Tenement Funster

Who the fuck is Sally Bowles???

"You seem so distracted..."  Freddie told his boyfriend.  Noting his constant shifting about on the sofa as they watched A Christmas Carol being shown on the telly.  "Is everything alright?"  

"It's nothing..."  John mumbled and got up from the sofa.  "I'll be right back..."  he said as he walked from the lounge.  Going to the kitchen and hoping Freddie wouldn't follow.  He stepped inside and turned on the stove light.  Walking over to the pantry and quietly opening the door.  Bending down to check on the box sitting in the corner.  Smiling as he saw the fluffy sleeping creature nestled in a towel.

"You're just fine then..."  John cooed softly as he made sure the small container of water wasn't empty and his tiny litter box wasn't too messy and stood back up.  Gently closing the pantry door and walking back to the lounge.  Satisfied the kitten would be okay for now.  He rejoined Freddie on the sofa and resumed watching the film.  Some time passed and John nodded off.   

"You poor tired thing..."  Freddie remarked as he got up and turned off the television and gathered their cups and saucers.  He left John asleep on the sofa and went to the kitchen to deposit the dishes in the sink.  Washing them and placing them on the draining board.  He went to walk out and thought he heard a sound.  Freddie stopped and looked over a the pantry door. It was closed but a sound seemed to be coming through the vented panel on the bottom of the door.  Freddie instantly reached up and covered his mouth with his hands.  Ready to shriek.  Instead he managed to rush from the kitchen.  Running to the lounge with his hands leaving his face and flailing about in the air.

"John!  John!" Freddie shouted and burst back into the lounge.  He found John just waking up to the sound of his loud voice.  Before he could respond, Freddie came around the sofa and flung himself at his boyfriend.  "Oh my god!"  Freddie screamed and surprised John when he clung onto him.  Almost knocking him back on the cushions.

"What's the matter?"  John questioned.  Taken aback by Freddie's outburst.  His boyfriend looked at him with fear in his eyes.

"There's a mouse in the kitchen!"  Freddie declared with horror.  For a moment John didn't register what Freddie was saying.

"What?"  John asked and then realized that Freddie must have heard something in the kitchen.  His heart leapt.   "How do you know?" John questioned as Freddie held on to him.

"I heard it's little squeak!"  Freddie cried out.  Looking at John for comfort.  Clearly mortified by the thought of a mouse being in close proximity. 

"Uh Freddie..."  John began to reply. 

"You have to do something about it!"  Freddie demanded.  "I am terrified of them and I can't possibly go to bed knowing that it will be crawling all through the house...probably all over our presents...and worse...our food!"  he bemoaned.  His body shivering at the notion.

John tried hard not to laugh.  First, he was quite amused at Freddie's apparent fear of mice.  He was also surprised that Freddie didn't recognize the sound of a kitten.  Mistaking it for a mouse instead.  He realized he couldn't keep Freddie's present a surprise until morning.

"Freddie..."  John began as he pried his boyfriend off him and stood up.  "It's not a mouse..." he said confidently as Freddie appeared disbelieving.

"How do you know?"  Freddie challenged.  "You didn't hear it!"  he pointed out.  John smiled at him.  Trying not to laugh at the overt terror in Freddie's expression. 

"I know it's not a mouse...because I know what's inside the pantry..."  John revealed.  Freddie's face shifted from horror to curiosity.  

"So you know it came from the pantry..."  Freddie stated.  "What is it then?"  he asked as he stood up and began following John as he left the lounge.  Feeling Freddie take his hand as they walked together to face the mysterious sound.