Please

Toby, my tomcat friend,

can you think of a way

that we could get

the one in three USA

humans holding out to

go get vaxxed for Covid?

He sat next to me 

on the back porch at the farm.

He was quiet for a minute

then answered with a question

Did you ask them? 

Hmmm. That's a

good question.

I don't know

I answered.

Do you mean like this: 

Please, would you get the vaccine?

Yeah, he said.

Well, I don't think I heard anyone

put it politely like that.

Do you think those on hold

would vax

if we ask?

It was his turn to answer

I don't know.

Or, he said, you could

ask like this:

Please, you USA holdouts 

go vax yourselves.

While you're at it

please cover your

your mouths

and your snouts

with a mask.

Hmm, I said, that's

please with a

dose of harsh.

Many already have 

their backs up.

Toby stood up and

his back rose into 

a full arch,

the hair of his tail

and along his spine

stood on end.

Exactly! I said.

Toby's fur relaxed

as he sat back down

then said I think

those two out of the three

vaxxed humans could

just stuff the third

unvaxxed one into a crate

and drive them to the vet...

I interrupted

Oh no! not the vet

they'll want

ivermectin! 

(He didn't know

about the large animal

wormer some of the humans

bought up and took.

Maybe they wanted to feel

safe but somewhere

along the way

they began to trust

ivermectin non-science

not

science.)

Oh, my bad, he said

What I mean is:

Go where there are 

vax shots--

just like when you 

take me to the vet--

stuff them in a crate

and drive them to Walmart

I sighed and felt very sad.

We were both quiet

with our thoughts. 

Then, I told him

It would feel sooooooo good

if those holding out all went

to a local pharmacy

and got themselves vaxxed.

We could gear up 

and free up

the schools

and movies and offices

and churches and concerts

and stores and theaters

and travel and restaurants

and empty the

ICUs

and

refrigerator truck

morgues...

...I would worry less, I added.

Maybe even feel like dancing.

He replied You didn't say please

but thanks anyway

for getting me my

rabies and distemper boosters. 

You know how I hated it.

But now I don't worry

about cat diseases. 

Helps me concentrate

on field mice.

He rolled over onto his side.

As his tail moved back and forth

he batted it with a front paw.

Sometimes, I wonder about

his maturity.

(Video by Wendy.)

*

From the Art Desk:

Today, we invite you to take a look at Tucson artist friend Phil Bellomo's Designs.