A Cats Life

Home

Kitty-

I look around and see everyone staring at the fish and the slightly chubby man holding it. I feel Rachel's chest rise and fall. I look up at her crystal blue eyes to see them filling up with tears. She seems like a very caring person. She shifts and I tense up until i feel her walking towards Manny. The man holding the fish. She touches his shoulder gently, which causes him to glance up with tear filled eyes. He sniffles again and exhales slowly.

"I should be getting home..." Rachel says to the man... "Are you sure I cant pay you anything for this little bean?" She glances down at me and I feel my heart warm up upon looking at her content smile.

"I'm sure," He says affectionately.

"Alright."

We begin to walk out of the store, and she reaches down by the counter and picks up her purse. She slides it down her arm, until it's hanging freely in the crook of her elbow. She reaches up with both hands and readjusts me in her arms. As soon as she new I was comfortable we start for the clear door. I could see all of the cars and people on the street. I look back at my cage and see my brother, Theo, looking at me through the glass. His fuzzy face squished up against the clear textile. He looks sad... I hear the door squeak, and the sudden noise of the outside world envelops my ears. I give one last meow, but the tiny sound is swallowed up by the loud motorized vehicles. I cling to my new owner out of fear of the overwhelming screech of brakes, and the whirring of bicycles flying by. As we walk home, all I could think about was Theo. I left him there. Alone. I feel guilty. I left my brother for a home. I shouldnt have left him. I should have brought him... She didnt even notice him there sitting in the corner of our prison... I didnt give him a single thought... I try pulling myself out of my thoughts, but its no use... I am a terrible sister...  As we approach her home, I hear a dog bark close by. I jump, and nearly fall out of her hands, but she catches me midair. My eyes were wide with panic. My ears prick  up and move in all directions, trying to find the source of that awful sound. I can feel my own heart thumping in my heaving chest. She pets me to try and sooth my terrified self. I'm going to be honest. It kind of does. My breathing and heaving chest subside and is replaced with guilt once more. We reach the front steps to her house and she stops for a minute. I look up at her beautiful face confused. She breathes in and out, but she looks happy. I cock my head to the side trying to figure out what she is doing. She looks down at me with admiration in her eyes. I wiggle my pink nose in response, and she laughs. She nods, looking at the wooden door, and reaches and turns the metal door nob. It creaks open revealing a beautiful home with a chandelier above our heads....

Rachel-

I look at Manny standing in the pet food isle with an orange and white fish wriggling between his chubby fingers. I feel a a tear well up in my eye and fall down my cheek. I walk over to him and gently stroke his shoulder. I try to capture eye contact, but it takes him a minute to look up from the slimy creature trying to escape his grasp. When he finally looks up, a wave of sadness washes over me when I see the pain in his eyes. I inhale and exhale slowly....

"I should be getting home..." I say to him softly. "Are you sure I cant pay you anything for this little bean?" I glance down at her and give a loving smile.

"I'm sure" He says, which causes me to look at him again. I nod slowly.

"Alright."

I turn to leave the store, but stop at the desk to retrieve my purse. I slide it down my arm into the crook of my elbow. I feel Kitty shift uncomfortably and reach up to adjust her. When i'm done, I start walking for the glass door. I glance down at Kitty and see that she is looking back at another black kitten. They look the same except for the eyes... Emerald green... I pull myself away from the glimmering eyes of the other kitten just in time to veer left so i dont hit the door frame. I reach for the metal handle and push it open on to the busy street. I feel Kitty tense up in my arms. I give her a soothing stroke and cross the busy street. I walk down the sidewalk on the way home slightly rocking the adorable kitten in my arms. I look down and notice that she is watching a flock of birds in a HUGE maple tree. She licks her lips and I let out a little giggle. I hear her let out a slight meow and I feel my heart melt inside of me. I slow down a little more and take in everything. I look to the left and see three kids playing tag in their backyard, jumping on the trampoline and splashing in the pool. I smile slightly and look to the right. A family is having a BBQ on their patio. A bunch of people swimming in the pool, and a group of elders playing cards at the picnic table. I look at Kitty and see her looking at the BBQ longingly.

"When we get home I'll feed you little bean," I say softly to her. As we get closer, Lulu, our family dog gives an excited bark. Kitty jumps at the loud sound, and I see her looking around frantically for the source of the loud noise. Oh boy.... Her ears are moving around in directions that I didnt even know possible. I feel her little heartbeat quicken, and her soft chest heaving wildly. I reach to pet her soft fur to try and calm her down. She jumps as my fingers come into contact with her pelt.

"It's ok..." I whisper soothingly to her. As I run my fingers through her soft coat I feel her muscles relax... We reach the front door, and I stop for a minute... What if Dave isn't okay with this? Did I make a mistake? What if the kids aren't ready for a pet? I take a deep breath and look down at Kitty to see her looking up at me with her head cocked sideways. She wiggles her nose and I laugh, then quickly stop, but a smile is still plastered on my face. I reach for the door handle and open it.

"Honey! I'm home!"