I remember the day I found him.
Or did he find me?
Let’s see …
Max had died in April.
Heart attack at midnight on Easter Sunday.
Went out in style and with effect … just as he had lived.
Kolonaki. Tecamachalco. San Angel.
The Upper East Side. Soho. Plaka.
And finally at rest in Ekali.
Not a bad routine for a fox terrier.
My friends had asked me then … “will you get another dog?”
“No … but one might get me …”
It must have been like the middle of September 2002.
9:15am. I left my house that morning as I did on any other.
Agape, smiling a huge smile, opening the garage door.
Me reversing the car out into the narrow alleys of Plaka.
Windows closed.
Music playing.
Cellphone ringing.
Same as any other day.
Then it happened.
Never happened before.
Never happened again.
I glanced in the rearview mirror (lucky Agape) and saw her squashed under the collapsed garage door.
Stopped the car.
Ran back.
Saved her.
Dusted her off.
Smile returned …
And then I heard him….
A cry.
I thought it was a little kitten.
I looked around the car, under the car, everywhere.
Nothing.
I walked back to the car.
Again.
Looked again.
Nothing.
I stayed out of the car.
Listening to the silence.
Focussing so that I might understand where the next cry might come from.
Looked around.
Saw a huge stray tabby.
Just as focused as I was.
Close to the storm water drain opposite my house.
The cry.
The drain.
Lifted the cover and saw a three inch fluff of life.
Deformed left paw.
Eyes closed.
Hanging on.
Me. The cat. And this fluff of life.
I lifted him out of the drain and put him in the palm of my hand.
He fitted comfortably.
Walked back to a traumatised but recovering Agape
…. “Agape, this is our new dog.”
I got back into the car.
Left the windows open and drove to the office, a huge smile on my face.
Plook was in my life.
Eyes closed. Five days old. Breathing.
I don’t know what the cat had for breakfast.
But it rained a little later that day and the storm water drain was flooded.
Peter Economides 
μα τι ωραία που το γράφεις, σαν ποίημα είναι
thank you :))
fantastic… thanks for sharing this…
:))
lovely, just lovely…:)
So sweet!!!!
twas meant to be……he was sent to you…do you remeber my choc chip???….similiar thing..
If you have not been loved by a dog….you’ve never been truly loved!!!Wonderfully written…….Thank you for sharing
πολύ όμορφο! 🙂
One more plus for you Peter, thanks
So moving … I had the same feelings when my dog passed away and lucky me I am now a proud mom of another one … !!!The effect of giving love to animals and is an emotion that cannot be described, unless you have one …
Πιστεύω ότι και τα ευτυχήματα είναι σαν τα ατυχήματα. Επιδρούν πολλοί παράγοντες για να συμβούν και αρκετοί απο αυτούς εξαρτώνται απο εμάς. Κάποιος γιατρός κάποτε χρησιμοποίησε αστειευόμενος σε ένα περιστατικό, έναν όρο που πρώτη φορά άκουγα. "Ατυχηματίτιδα". Εξήγησε, ότι αυτό είναι με μια λέξη η περιγραφή που μπορούσε να δώσει στο γεγονότος ότι κάποιος αφήνει/εκθέτει υποσυνήδειτα τον ευατό του σε κίνδυνο περισσότερο απο το φυσιολογικό για τους όποιους λόγους.Αρα μάλλον στην προκειμένη περίπτωση πρόκειται για "Ευτυχιματίτιδα".Είναι σημαντικό να θυμάται κανείς το γεγονός και τους παράγοντες και πολύ δύσκολο να το αποδώσει τόσο καλά σε άλλους.Thanks for sharing Peter.
Καποια πραγματα ειναι γραφτο να γινουν!!! και καποια πλασματα ειναι τοσο τυχερα σε αυτη τη ζωη!!! καλη ζωη να εχετε !!
I remember that story! Love Plook!
Peter, you are a poet. Beautiful writting! One can tell you are in love with life. Plook, a great part of your life has spoken to your soul with his great look from day one. Nice story and nice of you for sharing this.
How much joy a breathing fluff can bring to one’s life!
What a beautiful story. You were two lucky boys 🙂 🙂