CHICO'S STORY DECEMBER 2021

CHICO’S BROOKLYN RESCUE
 
One chilly day in the garden, many of us were sitting in the sun waiting for our lunch.  I was having a great time playing tag with Tommy, when Aunt Anna came walking into the garden.  She was telling us that there were work crews putting up lights everywhere.  Mommy said, “this is the time of year that everything becomes beautiful, and bright because we are approaching the Holidays.”  She also said, “this could be a time of Miracles.”  This sounded so exciting to me.  Just then, daddy came up from the basement, and said that he overheard our conversation and happened to be on his way out to the street to meet up with the superintendent, and the work crew putting up the lights outside the building.  With that, he walked out into the street from the garden.  Daddy came back sometime later.  He said that he wanted to make sure that the work was being done safely.  For instance, that there were not any live wires being dropped about.  Daddy said, “the lights are beautiful however, nobody realizes how dangerous they can also be.  Everything has to be done safely, that's the most important thing.”  Just then, Joel and Stewart came walking into the garden.  They asked daddy if he had heard the news about the missing kitty.  Chico said, “no, I've been so busy in the building and did not hear anything.”  The guys told us that Susie, one of the baby kittens born to Hank and Emma, the cats that live in the laundry store on the Avenue, was missing.  Mommy was astonished, and asked how could this happen, because we never let the babies out of our sight.  Chico said, “there's a lot of commotion this time of the year on the Avenue, so it is possible that nobody heard or saw the kitten walk off.  Chico was interrupted by the Rescuer coming by with lunch.  She noticed Joel, and Stewart and probably thought that they too, knew about Suzie.  The Rescuer told us that she was leaving plenty of food, and water because she was going to look for the missing kitten, and did not know when she could return.  With that said, she was quickly gone.  Jeffrey came rushing into the garden to tell Chico that he was here to help.  Tommy asked how Jeffrey was even able to hear about this, as far away as the park?  Jeffrey said, “there are signs up everywhere.”  Chico gave everybody their assignments, and then Chico, Aunt Anna, Tommy, Joel, Stewart and Jeffrey left the garden to begin their search.  Everyone had something to do.  Even Mommy, and I were going to watch from the outside Garden, where we could see better on to the Street. Sometime later, I pointed out to Mommy that something was moving in the grass.  She ran over to check it out.  It was a false alarm.  It was Gomez, my friend the mouse, running about. I thought maybe he was looking for the kitten too.  Meanwhile, on the Avenue every nook and cranny was being searched, because Chico said a baby kitten could fit in anywhere.  Some hours past, and it was almost getting dark.  Chico thought that Emma, the mommy, must be frantic by now when suddenly, all those lights that were being put up during the day went on. It was so much brighter, and helpful because it lit up all the dark areas.  Chico, and Tommy were passing the liquor store on the Avenue when Chico called out that he heard a strange sound.  Tommy said that it was coming from behind the gate.  Sure enough, it was the kitten. Aunt Anna noticed the guys crouching in front of the store, and came running over.  She said the kitten was trembling, but otherwise looked okay.  Aunt Anna also said that she did not want to carry the kitten across the street to the laundry, because it was too dangerous to do so.  By this time, a crowd had gathered around them because the kitten was starting to cry out loud.  This was noticed by the Rescuer, who came rushing over to them.  She looked down, and saw the kitten.  She bent down, and carefully scooped the kitten up and said thank you with happy tears.  She said that she would return Susie to her mommy, and daddy.
Sometime later, we all met back at the Garden.  Chico gave us the good news.  Mommy, and the rest of us were so relieved to hear this.  Chico turned to all of us and said, “this is the time of year to give thanks for all we have, and to always help our friends and the less fortunate, not just on the holidays, but every day.”  Daddy also said we should all eat, and drink and celebrate a wonderful day.  I looked up to see all the beautiful lights sparkling all around us, and thought that Suzie being back home with her mommy, and daddy was the holiday miracle.
 

CHICO'S STORY NOVEMBER 2021

​CHICO’S BROOKLYN RESCUE
 
My name is Chico Jr., and I have a story to tell you about my daddy Chico, Sr.
 
         One fall day, I was in the garden having a great time playing with the falling
leaves from the trees, when a big cat came walking into the garden.  The cat saw
Mommy, and aunt Anna sitting alert as he walked in.  He said, “my name is
Jonathan, and I am a friend of Chico and need to speak with him.”  Mommy told
him that Chico was in the backyard doing some work with the Porter.  Just then,
Tommy came up from the basement, and overheard the conversation.  He told
Jonathan that he would take him to the backyard to find Chico.  Chico noticed
Tommy, and Jonathan walking towards him.  Jonathan said to Chico, “I know you
are busy, but I have something important to talk to you about.”  Chico said, “I am
never too busy for my friends.”  Jonathan said, “I was crossing over the train
station to go to the other side of the street, when I noticed some cats sitting on top
of the roof of a store, and they seemed to be in distress.” Chico said, “those cats live on that roof, and are being well fed.  However, if you are concerned that something is wrong, we should go talk to them.”  So, Tommy, Chico and Jonathan walked along the backyard all the way to where the stores are.  Daddy looked up, and saw Marty staring down at him.  Daddy said, “is everything okay up there?” Marty said, “to tell you the truth I am worried. There are workmen starting a big job up here with some heavy equipment. My worry is, that they might not know to be careful and watch out for us.”  Chico said, “we have to go for help. I know this is your home and you do not want to leave.”  With that, the three of them turned and left going home taking the same route back to the garden.  When they were back, Chico told Mommy and the others what was going on.  Mommy looked concerned, and said, “I hope there are no babies up there now.”  The Rescuer came buy with our lunch.  She put all the food out, as well as freshwater.  Then she looked up, and noticed Jonathan.  She asked if everything was okay.  Chico came out from the garden, and started walking towards the Avenue.  The rescuer, Tommy and Jonathan followed him. Chico led her up the stairs of the elevated
train station, where they could see over onto the roof where the cats were.  Marty
noticed Daddy, and the others looking down at him from the train station, and
looked relieved knowing that Chico went to the Rescuer for help.  Later, back at
the Garden, the Rescuer came by.  She told us that she spoke to the workers, and
the store owners about the cats, and they assured her that they understood and that
they would be very careful.  Chico turned to us, and thanked Jonathan.  Then he
said, “the right thing to do is when you see something, say something.”  We all agreed.
 
       I will be back next month with another story.