he is on the front steps waiting as soon as my bro gets home AND, for the first time since Friday, he meowed at him, several times, so he must be getting tired of all of this, too

We have one that goes off a short way also, when it's supposed to stay IN. After a day or two of catering to the hidden location, we move the food closer to the door and then, when it's time, we just prop the door open and make the food noises and smells just inside the door, and walk away. The cat is usually found, next, asleep on the nearest warm-spot.

Sometimes I think they are like people (I remember my stepson for instance), who don't know how to say they're sorry but don't go away, either, and want to get back together somehow. Apparently cats have AFGOs, too.

~Susan