June, 6, 2025

A Summer BBQ to Remember

Dear Diary,

It's been a little while since we last talked! This entry will be a LOOONG one.. buckle up xD -Sorry about that. Ever since Memorial Day Weekend, my summer has been super eventful. There were days I really wanted to write about, like when I went to a local carnival with my friends recently. It was such a fun day!That carnival day was honestly so special. I went on a bunch of rides and had the most delicious vanilla ice cream in a sugar cone with rainbow sprinkles. I’m really glad I spent that day with people I care about so much. By the time I got home, I was completely wiped out and couldn’t bring myself to blog about it. Sometimes the blue light from my laptop is just too much for my eyes at night!

Fast forward to this evening: one of my friends was celebrating her 20th birthday with a backyard BBQ! It was the perfect day for it—around 80°F (about 26.7°C)—so most people showed up in bathing suits since she had a water sprinkler going. Pretty much all our friends were there, even ones I’m not super close with anymore, but it still felt nice to be around familiar and kind faces. At one point, I picked up my friend’s guitar and played with my band. We sang “Amber” by 311, “Fade Into You” by Mazzy Star, and “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea” by Neutral Milk Hotel. It was super cute, and we’re even planning to practice again next weekend!

In the middle of the party, someone heard a faint “meow” in the distance. We followed the sound and found it was coming from a run-down outdoor playpen in the backyard. Under a pile of leaves and a crushed- up box, two tiny blue eyes peeked out from a dark crevice. Everyone huddled around, unsure if they were seeing things. Suggestions were flying— “Don’t crowd the box!” and “Give it some space!” —but no one was brave enough to get close. I decided to approach. I bent down and carefully lifted the box. That’s when I saw a tiny, weak bundle of white and grey fur, staring up at me with tired little eyes. Everyone around me let out a chorus of “Awww!” and I tried not to blush, but I was definitely proud of myself.

We quickly realized we had a dilemma. The kitten was alone— no food, no water, no mother in sight—and trapped under the hot sun. She didn’t even try to move, just sat there with her little paws tucked under her belly, blinking slowly. We found a clean box, a small bowl for water, and even cut up a burger to make a cozy spot for her to rest while we figured out what to do.

We never even confirmed if the kitten was a boy or a girl, but someone came up with the perfect name: Excavator. Since I was the one who got close and gently scooped her up with an old washcloth. The second I picked her up, another wave of “Awwww!” came from the group. She wasn’t angry or aggressive— just scared and exhausted. I set her in the box, and she curled up into a tiny ball in the corner. For hours, phone calls were made to friends, relatives, and even a few worried moms, trying to find someone who could take her in. Sadly, no one could— including me. But I was the only one who stayed by her side. I talked to her, tried to get her to eat and drink, but she just wasn’t up for it. As the sun went down, I started to get anxious. We hadn’t seen her mother again, and Excavator made no effort to escape or explore. She just stared at me quietly, as if waiting for help.

As a last effort, I gathered a few close friends and told them I was going to take the kitten to a local vet to see what we could do. I didn’t want to leave her alone and helpless. But just as we were about to leave the backyard— with the kitten in my arms— someone shouted, “LOOK! THAT’S THE MOM!”

We all turned and saw a sleek black figure slinking through the bushes. It was her! Everyone started motioning for me to put the kitten down. I said a quick goodbye under my breath to my little friend (I’ve decided she’s a girl now, lol) and placed her gently in the grass. She wiggled her way through the tall grass and back to her mom. We all felt warm and fuzzy watching the reunion— it was honestly so wholesome and beautiful!

One of my friends joked that I should go to school to be a vet because I’m basically a cat whisperer now B). After that, we finished celebrating with cake, watched our friend open her Kuromi themed birthday gifts, and even had a piñata shaped like a bottle of ranch dressing?? XD It was such a fun and heartwarming day! I can’t wait to write more about my summer adventures, and I hope you stick around to read them!

See you later, alligator!!