As he drove along Main Street, he took in the brightly lit window displays left on in deference to the holiday. The glow added to the swirling feeling that something magical was about to happen.

Stepping out of the truck, he heard it. A sound so heart wrenching, so pitiful, so sad, he stopped in his tracks to listen to see if it came again.

“Eeeooouuuu,” came the weak and plaintive call.

Charlie looked around him. Between an absence of streetlights, the moon now hiding behind a cloud and the snow starting to fall a little more thickly, it was hard to see more than a few feet around him.

The sound came again, this time a bit softer while at the same time with true distress in the tone.

Charlie pegged the direction it came from and headed toward it, hoping it wasn’t some sort of wild animal on the prowl, perhaps stalking another one.

Huddled against a tree he saw a tiny shape twisting and turning and rolling in a panicked dance. If it weren’t for the animal’s frantic movements he wouldn’t have seen it.

Cautiously Charlie approached and saw a tiny white kitten. The little fur ball looked up at him and let loose with another mournful meow. Somehow it had gotten its paws stuck inside the plastic soda can holder.

Somehow? Some kids probably thought it would be great fun. Some fun tormenting a little kitten. The little kitten looked up and him and then stopped its struggles as if giving up.