EXIT 20 IS LUCKY FOR MASON

For many years I have been working in local communities to help rescue pets, especially cats. Gradually, this work has begun to overlap with my library duties to the point that sometimes I can't tell them apart. When I realized that librarian Vicki Myron's library/cat tale "Dewey" was sitting on top of the New York Times Best Seller List, I thought maybe it was time to tell some stories of my own. Let's start with a rescue from last summer. Marion is a lively place from June to September, with a doubling of population. The library reflects this, especially increasing its use by children, all busily taking part in our creative programs. Picture the front desk lined with adults and kids, all checking out books and films, two librarians trying to keep up with it all. All of a sudden a tiny kitten is deposited in the midst of piles of returned books, tapes, etc. It appeared, seemingly, out of thin air. Then, my custodian, Donna said over the hubbub, "We found him by the exit from 195-he'd been thrown out of a car". This 1 pound little critter proceeded to wend his way among the hands reaching out, listening to all the "oohs" and "aahs". Several patrons said they might be interested in adopting him. One young lady stood out, though, as being sincere in making a life-long commitment to taking him. R. consulted with her parents, summer residents, and the next day little, soon-to-be-named Mason, went home with them. When the family comes to Marion on holidays and vacations, we check in. He leads a very cosy life, that's for sure, and is sophisticated enough to have seen and listened to R all the way from Singapore, where she was living this past Fall, via computer. Mason sure has come a long way.......