Back to Human

Chapter Twelve

Shortly after everyone left, yet again just leaving Charlie and I. It was eleven O'clock and I was tired. I watched Charlie yawn. I yawned back. We both burst into giggles.

"I'm going to bed, do you need anything?" Charlie asked me. I shook my head and Charlie went into her bedroom. I left the office and the creepy tank to go to the living room. I jumped up on the couch and crawled into my bed. I curled up and fell asleep quickly.

I woke up the next morning to sunlight streaming into my face. I turned my face away before looking at the clock. It was nine-thirty-six. I got up and stretched luxuriously.

"Good morning!" Charlie chirped. I looked over at her. "It's Sunday, so I have the day off and I was wondering if you would like to go for a walk?" Charlie asked. "I don't want you to feel cooped up in here." Charlie explained.

"Good morning. Yes please, I haven't gone for a walk just for the fun of it since I was kidnapped." I told her.

"Will you be happy sitting in my handbag or do you want to get out and walk? There is a nice park not far away but every animal needs to be on a leash..." Charlie trailed off. As humiliating as a leash would be, I really want to go for a stroll.

"That sounds great." I tell her. She lit up.

"Okay, I put out some breakfast for you. When you finish that we can go to Pet Stock." Charlie told me. I nodded and jumped off the couch, before walking into the kitchen and jumping up onto the counter.

I was getting pretty good at controlling this body. I looked at the food. It was another small square of meat with some sort of sauce covering it. I ate it quickly, starving after my little episode last night.

I heard Charlie's voice coming from the office. I finished my breakfast and walked I got the office. Charlie was just saying goodbye to Flora. Flora disappeared and Charlie turned around.

"Oh hey, Juan responded, Ai is going to catch the next plane to Australia. It will arrive on Tuesday at 3 o'clock." Charlie told me. "I'm going to ask Ben if I can borrow his car and pick Ai up from the airport." Charlie continued.

This was amazing. I felt like soon I will have my body back. If Ai can help us, I might be able to go home to my parents by the end of the week.

"This is awesome!" I tell her, practically vibrating from excitement. Charlie went and got her bag and I hopped in.

———

We got off the bus and Charlie walked about a block before the large store loomed above us. Charlie walked in, pushing the door open to be greeted by the sounds of birds chirping and people talking.

When I was in my human body, the smell that all pet shops seemed to have of cured meat and hide treats had made me cringe. Now it positively made my mouth water. I knew that I had just eaten breakfast but the barrel of dried pigs ears smelled delectable. I almost fell out of the bag trying to get close to sniff them.

"Hello, welcome to pet stock, how can I help you?" A man with bleached hair strolled up and asked Charlie. He looked down and saw me. "Aww hello little one." He said, crouching down to get to my height before patting my head.

"Who's a precious little baby? Who's a precious little tiger." He said in a baby voice, continuing to pat my head. Charlie cleared her throat, looking down at me in pity.

"Oh, uh sorry, I got a bit distracted." He said, scratching the back of his neck as his face went red. "How can I help you two?" He asked again, trying to cling to his professional persona.

"Hi, I'm looking for a leash for my cat, so I can take her walking?" Charlie asked, barely concealing a grin at the man's antics.

"Sure, right over here. How old is your cat?" The man asked.