"KIIIIIITTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

As I got out of my car yesterday evening, my ears were assailed with a high-pitched "KITTY!!!  KIIIIIIITTY!"  Three more little voices immediately started echoing the same as my eyes moved instinctively across the street.  There were four kids, aged between about 4 and 13, gathered around this recently-abandoned fluffy black and white cat.

I stared on helplessly, unable to abandon my own children in my car to save the poor creature as it was flung into the air, found its way to the ground, and ran away through another person's backyard.

"KITTY!  KITTY!  KIIITTY!" the mob screamed as they tried to climb the neighbor's fence to get after the cat, which showed up on our street a week ago and has gotten noticeably smaller since.  I was paralyzed, searching for someone - anyone - who might have some authority in this situation.  My brain was suddenly on fire.  After all, who the hell throws a CAT and then tries to CATCH it?

"Mom!  What's that?"  I registered Sebastian at my side, looking on the scene in confusion, by now watching the cat running frantically toward our side of the street while the children were distracted.

The parent in me snapped to attention, recognizing the danger this situation presented.  "Get inside," I said.  "Get inside now."

I grabbed Audrey's car seat as the cat ran directly at me.  I looked around.  I only met this cat a week ago, so we are basically strangers.  I did the first thing I could think of: I gestured to my own front door, where he could hide behind a low brick wall, and frantically whispered "Go!  Go!" Then, I took the kids in the side door.

I do believe in the kind of parenting instincts that make you go far beyond your normal capabilities to save your kids from harm.  I always thought it would come in the form of unexpected strength  or something - lifting a car or punching a predator.  And I guess I thought that "harm" would have to be life-threatening, but, for some people and special situations, those instincts kick in faster.  I realized yesterday that I have those instincts, that untapped power, and I can rise to the occasion for my kids.

Because if someone is about to teach my kids that throwing a cat, calling it a "kitty," being obnoxious, and trespassing is somehow socially acceptable, I tell you here and now that I will not only get my kids out of that harmful situation but will SUCCESSFULLY COMMUNICATE WITH FREAKING ANIMALS WHILE THEY ARE CHARGING AT ME AT THE SAME TIME.

Um, booyah?