Several years ago, I was working with other investigators on a surveillance assignment in a residential neighborhood. We arrived on site at six o'clock in the morning. About 7:30 the sun  broke the horizon, and it was going to be a gorgeous morning.
It was an "older, established neighborhood, you know the type, "A" Frame homes, that had screen doors in front of the solid ones, where a person could keep the main door open and let the morning breezes filter through the house, saving on the utility bill. All of a sudden the screen door on a residence two down from our suspect, came open, and an elderly gentleman stepped out on the porch. He stood  there, holding the screen door open, as if he were talking to someone.
Shortly, to my surprise, a beautiful, long-hair, white cat stepped out onto the porch. The old gent stooped over, brushed the kitty's head, and shut the door. In unison, the two walked down the front walk, the kitty at the old gents feet. The old man bent down and picked up the newspaper. Together, they started back towards the house, and the furry creature disappeared into the flower bed that lined the front of the house. The old gent stayed where he was, perusing the front page of the paper. After a couple of minutes passed, the feline reappeared and took his place at the old man's feet. Together, side by side, they walked back to the porch,where the old gent gracefully opened the door and let his "guardian angel" enter first.
Now, I know this story doesn't sound like much. However, I felt that they had been together for a pretty long time. Best friends, they were, loyal to each other, creating a love between human and animal, unsurpassed. In writing this, I realized that he, like me, his home wasn't empty.......
anymore.

richard riddle: January 08, 2016