A good 30 minutes later and 3 miles of running in the sun, Robert was drenched in sweat. Sheeyla was sitting in the shade of the stand they had stopped at. It was a standard lemonade like stand with a blue cover over it for shade. Robert, drinking a bottle of water, had wiped sweat from his head, shuffling his hair and rubbing the collar bone that was visible from his tank top. "I'm completely parched today, should've drank more water yesterday." His lips parted with the refreshing bottle, closing the cap and tossing his sweaty gray towel onto Sheeyla.
"Yuck!" She scrams with the towel covering her completely. Robert laughs, as would any owner. Sheeyla continues to fidget, as the shop keeper continues to once again delegate Robert's actions. "You know you shouldn't do that to Sheeyla," he removes the towel to find her looking up with cat eyes.
"Oh thank you, Mr. Koga!" she replies.
"You're welcome," replies the shop keeper.
Robert was tilted his head with a raised eyebrow, and a disbelief smile, "Mr. Koga, Sheeyla's not gonna understand what you're saying." he finishes off the bottle and throws it towards the recycling bin. Missing the bin, the bottle bounces a few times on the concrete before rolling back to Robert.
"Cats, just like any animal will understand your kindness and return the favor when you're not happy." Mr. Koga smiles with his wrinkles forming a dimple on the cheeks, "Plus I don't think it takes a person to understand the universal language of food." Behind the sheltered wooden stand, there's a couple of refrigerators, minifridges if you will. The stand is on the side of a road behind a warehouse. Mr. Koga has been running power to the minifridges from there. Mr. Koga reaches for a can of tuna to open and give to the towel disgusted Sheeyla. "Mr. Koga..." a sigh of kindness from Robert, "Do you have tuna just for cats? They're gonna run you out of business."
A laugh from the wise man, "No just for Sheeyla. No other fool walks their cats around here."
"Ouch. Did you just call me a fool?" Robert mumbles to himself as he drops his shoulders from Mr. Koga's words then soon after to put the bottle into the recycling bin.
Mr. Koga pets Sheeyla as she gracefully eats the tuna, "Oh I love this guy. He really knows how to make my day."
"Silly Robert," Mr. Koga pets the tuna crazed feline, "You're the only one I know with a bond this secure with ones little friend."
Robert stretches vertically and yawns as he usually does when he works out, "Alright, Mr. K, Sheeyla and I should get going."
"Where are you going on a Saturday? Don't you usually stay in and play video games, or whatever the other kids do nowaways?" Mr. Koga chuckled in curiosity and hope.
"Well so... Sheeyla and I got in a bit of a fight and she trashed all the older furniture in the house. From the window drapes, down to the pillows on the couch. Oh and don't forget the love seat and couch themselves." Robert explains with a sigh and a slow scan of the area with his eyes. He was definitely feeling quite extra at explaining himself and his own cat getting in a fight.
Mr. Koga's hope disappeared from his own face, "Oh my goodness, Robert. Sheeyla's a dang cat for goodness sake. I was hoping you were going to meet others rather than be cooped up in your room. It felt like you were only coming out for classes."
Robert raises his hands to cause a disruption, "Okay. Yes, sir. I get it. The point is that I have to go look for new furniture. I also don't want Sheeyla to stay inside."
"It's definitely good to get yourself and your cat out, but remember that you have to be able to care for yourself before you put yourself onto other responsibilities,"
"To believe in yourself before you believe in others... I remember, Mr. K." Robert looked quite down from the conversation. He does have to take care of himself so he can also take care of Sheeyla.
Mr. Koga continues, "Not even just Sheeyla, you should want a family some day. I just ran into May earlier today, and even Stephanie is a good woman. You talk to her recently? What about--"
"Okay dad." Cheeks flushed and puffed out, "Sheeyla and I will be on our way now." He picks up Sheeyla with one arm and waves to Mr. Koga, "It was great talking to you, honestly." A genuine smile followed afterwards by both Robert and Mr. Koga. The two wave, including Sheeyla who had her mouth filled with tuna. Departing on foot once more, they strolled on a walk for a bit further down the road to enter the official plaza.
While stuffed in tuna and licking their own whiskers Sheeyla looked up to speak to Robert while in his arms, "I always love seeing that guy. I mean he takes care of us. He also reminds me of some--" Sheeyla's fur went on alert. A much gruesome sound was approaching. As Sheeyla looked forward then to their left and around, she was certain she heard it. The sound of a danger... a dog.
Robert didn't understand nor pay attention to Sheeyla, he was spaced out on the thoughts on where he was going to go from here in his life. Sheeyla's claws came out piercing the shoulder of Robert, with an ecstatic tail for dramatic effect. "Pay attention Robert!" said two voices at once. Robert flinched at the wound, "Dammit, Sheeyla." he then froze himself. Like a brick moving itself Robert turned to face the dangers that behold them.
Below them was a golden retriever on a leash. The one holding that very leash was none other than a blonde with blue eyes at this moment, Stephanie.
YOU ARE READING
Robert & Sheeyla
فكاهةRobert is a 22 year old man going through college. He has had some rough spots in his life and is continuing to struggle at times through his life. However, it's not about him specifically yet about the relationship between him and his cat, Sheeyla...