Friend
1: I’m telling you, pretty much all of them are harmless. Sometimes a little over-enthusiastic, but
harmless.
Friend
2: OK, I guess – this is my first time doing this, so I’m a little nervous.
Friend
1: Just stick by me and follow my lead.
Ooh, here’s one coming right for you, don’t be shy!
Friend
2: I – I – I just can’t, I’m sorry!
Friend
1: It’s OK, I’ll handle this one.
Visitor
1: Aren’t you a pretty kitty, yes you are!
(Holds out hand)
Friend
1: (Sniffs fingers) Hm, not a serious customer.
Friend
2: (Hanging back in a corner) How can you tell?
Friend
1: I smell cat all over her – doubtful she’d bring a stranger into the fold,
especially living with one that old.
Still, she’s a friend of our kind.
(Rubs head against Visitor 1’s hand)
Visitor
1: Aw, look, she likes me!
Visitor
2: Don’t even think about bringing her home, young lady.
(Friend
1 looks knowingly at Friend 2 while purring enthusiastically; Visitor 1 moves on)
Friend
1: (Trots over to Friend 2 and bats around a toy mouse) See? Some of them just want to cuddle and then
grab a snack in the café, but the more you circulate around here the better
your chances one will take you home.
Friend
2: (Jumps to a high ledge on the wall and settles down) I don’t know, what if
we seem to hit it off but then it turns out we’re incompatible? I miss my old home, and at least here I know
everybody.
Friend
1: Not for long, pal – none of us plan on staying here long-term. (There is activity on the other side of the
room) Case in point: looks like McFluffy’s got herself a new family. Way to go, McFluff!
Friend
2: Aw, and I liked her – we bonded because her human had gotten sick, too. At least I still have you.
Friend
1: (Rubbing against Visitor 3’s legs) Don’t count on it: I intend to be whisked
away to my new forever home by someone halfway decent within the next few weeks
if I have to lie to do it.
Friend
2: What, by pretending to be a lap cat or something?
Friend
1: If that’s what it takes. Come on
down, you’ll never get adopted if you stay up there!
Friend
2: Oh, all right. (Leaps down to the
floor and is immediately approached by Visitor 3, abandoning Friend 1 in
mid-rub)
Friend
1: Hey! Tease.
Visitor
3: Hi there, little guy. (Holds out
hand, knuckles first)
Friend
2: Here goes. (Sniffs) Smells all right.
Friend
1: Go on, introduce yourself.
Friend
2: Oh boy. (Rubs head against Visitor
3’s hand, then lightly nips) Sorry, I’m sorry!
I don’t know what came over me!
Visitor
3: (Laughs) Ooh, feisty! I can take a
hint. (Moves on)
Friend
2: Aw, I ruined it! (Flops onto a cat
bed and sighs)
Friend
1: (Scratching a post) Don’t beat yourself up over it; happens to the best of
us, that’s why they sign a waiver. Try taking a nap in the condo by the front window – the humans’ll see you first as
they come in and maybe they’ll look for you later.
Friend
2: I don’t know, that feels self-exploitative.
(Looks around) Maybe I should go meet that family who just walked in;
they seem nice.
Friend
1: (Stretched out on the floor, being given a belly rub) Go get `em, tiger!
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