This is the first time I ever looked outside. 22 floors up, the 6th column from the left. The two windows to the right of the apartment with the noisy couple and one window above the family with that Pit Bull. From out here, from the balcony, I can see everything! I can see the tall buildings to the left of me and the tall buildings to the right of me. There is a building as long as a whole city block, all across the street from here. In the center of it all, oh the center, is one of the biggest city parks ever! There is a fountain in the middle of that park. There are benches for resting and trees for shade. Then, there is the statue of a man of bronze, surrounded by flags from probably all over the world, which stands proudly to the left of the park. A famous man I bet.
I look at the people. They look like little tiny ants from up here. Not far enough that all you see is little marching black lines, but the kind of ants where you can still see their antennas. Some of them are walking their dogs, and some of them are walking with others. Oh! There's a boy sitting on the bench near the fountain. He's just looking around frantically.
One of the lights just turned on. Then another! I guess it never really turns dark in the city!
I looked out of the balcony again. The 22 floors up, the 6th column from the left. The 2 windows to the right of the apartment with the noisy couple and the one window above the family with that pit Bull.
Today, it is much cooler than before. It would be absolute freezing if nobody was wearing clothes! Oh look, a dog running away from his master. The dog runs pretty fast, as the master is struggling to catch it's leash. Hey! It's that boy again! He's waiting in the same spot again. I wonder why. Maybe he's looking for something or somebody. Oh, he got up and left. Sheesh! A fire engine is so loud. The fire isn't going to go anywhere; why can't it drive there quietly?
Guess there is nothing on television. I might as well look outside again. The weather is much more calm than yesterday. 22 floors up, the 6th column from the left. There are joggers circling the park. They circled it three, four, five times! Hey, its him again. Jack? So that must be his name. That's what that man on the bicycle said. "Move outta the way, Jack!" That's what he said. Hey. Jack isn't sitting down on his bench today. Jack must just be crossing through the park today. Doesn't mean I can't watch him until he's out of my sight, now can I? Bye Jack! I'm Ann!
Jack is sitting in the park again. There are a lot of people there. Jack seems to be all alone. I went back inside and asked momma to make me look nice. Momma asked why, and I just told her that I wanted to look really nice today. Momma placed a pretty pink benet to my head, and tied it into a bow on my chin. She licked my face clean. Now, I was off!
I peered below the balcony. Jack was still sitting there. I swallowed hard. Then, I shouted at the top of my lungs! I shouted for the whole block to hear me! I shouted for the whole city to hear me! I shouted for the whole world to hear me! All the people in the park; on the scooters or on their bikes, or on the benches or on their feet. They all looked at me in unison. All of them except Jack. Jack was looking down at the ground. Maybe he's deaf or something? Jack looks so concentrated. I wanted to see him like that forever.
I carefully etched a picture of Jack down, carefully drawing his hair, curving his face, and sketching his shiny black coat. I wrote Jack's name on it, and I drew myself next to him. Jack and I, or me and Jack, are both walking in the park together. Suddenly, momma saw the picture and I got in trouble. She snarled at me. I didn't want to fight back. I wasn't allowed to go play on the balcony any more.
Momma isn't mad at me anymore! I decided to celebrate. Momma was too busy relaxing her tail on her bed. I ran around, looking for something to celebrate with. Then, Ms. Caley, the woman who shares an apartment house with us, made me some extra food. She left the food in its cans and set it out on the table before she went to work. What a great way to celebrate! I took the food and a blanket and set it out on the balcony.
As if by clockworks, there was Jack. This time, he was sitting at another bench. This time, I can see him much closer than before. I set up the blanket and put the food down on top of it. "More tuna?" I ask Jack. "Why certainly!" I pretended. I scooped up some tuna for Jack and threw it at him. The tuna flew into the air and splattered right in front of Jack. Jack finally looked up.
This was it. He was finally going to notice me. Me, Ann, from the 22 floors up and the 6th column from the left. With the 2 windows to the right of the apartment with the noisy couple and the one window above the family with that pit Bull. I have to make a good impression. This may be my only chance. What to do, what to do?! I ran inside and hid underneath the sofa.
Ding-dong! I knew Jack would be at the park by now. I ran to the balcony. Jack was there. The question is, who is that?! Why is she sitting near Jack? Jack doesn't seem to like her at all. He keeps screaming, but every scream makes her lean closer to Jack. Keep away from my Jack! She wasn't going to hear me. Even if I did say it out loud. I watched those two for a while. I didn't know what to think. Jack is getting up from his seat. What?! No! Sit down, bitch! The girl is going with him. The girl is holding onto Jack.... the girl is holding on.... to... Jack....
Momma was wondering why I haven't been playing on the balcony anymore. The balcony that's 22 stupid floors up, that is 6 stupid column from the left. The 2 windows to the right of the apartment with those idiot couple and the one window above the family with that dumb ass pit Bull. There is nothing outside. There's nothing outside for me to look at. I mean, I don't even care if Jack is there or not. I mean, he can marry that stupid girl for all I care about. Have kids, bring them to the park. I don't care. I don't care at all.
