Sleeperkid

True story. Three days ago, my travel buddy Ashleigh and I arrived in the lovely seaside town of Chania only to find it covered in a massive storm as temperatures suddenly plummeted. We checked our weather apps and saw that the massive system covering us like a condor’s wing was scheduled to stay in the area for another 8 hours. Bummed but feeling the need for adventure, we ran through the freezing rain, managed to snag a few umbrellas, and stumbled through puddles until we saw a small and beautifully-decorated/lit cocktail bar called PLAKA. Shivering, we settled into a table. Ashleigh ordered an old fashioned and I chose a margarita. I checked the weather app again, noting that nothing was scheduled to change in the heavens until 8-9pm. It was 12:30pm. Fuck. We decided to warm up and pass the time until the rain scaled back. The thought of just heading back to the bnb and calling it an early day started creeping past my frontal lobe. And then she walked in. A grey, ageless, and sweet cat who instantly jumped onto my lap. I tried to feed her but she just turned and showed me her back while making biscuits on my knee with claws sharp enough to draw blood. She somehow managed to do this gently as I gave her scratches and pets. For the next hour, I sat there…making my way through a second margarita while falling in love with the furry and purring bundle on my lap. We kept each other warm, and she eventually fell asleep. The bartender marveled at the sight, noting that she never stayed that long with anyone in his establishment. The hour passed and Ashleigh tapped me on the shoulder, pointing outside. A splash of harsh sunlight caressed the stone wall in front of the bar. The clouds were gone, replaced by brilliant blue skies and the nearby sound of doves planning their next coup. The cat woke up as if on cue, stretched, and offered her head to me for a few final scritches and a quick kiss before she moved across the room to another open seat. (continued)