The Adventures of Rank
Mr. Jenkins' New Cat
Rank had been in his new foster home now for over a month. He also had been in his new school the same. School was getting a little better. He had made a friend, of sorts. Terry would hang out with him as long as there was no one better around. Something seemed better than nothing.
As Rank headed off to school that morning, he stopped by Mr. Jenkins’ house. Mr. Jenkins was known as the grumpy old man to all who passed by. Rank really didn’t mind though. He had gotten to know Mr. Jenkins and he really wasn’t all that bad. Just lonely and frustrated since his wife passed.
Mr. Jenkins had started to look forward to Rank visiting. Although he didn’t always appreciate the interruption of his pity parties, he knew that company was good for him and he felt Rank needed him, too.
On this particular morning though, Rank brought an unexpected visitor. A mangy cat. Rank had spotted this cat hanging out in his bushes for the past two weeks. No one ever came looking for the cat and it never left the yard. The cat was skinny and looking very unhealthy. So, Rank began to save his leftovers and snuck them out after "kitchen detail" was complete.
Although the cat appeared to be gaining weight, it still looked so sad. Rank couldn’t bring it in his house because his foster sister was very allergic to cats. So, on a whim, he decided that Mr. Jenkins would be given a gift.
As Rank walked up to the porch, he saw Mr. Jenkins sitting in the wooden rocker. Rank knew that on the mornings when he saw him sitting in his rocker, Mr. Jenkins was up for company. Even if Mr. Jenkins wasn’t outside, Rank would often stop by anyway. When Mr. Jenkins started his barking, as Rank often labeled it, Rank just ignored him and kept smiling and talking as if he couldn’t hear. Sometimes this settled Mr. Jenkins down and sometimes it made him more grumpy but Rank didn’t care. Rank told Mr. Jenkins that his bark was worse than his bite. That usually made Mr. Jenkins smile.
“Good morning, Rank,” sang Mr. Jenkins. Yep, he was in a good mood this morning. Good thing, too. Rank was going to need all of the help he could get.
“Good day, Sir,” Rank replied.
Rank gave Mr. Jenkins the sweetest and kindest look he could muster. Immediately Mr. Jenkins knew something was up.
“Okay, spill it boy. What are you up to? And, what is under your jacket?” questioned Mr. Jenkins.
“I brought a surprise for you,” Rank explained as he carefully pulled the cat out from his jacket.
“What in the world do you have? It looks like a skinned out cat or a rag that should be run up a pole.”
Rank didn’t really know how smart the cat was until the moment that Mr. Jenkins reached to inspect the furry friend. As Mr. Jenkins timidly stroked the cat, a soft and gentle purring sound started, along with a head snuggle gesture into Mr. Jenkins old and rough looking hands.
Rank had experienced magical moments before in his life, but it had been a long time. The grumpy ole Mr. Jenkins turned into a babbling fool. He stood there making goo-goo talk at that cat for a good 10 minutes. It was getting late and Rank had to leave for school. He had practiced for two days on how to ask Mr. Jenkins to keep the cat. And, it appeared the practice was unnecessary.
Mr. Jenkins had asked Rank where the cat came from. Rank explained the whole situation. Without even having to ask, Mr. Jenkins offered to keep the cat at his house for Rank and promised to take good care of it. Rank was relieved. He figured he could try and persuade him but thought it was at best a 50/50 proposition. What a relief.
As Rank looked back on his way to school, Mr. Jenkins was rocking the cat as if it was a newborn baby.
If the world could only see the neighborhood grump now.