The Cub in the Water

FAREWELL

Once the decision of me moving to Queretaro was final I talked to my mom's side of the family, the Lobos. Even though everyone said how much they were going to miss me being around, they all agreed that going with my dad was the best decision. It wasn't that they hated my mom and wanted her to be alone or anything like that, they were just being realistic. Nobody knew exactly where she was, how long she was going to be gone, and if she was ever coming back. Without a doubt, going with my dad was my best bet by far.

And it wasn't like they were never going to see me, or that for us to hang out there had to be a really rare and special occasion. I was set to visit Mexico City every fifteen days. Mildred loved the city and had a lot of things to do in it. Lots of friends to see and lots of places to go. Since my Jason and Jules moved to Queretaro, she made a deal with my dad that no matter what, they were to come every two weeks. Now, I was in that package deal. I never really understood why she had the urge to run back to the city, though. She lived for half of the week in her apartment in the city anyway, for now, her needs suited me fine. I would be able to see my friends and family often.

After going rogue on my mom and blocking her from every communication channel we had in common, I could concentrate on ending the school year with a positive attitude and giving it all I had to offer.

The Cats performance competition was fast approaching. We spend a lot of our free time rehearsing, worrying about how to make the perfect sexy cats costumes - black unitards, cat ears, fury grey tails, and for the girls, fishnet stockings, and boa scarfs of different colors -, and how to pull off an amazingly realistic feline makeup - mine ended up being yellow on the face, white on the eyes, and long black whiskers - because the performance was going to get down under the spotlight, on a theater stage. We were determined to win this thing, not because there was a big prize or anything like that. It was a matter of honor. Winning that thing kind of meant being the kings of the school for a while. Any kind of art competition was a very big deal at McKenzie High.

We ended up in a tie in first place with some junior group. However, being part of a team like that, being able to perform in a beautiful theatre with my friends, and along the best teacher I had ever had, was amazing.

I remember the round stage, the red and yellow lights on my face, our strong meowing, the music being so loud,

"Macavity, Macavity, there's no one like Macavity.

He's a fiend in feline shape, a monster of depravity.

You may meet him in a by-street, you may see him in the square.

But when a crime's discovered then Macavity, Macavity, Macavity, Macavity...

When a crime's discovered then Macavity's not there!

Macavity's not there!" the goosebumps running through my entire body, the energy so high it made me feel alive. The reaction from the people in their seats, a combination of excitement and surprise, triggering this adrenaline rush that made everything feel amazingly good. For those whole four minutes, we became cats, sexy as hell cats. Nothing and no one else mattered.

It made me feel good and lucky to be part of something that special.

My birthday went by without any sudden or tragic news whatsoever and my friends found a way to make it very special as well.

After spending the Friday afternoon around the city and having dinner with Viola, and Aileen, we were supposed to be heading to a karaoke bar to meet Karina, Rox, Briana, Darla, George, Kike, and some other people, and nothing was happening.

"Guys, seriously. It is getting late!"

"Relax, Mia. We just need to make a quick stop at Karina's," said Aileen.