How
Runner
Hitched
a
Ride
Stretch,
yawn,
stretch.
Ah,
what
a
beautiful
day.
Stretch,
yawn.
Ah,
what
a
boring
day.
Eyes
half
closed,
Runner
looked
to
the
trees.
The
squirrels
were
high
in
the
branches,
the
birds
were
even
higher.
Her
ears
twitched
and
listened
for
sounds.
None.
A
few
bees
around
the
flowers
on
the
patio,
but
she
knew
better
than
to
chase
them
They
hurt.
Her
pet
human
was
busy
punching
those
things
on
that
machine.
Busy,
busy,
busy.
Everyone
except
Runner.
She
was
definitely
one
bored
kitty.
Stretch,
yawn.
Half
dozing,
she
heard
her
pet
human's
voice
in
the
place
where
the
cars
park.
Ears
twitch.
Yes!
She
did
hear
it's
voice!
Up,
stretch,
yawn,
lets
go
see.
Oh,
with
the
neighbor
pet,
talking.
Lets
rub
some
legs
and
get
some
attention.
Back
and
forth,
around
and
around.
Come
on,
pay
some
attention
to
me.
Pllllllleeeeeesssss!
Meowlllllll.
Me.
Me.
Stop
talking
to
it
and
talk
to
me.
Hush
Runner,
hush
now
it
said.
Well,
pick
me
up.....nnnnnoooooowwwwwwwllllll.
Wow,
wait
a
minute,
did
I
hear
something
about
dogs?
Yes,
it
definitely
said
it
was
going
to
get
some
hot
dogs.
I
know
get
and
I
know
dogs.
That's
enough
for
me.
I
wanna
gggoooooooooll.
No
Runner,
you
can't
go.
Stay
here
with
me
it
said.
Dogs,
now
that
sounds
like
fun,
Runner
thought.
Runner's
human
went
back
inside.
Huh?
The
other
human
opened
the
door
to
the
car.
Ok,
she
thought.
This
one's
going
after
the
dogs,
so
I'm
going
too.
Up
and
into
the
car.
Get
out
cat.
Scat,
you
cat.
That
much
Runner
understood.
Humans
always
said
that
to
her
and
it
meant
she
wasn't
supposed
to
go
where
she
wanted
to.
Ha,
thought
Runner.
As
if
that
will
stop
me.
The
human
went
back
inside
and
Runner
quickly
jumped
to
the
top
of
the
car.
She
was
used
to
going
with
her
human,
but
always
had
to
be
put
into
her
carrier
and
then
in
the
car.
Couldn't
see
a
durn
thing.
Could
only
sit
there
and
wish.
But
she
had
been
on
top
of
the
cars
before
and
knew
this
one
had
a
soft
top.
She
had
dug
her
claws
into
it
before.
Lets
just
see
what
happens
Runner
thought
as
she
hooked
her
claws
into
the
top
about
halfway
back.
The
human
came
back
out
and
was
looking
at
the
bunch
of
clanky
things
it
carried.
It
didn't
look
up.
Step
one
down
thought
Runner.
The
human
looked
around
inside
for
the
cat,
but
was
satisfied
that
Runner
had
left.
The
human
made
the
car
make
noise.
Step
two
down.
Then
it
started
to
move.
Oohhh,
thought
Runner.
Here
we
go!
At
first
Runner
was
going
backwards
and
it
almost
made
her
sick,
but
soon
it
was
going
in
the
right
direction
and
Runner
was
all
eyes.
Step
three
and
we
are
on
the
move!
At
first
it
was
scary
and
Runner's
stomach
was
doing
flip
flops.
She
was
spread
out,
thin
as
a
pancake.
Then
the
car
settled
down
and
actually
came
to
a
stop.
Runner
dared
to
peek
a
look
around
and
saw
more
cars
than
she
had
ever
seen
in
one
place
before.
Then
they
started
up
again,
but
not
as
fast
as
before.
Runner
saw
more
humans
in
the
cars.
Most
of
them
were
looking
at
her
and
laughing.
Well!
I'm
sure
I
don't
look
as
silly
as
you
do!
she
thought.
Humm,
some
of
them
had
long
fur,
obviously
pedigreed.
Snobs!
Some
of
them
had
short
fur
and
some
had
no
fur.
Must
be
domestic
short
hairs.
Mutts!
She
rode
with
her
front
claws
firmly
hooked,
her
head
up
and
face
to
the
wind,
savoring
every
smell
and
sight.
Oh
my,
what
a
treat.
Yes,
yes,
yes.
I
love
this!
The
only
way
to
go!
They
soon
came
to
a
stop.
Runner's
stomach
settled
down
and
after
the
human
got
out
she
unhooked
her
claws
and
jumped
off.
All
of
a
sudden
the
human
started
to
yell.
It
had
turned
around
and
had
seen
Runner.
Oh,
Oh.
Trouble
now.
Yelling
away,
the
human
ran
into
that
big
place
near
where
they
were.
Let's
go
see.
The
door
slammed
in
her
face.
Ok,
no
problem,
we'll
check
it
out.
So
Runner
started
off
exploring.
Nothing
here
but
humans.
Fat
ones,
skinny
ones.
Pedigreed
and
domestics.
Another
door.
She
slipped
into
this
one,
only
to
be
shooed
out
again.
I
only
wanted
to
look,
gee,
no
big
deal.
Scat,
Scat,
all
I
ever
get,
and
off
to
the
next
one
she
went.
She
finally
found
a
couple
of
dogs
to
tease.
Fantastic.
She
let
them
chase
her
until
she
got
tired,
then
she
chased
them.
She
lost
them
in
the
dumpster.
Stupid
dogs,
can't
even
climb.
Jump
down,
let
them
chase
her
again.
Oh
yes,
this
was
fun.
After
a
few
minutes
of
this,
she
thought
she
heard
her
pet
human's
voice.
Ears
twitching,
yes!,
it
was
her
pet's!
Oh,
oh.
It
was
hollering
at
her.
And
it
was
holding
the
dreaded
carrier.
Whoops,
caught.
Stuffed
into
the
box,
the
human
hollering
at
her
the
whole
time,
Runner
protested.
Yooowwwllllll.
I
was
just
having
fun!
Meoowwwlllll.
Just
trying
to
see
something
new!
Carrier
shoved
into
car.
Shucks.
Here
we
go
and
I
can't
see
a
durn
thing.
No
wind
in
my
fur,
no
new
smells,
no
funny
humans
to
chuckle
at.
Not
fun
at
all.
And
the
yabbering.
Wouldn't
her
human
ever
be
quiet?
Back
in
the
house.
Grounded.
Bored.
Sulking.
Humans
outside.
Yabbering
and
laughing.
She
thought
she
heard
her
name
a
few
times.
Heard
dogs
mentioned
too.
Glad
they're
having
fun.
A
few
minutes
later
her
human
pet
came
into
the
house.
Great
smells
came
with
it.
Ummm,
good
smells.
The
pet
put
a
dish
in
front
of
Runner.
It
was
full
of
the
good
smelling
stuff,
all
cut
up,
red
and
kinda
round
like.
Wow,
new
food
thought
Runner,
lets
taste
it.
Ummm,
good
taste
too.
Hey,
human.
Guess
this
means
you're
not
mad
at
me
anymore,
huh?
Great!.
What's
it
talking
about
now
-
I'm
eating
hot
dogs?
I'm
eating
DOGS!
Fantastic!
I
love
it!
I
love
it!
Ha!
I've
had
my
dogs
and
gotten
to
eat
them
too!
Now
that's
the
good
life.
And
that's
how
Runner
hitched
a
ride.
Škjb