Group 25: The Rewards of Reporting

I had almost had it. After browsing my neighborhood for over an hour in search of a potential story, the only bit of information I had gathered is that I now get why reporters generally wear clunky leather orthopedic looking pumps as opposed to vintage sude ones. As water seeped in through the cracking soles of my shoe, I decided to venture back to South Philly and salvage the afternoon by meeting friends for a drink. When suddenly, on my way back I noticed some brush moving around along a patch of overgrown unclaimed property along Diamond Street.

Before I could try and guess what it could be a tiny little calico kitten pounced out of the foliage and headed toward me. Absolutely delighted, I knelt down on the sidewalk as he brushed up against my side and purred. After a few minutes, I remembered my plans, said goodbye, and started waking toward Broad Street. I turned around to see the little guy following me. When he saw me he halted in his tracks. "Buddy, you can't come with me!" I giggled, and continued walking. Once more, I turned around and this time he was right at my heels. And then I realized that although I didn't find a story that afternoon, a story found me.

I called my friend, Nick, recently single and always complaining about needing a "change" in his life. "Dude! I think I've got something for you," I told him excitedly. "The kind of valentine that will always be willing to hang but not complain about you getting back from the bar late." He paused and sighed. "I'm guessing this isn't a chick, right? Alright. Where are you?"

Nick fell in love with the kitten just as quickly as I did. He sat perched in his lap as we drove back to his house to figure out just what to do. After a quick search online, I found The Girard Veterinary Clinic at 6503 Frankford Avenue. Here, anyone who finds a stray that he or she wants to take in can bringin their pet for vaccines and a yearly exam for just $57.00. It is also wise to first have your cat receive an AIDS/Leukemia test for $36.00 to insure that it is free of disease. For just $93.00, Nick has a new love in his life (we named him Bowie because of his fondness for the shiny seventies polyester collar I made him), and for absolutely nothing at all I found a great story to tell.

Just like the abundance of strays wandering around my neighborhood, I learned that stories-although not always obvious-are everywhere. And although it's easy to give up and walk away, if you turn around and give the opportunity just one more chance to appear it might just be waiting right behind you.

Emily Rose Patz Group 25