When a dirty and untidy orange cat showed up in the prison yard£¬I was one of the first to go out there and pet it£®I hadn’t touched a cat or a dog in over 20 years£®I spent at least 20 minutes£¬knelt down behind the kitchen as the cat rolled around£¬relaxed£®What he was expressing outwardly, I was feeling inwardly£®It was an amazing bit of grace to feel him under my hand and note that I was reaching a life or another creature with something as simple as my care£®

 Over the next few days£¬there were other prisoners responding to the cat£®Every yard period£¬a group of prisoners gathered there£®They stood around talking and taking turns petting the cat£®These were guys you wouldn’t usually find talking to each other£®Several times I saw an officer in the group£¬not chasing people away, but just watching and seeming to enjoy along with the prisoners£®Bowls of milk and water appeared along with bread, wisely placed under the edge of the dustbin to keep the birds from getting it£®