𝐌𝐎𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐃 // Turning Red

• 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 1 •

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"Can I go to Daisy Mart, Gran-Gran? I forgot to buy food for Mao. She hasn't eaten anything for days," I asked impatiently and quickly wore my shoes. "I'll be back in a few minutes."

"Okay, be careful!" I heard her voice reply from the kitchen, "Don't go to dark corners of the streets!"

As I opened the door, Mao, my female calico cat, was sitting comfortably beside the door. She looked terribly skinny, and seeing her still happily wigging her tail makes me feel so guilty as her owner. She slightly flinched when I pet her but started purring when she realized it was just me.

"I'm sorry you couldn't eat a lot of food, Mao," I said sadly as I crouched down beside her, "We don't have that much money. The price for cat food just got higher yesterday."

Yep. You got that right. We aren't a rich nor a financially average family. We weren't far from poor, but both Gran-Gran and I are trying our best to stay away from being actually poor as much as possible. It's already a miracle that she was able to settle down on this house for free.

"But tonight, you'll be having the best dinner!" I exclaimed and hugged her gently before crossing the road, hearing faint meows from Mao.

"Don't follow me!"

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"Where is it?" I said with frustration as I scanned through the pile of different cat foods on the shelves, looking for the one I bought for Mao two weeks ago. "There it is!"

I quickly grabbed two cans of cat food, with some waffles and a cup of noodles for a snack later. Good thing I got lots of pizza delivery requests today or else I wouldn't even be here.

Yes, I deliver pizzas. Just a few months ago, I got a part-time job as a delivery girl. Some people in my neighborhood give me money in the early morning so when I go to the store, I can buy them a pizza and deliver it to them on the way home. I know it sounds weird because I am a literal child, but I desperately needed it. I begged the manager of the pizza store to let me work there after my school hours, and he accepted.

I wasn't legally hired, but since I'm known to almost every person living here, it didn't matter. It was only a small work though. I only deliver if it wasn't far from the store, for my safety of course. But if it helps Gran-Gran with financial problems, I would willingly go to another city if someone wants to buy pizza. Not that someone would, but that doesn't matter. Gran-Gran is who that matters.

She was the only one working for us both and I know she's getting older as time passes by. Soon, she wouldn't be able to work, so I took a job to at least help her in a small way. We don't have that much money, but Gran-Gran always seems to afford my daily needs. Although I never knew what her job was, I didn't bother to ask her.

Good thing Gran-Gran didn't get mad when I told her I got hired as a delivery girl. She was thankful that I wanted to help her.

She always understands.

"Cat food?" Devon, the clerk of the famous Daisy Mart store, asked me emotionlessly. He quickly scanned the items I bought, "You have a cat?"

"Yeah. Haven't I told you before?" I replied confusedly to which he shook his head in response, "No? But I was sure I told you, though. Have you heard of Mao?"

"Oh! Mao is your cat? I thought she was your sister," He bluntly said as he put my stuff in a plastic bag.

"No, she isn't," I giggled and placed some money on the counter, "And unfortunately, I don't even have a sister. Anyway, thirty-one dollars?"