God damn. Some things are just so fucking hard. Some things have the ability to break your heart into a hundred pieces, with just a quick glance. We met someone today who has that ability.

Michael, Francesca, Dave K. and I were on our way home from Dartmouth today, and as we slowly drove down Clifton Street, toward Willow, Michael looked out the window and exclaimed: "Hey, that cat's wearing a sweater!" With no traffic around, we backed up to have a look. There was this funny looking little cat, all by himself near the road, just hanging out. And wearing what appeared to be a blue sweater. We lingered for a while, admiring him.

And then he moved. And everyone stopped breathing.

In minutes we had him back at Willow Street, and were calling shelters, vets and anyone else we could think of to try and find a way to help this little guy. I don't even know if I can properly describe what this cat is living with. He doesn't particularly look as though he's in pain, but I think I can say safely that I've never in my life seen a more heartwrenching, sad little creature. His back left leg is broken and essentially useless. It actually bends backward as he walks, and it's so bad, that sometimes he trips on it. The 'sweater' he was wearing turned out to be a filthy wool sock, with holes cut into it stretched over him. The sock-toe functioned as a hood. He's so quiet, and so listless.

We named him Doctor Batman, and this being Sunday, and a holiday, there's nothing we can do for him until Tuesday. So Doctor Batman is taking up temporary residence with us on Willow Street. He's staying in Greg's room, and receiving regular visits for morale. Watching him walk actually makes me feel ill. Depending on what happens on Tuesday, Doctor Batman may stay on a more permanent basis, as whoever was formerly 'caring' for him, if anyone, clearly has no business with a cat. Hopefully Elliot won't mind some feline company.

Someone made that fucking sock-sweater for him. I don't know what breaks my heart more - imagining someone putting the sweater on him months ago, before he went missing, and life took a turn for the worse.. Or the possibility that he still has a 'home', and that someone put a sock-sweater on a crippled cat, and doesn't feed him enough.

Jesus.