Crimson Rose: The Crooked Man and the Crooked Cat

Chapter 2: Sisterly Love

"Can cats really talk?" thought Annette as she walked to her home. She opened the door and walked in.

"Hello, Annette. How was your day at school?" asked Helen as she walked into the kitchen. "Good." said Annette simply. "I saved a cat today."

"Oh, did you?" asked Helen. "Yeah. He was almost being hit by a truck so I rescued him."

Helen nearly dropped her coffee pot. "What?!" she asked in disbelief. She stared at Annie. "Did you go out on the road?" she asked in shock. Annette bowed her head. She knew she was in trouble. "It was carrying a music box in its mouth and a truck was coming towards it. So I..."

Annette bowed her head, knowing she'll be scolded. But then, she heard her mother say something surprising.

"That was a very brave, noble thing you did."

Annette looked up at her mom in surprise. "Really?' she asked. "Yes. But that truck could have hit you too. You have to be careful when crossing the road." said Helen. "Yes, Mama." Annette walked up to her room. Try as she might, she couldn't get her mind off the black cat. "Why did he bow to me?" she wondered.

She read that cats are independent animals, that they sometimes wander the streets.

Sometimes stray cats would avoid humans. But that cat didn't run away from her. It looked at her as if he was addressing her. And that music box it was carrying. "What's so special about that music box?" she wondered. At dusk, when the sun was setting, Annette lay in her bed, reading her favorite book, "Mother Goose's Nursery Rhymes."

It was given to her on her 6th birthday. She made her mother read the book to her every night before she went to bed.

Even thought she was now 15, it was still her favorite childhood book. Her most favorite nursery rhyme was "The Crooked Man and the Crooked Cat." It was short and sounds meaningless, but the reason Annette liked it so much was the simplicity and style of it.

Most of all, she loved the picture of the little cat when she first laid eyes on it.

Its fur was beautiful ebony and its eyes shone like the golden stars in the night sky. She even loved the crooked tail. She gently stroked the picture with her fingers and sighed.

Then, suddenly...."What are you doing?"

Startled, Annette fell from her bed, the book landing on her head. She looked up and saw a ginger-haired girl standing by her doorway.

"Emily, you scared me!" said Annette.

5-year old Emily was Annette's sister. She had round, blue eyes and a mass of freckles on her face. Tonight, Helen told Annette to babysit Emily while she went grocery shopping, much to Annette's dismay.

Emily was a total nightmare to babysit. She may look cute, but she's a spoiled little brat and a real pain in the neck.

She even annoys her older sister, Annette, whenever she's babysitting her. She wants everything her way and she won't take no for an answer! "Were you reading that baby book again?" said Emily in a teasing tone.

"Emily, you should knock. It's not nice to sneak into other people's room without knocking." said Annette softly.

If she yelled at Emily, her mom would scold her. And despite Emily annoying her to pieces, Annette still loved her sister dearly, even if she is a spoiled brat.

"What do you want, Emily?"

"I want to have a cookie." said Emily, grinning mischievously. "Emily, you know you can't have a cookie till after dinner." said Annette firmly. "But I want a cookie!" demanded Emily.

"Emily, I said no. Mom will be upset if she found out I gave you a cookie before dinner." "I want one now!" shrieked Emily, stomping her foot.

"I said no!" said Annette firmly. She gave Emily a firm look.

Whenever Emily refused to obey Annette's words, Annette would give her a very firm glare.

But Emily was prepared. She softened her face and looked at Annette with big, pleading puppy eyes. Annette groaned.

Emily would sometimes do that to get Annette to agree with her. But not this time. This time, Annette turned around and faced the wall, a big grin stretched across her face.

"I'm not gonna fall for it this time! Ha, ha, ha!" she said confidently.

But Emily wouldn't give up. She circled around Annette like a vulture, ready to do her cutesy, pleading, adorable puppy eyes at Annette's view.

But Annette kept ignoring her.

Emily started to pout. Then, she saw Annette's nursery rhyme book. A mischievous, devilish smile crept across her face. With Annette's back turned against her, Emily grabbed the book and ran out the bedroom door.

But Annette saw the book in Emily's hand. "Emily! Stop! That's my book!" she yelled. But Emily didn't listen. She ran down the stairs with Annette's book in her arms.

She laughed. "I got Annette's baby book!" she said gleefully. But Annette wasn't giving up the chase. "Give me back my book!" she yelled.

She chased Emily until Emily stopped at the kitchen. Emily still held on to the book. "I want a cookie! I want one now!" said Emily, looking like she's ready to throw a big tantrum.

Annette sighed in frustration. "I told you. You can't have one till after dinner."

"If you give me a cookie, I'll give you your book back." said Emily in a little singsong tone. Annette put her hands on her hips. "I don't believe it! Now you're bribing me?!"

Emily giggled mischievously.

Annette stretched out her hand. "Emily, give me back my book."

Emily clutched on to her book. "No!" she said defiantly. "I'll tell Mama!" Annette rolled her eyes. "Stop it, Emily. Please give me back my book."

"What's going on?" a soft voice said. Helen was home. Then, Emily suddenly let out a piercing wail.

"Waaah! Mama! Annette bullied me! She took away my favorite toy!"

Annette groaned. "What a liar!" she thought.

Helen looked at Annette. "Mom, I didn't steal her toy. She stole my nursery rhyme book." said Annette, pointing at the book in Emily's arms.

Helen looked at Emily and reached out her hand. "Please give your sister back the book."

"No! Annette gave it to me!" Emily said defiantly.

"No, I didn't."

"Yeah, you did!"

"That's enough, you two." said Helen. "Emily, give your sister back her book. It's her book, not yours." "No, I won't!" said Emily stubbornly.

"Emily." Helen gave her a stern look. Emily bowed her head, knowing she can't win. "Okay." she said softly, giving Annette back her nursery book.

"Thank you." Annette said. She turned to Helen. "Thank you, Mom." "You're welcome." said Helen, smiling. The she sighed. "I really hope Emily improves on her behavior." Annette couldn't agree more. "Me, too." she thought. "Let's get dinner ready."