I stand on one side of the chain link fence. There is no gate; I cannot pass through.
Then, from out of the sky, a small robin lands by my foot on the cold city sidewalk. He pecks at the sidewalk's cracks, looking for food. The bird spots a crusty slice of bread on the other side of the chain link fence. He hops over to the fence and passes through one of the holes in the woven wire pattern, enjoying his newfound feast.
A cat lumbers out from behind a trash can. He has also found food.
I stand on one side of the chain link fence. There is no gate; I cannot pass through.
I cannot stop the cat.
As the cat creeps up on the defenseless bird, the robin turns his head and spots the cat. Before the cat has a chance to pounce on his prey the robin spreads his wings and takes off into the air.
The robin flies above the fence and above my head, soon dissolving into the sunlight.
I turn back to the cat, who sits up close to the fence, watching his lunch fly away.
I stand on one side of the chain link fence. The cat sits on the other side of the fence and lets out a quiet 'meow.'
I smile.
"It's okay," I say to the cat. "I can't get through either."
