By: Leaya Chen

July 26, 2024

I am asleep by the River Seine in Paris when I hear happy screams and laughter outside. I stand up and stretch, shaking the water out of my fur since it rains heavily. Still half asleep, I wander outside and see crowds of people yelling and waving. Squeezing through, I see that the people are yelling at boats with more people with flags on them. What is this? Is it a contest to make the most noise? After wandering through endless crowds, I realized this was a competition against humans with sports. As I once again returned to the side of the river, seeing the humans there waving, I felt as though I, too, had to compete.

August 2, 2024

I have come up with a plan. I wake up early in the morning, determined to succeed. Even though there are still fresh dew drops on the trees, there are many people on the streets already.

I make my way to the big stadium shaped like an O. I sneak in with the flow of the crowd easily, unnoticed by the security guards, who are too busy checking people’s tickets. I hide by a front-row seat, where a big, smiling lady sits. She is talking loudly on her phone and does not notice me. It is not the first time my small size has helped me in the big, bustling city of Paris.

After a long time, a pair of big doors open, and a trail of big, buff, strong men with bulging muscles march in. When the men stop showing off their muscles, a loud whistle sounds, and they take off. As they pass by me, I leap over the little fence onto the track.

I take off, feeling the wind against my fur. I hear people gasping and whispering and children laughing and pointing. I am bounding past all the men, hearing each of them gasp when I pass them. But one human is fast for a human, although soon I am beside him. But, after running a few more laps, I get tired. He wins, ripping through a ribbon, and I pass through right after, jumping just high enough to rip the ribbon with my claws.

The winner picks me up and holds me high above his head, turning around so the stadium can see me. I puff my chest proudly and meow happily. After an argument between some judges, I am placed on a podium and a heavy piece of stone is hung around my neck, and I crouch so the stone is on the podium floor. People snap pictures everywhere.

A month later.

I was adopted by the man who got first place! I am very happy that I got such a kind hearted owner. I know I will stay with him until we die. Our two stones are hung above the chimney, where I know they will hang forever.

Image Credit by Pixabay