Project: Chosen Grannie

Chapter 3

Alecto licked her paw and smoothed it over her ear. She repeated this action on the other side. Tess and Meg were in quite a huff when she declared herself Agatha Agelthorpe's pet protector for the realms. Meg felt she should be the one since she was the eldest cat (by six days). Tess thought the job should go to the strongest. Needless to say, Allie proved she was the right cat for the job.

Waiting on Pan had to be one of her least favorite things. He was mercurial at the best of times and always late. Never had she met someone so temperamental that was not a cat. She was sitting atop the fence in the backyard, now quite the jungle since Agatha's "art write this" has flared up.

"I see you claimed your role." Pan said as he approached, letting out a sarcastic sigh.
"As if there was any doubt." Allie shrugged. Cats have healthy a self-esteem.
"The first has presented himself," Pan sneered. "Disgusting brute, if you ask me."
Allie rolled her cat eyes. "Falcoro is a perfectly fine first. Don't be such a snob, Pan."
"He'll be at portal #362 Saturday morning between 9:23 and 9:27 am." Pan read off of a mini scroll.
"That may be a challenge." Allie puffed out a breath and Pan gave her a questioning look. "Water aerobics."
"Take care of it, pet protector." Pan ordered and the disappeared into the vines.

"The pool was full of what now?" Agatha Agelthorpe was slightly deaf in one ear but she could have sworn Mary Millicent Mulligatawny just told her that the pool where she took water aerobics had been found full of swimming rats.
"RATS, my dear Mrs. Agelthorpe." Mary Millicent Mulligatawny shuddered. Rats were at the top of her list of worst fears. "Our Saturday schedule is ruined."
"Oh, Mary Millicent Mulligatawny, I'm sure we can come up with another suitable activity."
Mary Millicent Mulligatawny left the room in huff, If there was one thing she valued over all else, it was schedule. She knew Mrs. Agelthorpe indulged her on this, but oftentimes she felt under-appreciated for the lengths she went to to create a well-balanced schedule. This was the reason for some of her unrest in the position.

Alecto leapt onto Agatha's lap. "Dear Agatha, the first will appear tomorrow between 9:24 and 9:27 am at portal number 362." This was delivered in Alecto's most calming tone.
"Alright, Allie. Where, prey tell is portal number 362?" She was still unsure of all of this "chosen one" business, but was going along for the ride out of sheer boredom.
Allie paused, licked the tip of her tail, stretched out on the crossword Agatha was working on, and placed her paw on an ad. It was for a local used book store. Agatha was fond of Just One More Chapter and went often.
"Here?" She queried.
Allie nodded and then fell asleep as cats do.

Mary Millicent Mulligatawny scoured the local YMCA and community websites for a suitable replacement activity. None were appropriate. Her day will now be filled now with anxiety and worry. She desperately tried to think something as she prepared dinner for Mrs. Agelthorpe.

"Oh, meatloaf, my favorite. Thank you Mary Millicent Mulligatawny." She really did love meatloaf and it was Mary Millicent Mulligatawny's best dish. "I've come up with something for tomorrow."

Mary Millicent Mulligatawny's head tilted in surprise. Mrs. Agelthorpe very rarely suggested anything, knowing how much of  a stickler Mary Millicent Mulligatawny was for a planned day. Some things are best left alone.

"Oh, do tell." She indulged, not planning on taking her idea seriously.

"I'd like to pay a visit to Just One More Chapter, and they just happen to be having an early bird sale tomorrow." Agatha lied deftly. "I could use a long walk for maintaining my constitution." Agatha was vigilant about maintaining her constitution. "I thought I'd walk there and then you could pick me up some time later."

Mary Millicent Mulligatawny stiffened into an even straighter posture if that was possible. "Walk?" She squeaked. "Alone?" Surely Mrs. Agelthorpe was mad. How could she allow such a thing.