her left hand and bending over to retrieve the buns from the showcase with the right hand. She was getting ready to heat up the buns.

"No. No heat up today," I said urgently to stop her from throwing the buns in the microwave. To myself I said, "I can't believe I just said no-heat-up?" Despite my poor English, I guess I managed to get the message across and caused the server to halt her super-efficient microwaving prowess.

Minutes later, I was on the streetcar stop sipping my delicious coffee waiting for the 506. This is a fine way to start the day, just watching the streets come alive. Later, from inside the moving streetcar, I saw the streets transforming into the more familiar, loud, brisk, crowded activity-centres that they are. Crates of fruit are being stacked -- mangoes must be in season because it got the prime spot at the corner of the intersection. More foot traffic now, the Chinese moms and grandmas in their raingear, the early birds out there to scout for something good for the day's meal.

As to the sentimental part, I guess I find days like today just grand for sipping strong coffee and being anonymous in a strange neighbourhood, alone and free to watch a timeless Chinatown scene.

Friday, April 29, 2005

Fergus is Found

After 36 hours of roughing it in the bush, Fergus is back in his home. What a relief. He does not know it yet, but Fergus is now grounded for life.

We got a call this morning from Tom, a guy who lives on the other side of the ravine, north of the tracks. He said he spotted Fergus yesterday. Jon and I immediately went over there, armed with Fergus' food (the sound of the food bag being shaken is irresistable for him). When we got to the street, another excited neighbour informed Jon that she just saw him 20 minutes ago! Jon went down one way, I went the other. Tom showed me where he saw Fergus yesterday and I just called out his name, and there he was looking fine and healthy. I scooped him and threw him in the car and after much hugging all around, we said thanks to Tom again and drove off.

On the way back home with Fergus on my lap, I was busy trying to remember what kind of promises I made God in exchange for Fergus' safe return. I'm not sure I can live up to everything I said, but I'm going to be a much nicer person after today.

All is well with the world again.

He's lost

Yesterday, I could pretend that he was having an adventure. Today, I have to admit that he is lost. I mean lost as in unable to find his way back, not lost as in gone forever since I have not given up hope. I am more inclined to think that we need someone to turn him in rather than him finding his way home on his own.

I hope Fergus encounters a kind stranger who will do the right thing and report him found. I miss him a lot.

Thursday, April 28, 2005

Fergus' Big Adventure

I'm hoping his adventure has a happy ending. Fergus, our cat, went out last night and did not come back. I would like to think that the phone is going to ring any minute to let us know that he's been found and that really, it was just some big mistake -- it's just that some kind family found him in their backyard late last night, thought he was lost, and kept him in.

Fergus lives in Toronto near Woodbine and Gerrard. He is a black and white cat (black top, white underside and legs, black and white face). He is a Manx so he has no tail. I'm worried sick about him. He has never been out this long before, and he has never been out overnight before. He is very friendly and talkative, although by now, he must be scared and hungry if he is still outdoors. He is not the brightest cat, sorely lacking in street smarts for sure, however, he does have his claws. I don't think he'll wander far from his yard unless he was spooked or scooped.

We've called Animal Control and the Humane Society. We've printed up flyers and dropped them off at the neighbours' mailbox. We've called the vets. He is microchipped so hopefully, this is enough to track him down.

I am sick with worry. This is the only thing that's on my mind right now.

Wednesday, April 27, 2005

Hedgehogs rule

Actually, I don't know too much about hedgehogs -- just the fact that they are nocturnal and they hide behind hedges. I used to be more nocturnal than I am now. It's really difficult to be a night person and still hold a nine to five job.