Thursday's are laundry day. I do my laundry at my parents house and since my dad doesn't get home from work until 10:30 p.m., I don't end up leaving until Midnight or 1 a.m.

Zam has been a door darter lately. She never has gone far. Either just sitting in the stairwell or down to the first floor to nibble some grass until I corrall her back to the door.

So I get home at 1:30 a.m., my hands full of bags and a heavy laundry basket, and on cue, Zam zips out. I head inside, set everything down and go back out to get Zam.

Zam is gone.

I call out for her, listening for her meow or the jingle of her bell. Nothing.

I circle my building, check the parking lot, check the building next door. Nothing.

I circle the building again, calling for her but my voice starts cracking.

I check inside the apartment again, just in case. No Zam.

It's now 2 a.m. and I'm trying hard not to panic.

I decide to try out by the woods where she used to live and call and call for her. No reply or sign of her.

At 2:10, feeling defeated, I head back to my building, but decide to try the building next door one last time.

As I round the corner, there's Zam, looking smug by the stairs.



I grabbed her and squeezed her so tightly that she began to protest.

I didn't get a lick of sleep last night. I woke up practically every hour and sure enough Zam was there at my feet, sleeping peacefully.

*sighs*

What, Me? NAWTEE?! No way.