8.30.00.
Sam and the Cat.
The cat, like a swimmer testing the temperature of a lake, peered cautiously around the leg of the bus-stop bench and looked at Sam. Normally Sam would be content to look back at the cat for as long as the cat wished, and perhaps try casually to guess what the cat was thinking. This cat, however, was happy to tell Sam just what was on its mind. The cat wanted food. Sam, it knew, had food. The cat mewed pitifully.
Sam did not, in fact, have any food at all for the cat. The food Sam had consisted solely of the contents of Sam's stomach, which he was not about to share with the cat. Facts, however, were of less interest to the cat than, say, the price of kumkuats in Cairo. As far as the cat was concerned, Sam had food that he wanted to share, if only he were asked correctly. The cat mewed softly again.
Sam needed no further orders. He promptly went into the bar, walked confindently up to the bartender, and asked politely for a glass of milk. The bartender looked at Sam like he were someone who had just walked into a bar and asked politely for a glass of milk. Sam was happy to look back at the bartender for as long as the bartender wished. Sooner than you might expect, the bartender turned away, walked into a back room, and returned with a plastic cup full of milk, which he put down on the bar in front of Sam.
"How much?" asked Sam, reaching for his wallet. The bartender didn't pause to consider. "No charge," he said evenly. A smile as wide as a '62 Caddilac broke on Sam's face. "Thank you, sir," he said happily, as he threw his Caddy in reverse and backed away from the bar, "I appreciate it." The bartender watched him go, shook his head once, and commenced refilling the peanut bowls.
Back outside, Sam discovered the cat sitting in his seat at the bus stop. He briskly picked up the cat with one hand and placed it on the ground in front of him, setting down the cup of milk next to it. The cat did not pause to thank Sam before hungrily submerging its face up to the wiskers in the cold white food-stuff. Sam was happy to watch it drink.
When the glass was empty - a mere shell of its former self - the cat lifted up its headand licked its whiskers. Sam gently lowered his hand, hoping for a lick or a nuzzle. The cat looked at Sam indulgently, turned around, and jumped onto the opposite end of the bench. Sam shrugged, and began to hum to himself.
Several minutes later, a bus pulled into the stop. Sam stood, zipped up his jacket, and walked towards the bus. The cat turned its head casually to follow his progress. At the door of the bus, Sam turned back, said "G'bye cat! Good luck!" gave a jaunty wave, and got on the bus. He took an aisle seat halfway back on the mostly-empty bus. Moments later, the cat jumped onto his lap, and slowly crossed to the window seat. One of them had a new pet.