Thursday, August 30, 2018 8:32 AM

As I walk along the darkened path to my front gate, my foot hits something soft and heavy. I nudge it and it moves, bumping into the other foot. I hear a complaining meow. I move forward carefully. It moves with me, tracing an infinity symbol around my ankles. "Keep that up," I growl, "and I'll either place-kick you or trip over you." The cat doesn't speak English. I reach the front gate and open it. The cat doesn't move. I step over it and head out, leaving it to either guard against or protect those who walk on its land. As a mere human, I can't figure out which it means to do.