I live alone and often go out of town for my work. Whenever I have to go on a trip, I leave my three full-grown cats and five kittens outside the house so they can forage for their food. If I have to leave town for more than a day, though, I make arrangements for someone to care for them.

Last month, a business trip took longer than I expected. Instead of just a day trip, I was required to stay for four whole days. I considered telling my employer about my cats, but I knew she would only tell me that work came first, and cats could take care of themselves, so I did not.

I had no way of contacting any of my neighbors as I did not have much opportunity to socialize with them. I spent a lot of time worrying about my kittens, knowing that it was rainy season and pickings were few in the neighborhood. I went home the earliest time I could, fearing the worst.

When I arrived home, however, I found a fresh bowl of water in the yard, and signs that my cats have been fed. The garden was trimmed, and the trash was thrown out. Best of all, I found a cat house in the backyard, looking newly built and big enough for the little ones!

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw how the neighbors exerted efforts to care for my pets and my yard. I learned that it was the housewife living across my house who fed my cats, and a carpenter two houses away who donated the cat house, taking pity on my pets which looked miserable whenever it rained.

After that incident, I made sure to interact with my neighbors often, continuously looking for ways to pass on the kindness I received in return.