Alice, with a tear stained face, sat in disbelief. She could not believe how hollow she was feeling. It was only a few hours ago that she received news that her missing cat was found dead in a shallow ravine behind her house.
The day before, Munchin, Alice's cat made a run for it as she was bringing in the groceries. Given Munchin did this quite often and would return home as dusk approaches, however that was not the case this cold autumn day.
Alice went about putting the groceries away, keeping an eye on the sliding glass door for Munchin to show up wanting back in. She began cooking dinner, good old spaghetti bolognese and garlic bread, when her husband came in the door after a day's work. "Hi honey, dinner smells great!" Brent said. Alice made her way to the front hall to great Brent with a warm hug and kiss, "well thank you, won't be long now before it's ready. Oh, by the way Munchin made a run for it again as I was bringing in the groceries."
"That Munchin, what a cat eh! Well I guess we should expect him home any time soon then, it's already past dusk."
Brent and Alice had dinner, did the washing up and were now sitting on the couch watching Bones.
"Brent, Munchin still hasn't come back, I'm getting worried."
"I know, it's very strange for him to be gone this long. I'll get my jacket on and take a look around outside and see if I can find him." Brent grabbed a flashlight and looked around their property calling out for Munchin, but there was no sign of their beloved cat.
The next morning, the doorbell rang. Brent was in the shower and Alice was brewing the coffee. "Who could that be at 7am?" mumbled Alice, still trying to wake up from a terrible nights sleep. She walked to the front door and looked through the peephole, it was Mr. Blackburn their retired next door neighbour.
"Mr. Blackburn, good morning, is everything alright?"
"Alice, good morning, may I come in?"
"Ah sure, please do."
"I'm not sure how to say this......um....well, I was taking Rocco out for his morning walk, and while we were heading towards the field behind our homes, we came across Munchin."
"Oh my goodness, you found Munchin! Where is he? Is he okay?" Alice exclaimed.
"Alice, you may want to sit down..." Alice moved to the living room, just off the front hall entrance and sat on the couch, now feeling nervous. "What's wrong?" she said, hardly believing it was her own voice asking the question.
"Alice, we found Munchin, but he's, there's no easy way to say this. Well, he's been attacked. I'm sorry Alice, but Munchin is dead."
Alice all of a sudden felt numb, surely this isn't happening.
"Honey, who was that at the door, I thought I heard the doorbell." Brent was coming downstairs and saw Mr. Blackburn standing in the doorway to the living room.
"Good morning Mr. Blackburn. How are you?" Then Brent saw Alice sitting on the couch, tears now streaming down her face, he went and sat next to her, hugging her. "What's happened? Alice, what's wrong? Mr. Blackburn what's going on?"
Alice was now sobbing, Mr. Blackburn felt terrible to have brought her this news and told Brent what happened. "Well I'll be heading off now, if you need anything, let me know."
"Thanks Mr. Blackburn", was all Brent could manage. He too was now shocked to learn that their little Munchin had passed. He sat hugging Alice, both of them drowning in each other's misery.
