An old beggar rummaged in the trash. He grumbled while a dirty hand reached inside a can. After hours looking, he mustered a foul breath that almost made himself sick. Nonetheless, he was going to get something good tonight if it killed him or not!

“Meew?”

Nothing! He couldn’t find anything. The man heard the sound again, but he managed to ignore it. It was that damn cat, again.

On the brink of losing hope, he found something. He gripped a partially eaten sandwich and danced. Victory! He kicked his heels and offered the best smile in town.

“Meew?”

He stopped. “Shut up, you!” The man took a bit and savored the old taste. “Lo’oked fur nuffin’!”

Her coat was as dirty as his skin. He lifted the sandwich far above his head like she could leap just as high. However, the small kitten merely rubbed his leg.

“Can’t a man get his privacy?” It was the third time today she followed him. Now it was touching him? He never got so much attention since Christmas.

“Meeew!” He wanted to kick her, drive her away. This was his sandwich, his street! No stupid animal was going to get it.

He pushed the can over with a foot and the sudden crash frightened the kitten. She dove into a nearby cardboard box. He smirked.

The man took another bite but it didn’t taste so good. Nothing moved inside. All she wanted was a little bite. Maybe the other cats ate all the other mice. She looked like she been in a few fights, too. She was just too small…

He sighed. The kitten popped only her head out. He tossed the meat and watched her devour it while he ate only the bread.

“I know. I know.” He mumbled. “Me too.”