The Faint Cry

This afternoon I took lunch to the barn for the kittens and Puff. Usually I am greeted by three hungry playful kittens jumping at the bowls as I head toward our customary meeting place. Not today, though. Only one kitten and Puff lead the way as I called for the other two. The sound of my voice always bring the little guys out of hiding. But not this time.

I became a bit anxious as I called and called with still no sign of Chip and Ernie. Each time I called, I also paused to listen for the sound that one or both was heading toward the barn. Each time I paused, however, I heard a faint cry that sounded exactly like the cry of Puff's kittens. With the cry, I became even more anxious that one or both of the kittens had become trapped or injured. I walked to the end of the barn and called again. Then listened. Again I heard the faint cry, but couldn't get a fix on the direction. I walked toward the garage where the little guys like to hang out. Again I called then listened only to hear the faint cry.

My hands were full of empty bowls I had gathered from the breakfast feeding, so I decided to stop at the house, unload the bowls, and grab a flashlight before commencing a bigger more intense search.

I ran into the house, dropped the bowls in the sink then opened the cabinet and grabbed the flashlight. Before running back outside, I stopped to regain my composure. Standing very still, realizing that one or two of the kittens might have found danger, I once again heard the faint unmistakable sound of a kitten's cry. How could that be, I thought. I'm in the house and the kittens are somewhere outside. Remaining very still, feeling a bit confused, again the faint sound of a kitten....

How can that be? It was only when I allowed my brain to quiet that I realized the faint cry of Puff's kitten was in fact the sound of my enlarged adenoid--a nose whistle!

WHAT A RELIEF! The kittens weren't crying, WHEW! I ran directly to the barn and found Puff and her three sons, heads in the bowls, quietly enjoying their salmon pate.

I turned and walked back to the house swallowing the lump in my throat and feeling like a complete idiot, but thankful for safe kittens and nose whistles. Once again, all is well.