The Phantom Kitty

Directly behind my aparment building is a small grassy area and a chain link fence that connects to an old man's yard. I typically walk Ruby in this area every morning so as to avoid distractions on the other side of the building (people, cars, other dogs, etc).

Sometime around mid-August, a tiny white and orange kitten started showing up in the parking lot, mostly lurking under cars and darting from one hiding place to another. Being that my building is mostly inhabited by girls (with an apparent soft spot for feral cats), the little fur ball always was always being left food scraps and water. This went on for about a month, and then she disappeared.

I'm assuming she found her way to the old man who lives behind the apartment complex. One morning about a week ago, I was walking Miss Rubix and I saw a sweet little orange and white speckled face peeping through the fence.. Observe:

Melting of the heart commenced. I think my adoration for this gorgeous little creature stems from the previous love-of-my-life, Pumpkin (may he rest in peace in kitty heaven):

I mean.. how could you NOT appreciate something so obese and lovely?? Regardless, the beautiful moment I shared with Pumpkin Jr. was quickly cut short by a certain someone of the Husky persuasion. Ruby lost her shit and tried to attack my new feline friend and she (I'm assuming it's a she) ran away. And I was devastated. I just knew I would never see her little face poking through the fence again...

But alas! She was there the next day.. and the next, and the next! I have unofficially named her Plucky, due to her bravery and commitment to visit me every morning. At least... I like to think so. I'm even toying with the idea of giving her to my sister as a birthday present/housewarming gift for her new abode. Plucky seems to have the class and wherewithal to be a Charleston housecat.. and what a fantastic rags-to-riches story that would be!