Ghost Camp

Chapter 3: Mister Fluffkins

The next day Ruane woke up energized. Because it was Saturday, she was able to sleep in. She decided that she'd eat breakfast before heading over to Mr. Walkers house to pick up Mister Fluffkins. Ruanes father works during the day so she had the house to herself as usual. She took a long shower, ate a big bowl of cereal for breakfast, then got dressed to meet Mr. Walker.

Walking out of her house she crosses the street and heads 2 houses down on her right. She's seen Mr. Walker before and talked to him a bit but she's never actually been to his house, or seen his cat. She walked up his paved pathway to his front door, and rang the doorbell. "In a minute." A voice shouted from inside.

"It's me Mr. Walker. Ruane."

Mr. Walker opened the door, suitcase in hand saying, "You're just in time. I was just finishing up all my packing. And Mister Fluffkins's here." He gestured down to his side to the cat next to him. Kinda like he was responding, he let out a quite meow. Mr. Walker scooted past Ruane, Fluffkins's following at his heel to his car. He opened his trunk and dropped his bags in. "I'm sorry I'm in a bit of a rush, I'm running late." He said excusing his behavior.

"Is there something I can do to help?" Ruane asked. She was more concerned about the fact that if Mr. Walker missed whatever he was chasing, she wouldn't get paid.

"Um, actually yes. If you could help me with setting up his kit for the weekend that would be great. Just follow me."

Mr. Walker led Ruane into his home and into the kitchen where there were a few different items set out on the counter. He had four bags of cat food already divided into equal proportions. He also had a set of pet bowls, and and a bag with some cat soap and a few toys.

"Okay, now I have already separated the food for you." Mr. Walker started. "All you have to do is give him one bag a day. Just pour it into his bowl and he'll come to it in time." He looked at Ruane and said, "Remember, he needs to be bathed everyday. He doesn't like bathes, but it's required. If he behaves himself then there are a few treats in the bag as well. Give him only one. Only when he deserves it. DO NOT, tease him."

Finishing his instructions he helped Ruane carry the supplies back to her house. "Okay Mister Fluffkins, it's time to say goodbye for now." Ruane opened her front door with her free hand and gestured the cat inside. The cat just sat there on the porch looking in. Mr. Walker says "It's okay, I'll only be gone a few days. Go on." Only when Mr. Walker pointed inside did Mister Fluffkins leave his side. "If he gives you any problems give me a call. Maybe I can help or something." With that he said his final goodbyes and headed away for the weekend.

The first thing Ruane did after closing the door was set up the cats bed and food bowl. She filled one with water and emptied one of the bags of food into the other. She then placed the other supplies into a cabinet in the kitchen.

Because Ruane never actually had a pet she figured it would be a lot easier to tend to then a child. So she turned to the cat and said, "Okay, now you stay down here and I'll be back in a few hours to give you a bath." She then turned and went upstairs to her room. Sitting on her bed getting ready to text she looked up and saw Mister Fluffkins stepping into her room. Upon noticing him she asked, "I thought I said to stay down stairs?" The cat curiously walked around her room taking in the new environment, sniffing things and rubbing against potential scratching post. "Hey, did you hear me? No coming in my room." Remembering she was talking to a cat and not a kid she gave up and decided to go ahead and start texting Moxy.

"Hey, so how did last night go without me?" She began.

Moxy replied quickly with, "Well I tried to have fun with the boys, but over all it was 75% less fun without you there. But the movie was great. Super funny, and don't worry, I won't drop any spoilers."

"Lol, thanks, I appreciate it." Ruane looked down at Mister Fluffkins who was now laying on the floor in the middle of her room. She thought about it and said, "I have something we can do together tho. I'm watching my neighbors cat for the weekend and I know how much you like cats sooo..."

"Hell to the YESS! Ill be over in 10 minutes."

Ruane and Moxy have always lived within 10 minutes of each other and would visit each other often. When Moxy got to the house she walked straight in like she's known to do, being such a close friend of the family. She ran straight up the stairs into Ruanes room and instantly fell to her knees at the sight of the cat. Her sudden impact next to him made him jump a bit before she swooped him into her arms.

"Oohhhhh kitty!" She screeched.

"Wow, you've never been as happy to see me as you are to see that cat right now." Ruane muttered.

"That's because you aren't an adorable fur covered creature of love." Moxy replied.

"Fair enough." She laughed.

"So what's his name?"

"Um." She chuckled, "Mister, Fluffkins."

Moxy looked at Ruane as if she had just told a joke. Realizing she was serious she burst out into laughter, which in turn caused Ruane to do the same.

"I think I love him even more now." Moxy said still laughing.

The girls sat up in Ruanes room with Mister Fluffkins for hours, laughing and talking until Ruanes father got home. He was able to hear the girls and was about to go up and say hi when he realized the cats bed and food bowls.

"Uh... Ruane." He called out.

Knowing exactly what he was calling for she remembered that she failed to inform him about Mister Fluffkins. She sheepishly shouted back, "Yeah dad?"

"Why are there things for a pet in the den?" He was now a the bottom of the stairs yelling up.

Ruane peaked her head out of her doorway, looks down the stairs and said, "I totally forgot to tell you. I um, kinda agreed to watch Mr. Walker's cat for the weekend while he goes out of town." Just as she says this Mister Fluffkins pushes past her and goes down stairs, in between Ruanes father's legs to get to his food still in his bowl.

"You, forgot?" Her dad scoft

"Yeah, it was sort of last minute. I only did it to earn money for the camp. Mr. Walker is paying me $40 a day."

He smiled in surprise at her statement. "$40 a day? To watch a cat?" He wasn't upset about the situation, but he did have to at least acknowledge it right? "So, what's her name?"

"Hisss name is Mister Fluffkins. Don't ask, Bec I don't know."

"Well," her dad hesitated, "Mister Fluffkins just pooped on my hard wood floors!"

Ruane stepped out of her room and stumbled down the stairs. Moxy decided she'd better follow. "Oh no. Mr. Walker must of forgotten about his litter box. What am I supposed to do now?"

Ruanes father walked over to the hallway closet and grabbed a spray bottle, and a rag. He then walked back over to Ruane with a smile on his face. Handing her the supplies he said, "You clean it." He then walked away laughing.

Ruane turned to Moxy, supplies on hand a said, "Well, you love cats right?" Before she could finish her sentence Moxy was halfway out the front door. "Sorry girl, that's all you. See you tomorrow though. Have fun."

Ruane was then left alone to clean up the mess. "How many times a day does a cat poop?" She wondered. Maybe this won't be as easy as she first thought.