Jack. Jack is probably sitting on his bench again. I haven't seen Jack in so long. Jack doesn't want to see me. Jack doesn't even notice me. It wouldn't hurt to just peek outside today. Lets see. Nope, Jack's not there. He's not sitting there on Jack's bench. Jeez. Shut up you stupid pit Bull! Stop barking! You're being noisy! I'll show him. Mr. Pit Bull, prepare to meet Mr. rock. Smack! Take that! You aren't barking anymore, now are you? Hey. Jack is in the park again.
Jack, what are you doing? Shouldn't you be with... her? Jack, how come you're so depressing? Huh Jack? I could just scratch my face all day and still not know why you wait. Jack, you've been sitting there for over an hour Jack. He always seem down. He wouldn't seem down if I was there. I shouldn't be worrying about Jack. He's not there. Nope. Look at the joggers. Running around the park again. A woman is holding groceries and walking through the park. The sun isn't going down anytime soon. Jack took out a book from his book bag. He's laying down on the bench and reading now. Jack, you're so weird!
Jack, you've been there for over three hours now. Its almost dark now. You and I are the only ones in the park. Except its only you in the park, and I'm at the 22 floors up, and the 6 columns from the left. The balcony that is 2 windows to the right of the apartment with the noisy couple and the one window above the family with the Pit Bull. What the? Hey! HEY! Hey, what is that man doing to Jack?! You leave Jack alone! That man's running with Jack's book bag! Hey! Leave Jack alone! That man is still running!
Jack, get that guy! Oh my gosh! Jack's pummeling the heck out of him! Get him Jack! Let out that rage! Hey, the police finally came! What? They're arresting Jack as well! No! Don't arrest Jack! He's the good guy! Oh. Luckily those people told them that Jack wasn't the mugger. They're letting Jack go. They're bringing Jack somewhere.
Momma got tired of me talking about Jack. I mean, that mugger was huge! Jack just came out of nowhere and left that mugger on the ground! Momma went back to sleep. I hopped on her back and started talking about Jack some more. Finally, momma got tired and told me to go congratulate Jack himself if I'm so happy about it. Maybe I should. Maybe I should! But I'll need the help of Ms. Caley. Maybe she can prepare me a little treat, and I can slide it to Jack.
Lets see. Jack's not at the park today, yet. I ran out of the apartment building onto Jack's favorite bench. I left him the neat little pouch of treats on the side of his bench. Then, I waited. I waited and I waited and I waited. Then, I think nearly 2 whole minutes passed, and I had to get out of there! I mean, what if he saw me? What would I say? What would I tell him? That I'm Ann from that apartment 22 floors up, 6 columns from the left, who lives 2 windows from the noisy couple and one window above the family with the pit Bull? I had to get out of there.
I left the pouch of treats and ran back to the safety of the apartment.
I stood there on the balcony. 22 floors up, 6 columns from the left, who lives 2 windows from the noisy couple and one apartment above the family with the pit Bull. I looked at the pouch of treats I left on the bench. Hey! It's not there. Its not there anymore. Someone took Jack's present! Why would somebody do that, do that to Jack anyways? How dare them! I got to go back and find it. I got to look for it. Jack isn't there yet. I still have time.
I went back to the park, back to the bench. Oh, look! Guess nobody stole the pouch. It must have fell on the ground. Silly me. I picked it up and dropped it on the bench. Time to go! Uh oh. Um, hello pit Bull from 21 floors up, 6 columns to the left. You're not still mad about... the rock throwing incident, are you? You look pretty angry from it, don't you? That's, some... nice... teeth... you... have... RUN! Quicker and quicker! I ran around the fountain in the park. Everyone is just avoiding the pit Bull. I didn't care! I was too busy seeing a bright tunnel and my life flashing before my eyes!
"Leave that cat alone!" Who was that? Was it Jack? It is Jack! I ran behind Jack. Jack was pointing a stick at the pit Bull. Suddenly, the owner of the pit Bull came and pulled it away. Jack saved me. Jack looked at me for a moment. I didn't know what to do. I started to walk around Jack. Jack didn't seem to notice. He just went to his bench and sat down. I climbed to the seat next to him and laid next to him. Jack petted my head like he knew me forever. It was just me and Jack.
"Ann!" That was Ms. Caley's voice from the distance. I guess she was looking for me. I've been outside for a while. Ms. Caley ran towards me and Jack.
"Oh! Where have you been, Ann?" Ms. Caley asked. I purred at her and hopped into her arms. I didn't want to leave Jack, but I had to. "Thank you for watching over Ann. She's a curious one. I usually don't let her outside." Ms. Caley was talking to Jack. "Oh, its no problem. I saw a dog chasing after her. I scared it away." Jack politely told Ms. Caley.
"I've seen you many times at this park. I'm sorry, I didn't introduce myself." Ms. Caley bowed her head. "My name's Meryl. What's your name?" Jack just smiled for a moment. He's a weird one. He didn't say anything for a while.
"My name?" Jack repeated. Jack isn't going to tell her.