Sometimes a single image (or just a few words) can convey an entire story.

This morning I was walking Karma, the most recent of my dog-sitting charges, when I noticed a small, empty cage discarded in a neighbor’s front yard. Inside the cage was a tiny plastic igloo, its edges chewed to smithereens by the former occupant.

I was reminded of one of my favorite short stories by Ernest Hemingway:
“For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”

Inspired by the moment, I composed my own small, six-word homage to the tiny deceased pet: “My fluffy hamster never woke up.”

Rest in peace, little guy.