As Brothers

Boston, 1930.

In one studio, in the evening, a young history professor was still leaning over the books. He was a mauve furred cat leopard, with a pair of glasses on his nose, returned from a long trip a few days ago and was working on the latest find that he, along with his cousin and a friend, had recovered on the instructions of his mentor, Professor Gerrit.

He was comparing the notes on his notebook, taken during his last undertaking, with what was written in a volume. He then wrote something on another block. At a certain point he took off his glasses, which began to cause him some discomfort.

Usually, when he was studying, he didn't feel any fatigue, especially at the mental level, yet that evening he didn't feel at all concentrated. He was distracted, as if something was tormenting him inside. He felt his heart beat faster than ever. He grinned his teeth and his eyes squeezed into small cracks. He felt confused, disoriented. Inside him there had been a war between anger and sadness.

He carried his hands to his head, trying in vain to stifle this inner conflict.

Suddenly his affliction was interrupted by a noise. Someone was entering his studio.

A young gold furred puma set foot in the room, staring at him with concern.

"Alfred!" began the newcomer. "Are you still here studying?"

The professor looked up at what others were but his cousin Montana, who always accompanied him on all his journeys. He looked at him with a tired air, but he didn't answer the question.

Montana approached Alfred.

"I'd better take it off now. You've been burning your eyes all day reading!" she said with a smile.

"This job certainly doesn't hurry itself, do you think?" shouted the other one.

There was silence. The two of them stared for a few moments.

"Forgive me, Montana. I didn't want to be so rude." Alfred felt very guilty, but his cousin placed his hand on his shoulder.

"There's no need to apologize. I understand that." the puma smiled at him again. "Unfortunately, you have the most boring job." he said, looking at his desk full of books and notebooks. "But now it's off. The last trip was very heavy and you need to rest too."

Alfred reciprocated his cousin's words with a stunted smile. "You're kind to worry about me."

Having said that, he got up, convinced that by then he had done enough for that day.

"Come on! Let's go to sleep," Montana exhorted him.

When the puma made to approach the door, he stopped and turned to the catpardo, which did not move and kept his eyes down.

Montana worried and went to meet him.

"Is something wrong with Alfred?"

The professor slowly raised his head and turned his gaze towards his relative with his eyes shining.

"Alfred! Are you sick?" Montana touched her cousin's forehead.

"You don't have a fever... At least that doesn't sound like it..."

"Health is not the problem..." replied the catpardo with a thread of voice.

Montana looked at him perplexed. "What do you mean?

Alfred turned to his desk and beat a furious fist in the only place that was not occupied by books. His cousin was stunned: he had never seen the young professor in that state. Before he could say anything, Montana was blocked by Alfred.