Eventually her whole head followed. “Why are you rattling all that paper, can’t you see I’m trying to sleep?”
“You’re always trying to sleep. If I was quiet every time you were asleep I’d have to move.”
Mitzi lifted her head in interest trying to determine if I was being serious or not. I gave her a wry smile and added “No, you’re not getting your own house so don’t even ask. You already think you own everything here anyway.”
Mitzi slowly crossed her paws and put her head back down. “Prove I don’t.”
I made a rude noise and went back to writing. After a few minutes she opened a single eye and said “Well if you’re going to keep me awake at least read me a story. But make it a short one, you may lose me at any moment.”
“Yeah I noticed that about cats. Good thing this one is only…100 words long so far.”
“Only? Does it need to be more than that?”
“Well no but I’d planned to make it a proper story, not just a tale for cats with short attention spans.”
“Indulge me, I’m fading fast.”
I stared at the page and tried to think how I could turn what was an opening paragraph into a complete story. “Gimme a minute.”
“Tick tock, Morpheus’ sweet embrace awaits.”
What seemed like an eternity to Mitzi but was probably closer to five minutes passed before I had something to give her. “Okay, this is still rough, but here goes.”
“I assure you I will be more than kind in my review.”
“May I remind you that you’re supposed to be collaborating on this book, not reviewing it.”
“I would never put my name on a book I didn’t approve of, regardless of how little I had to do with the actual writing of it. But that is a topic for another time. Distract me sir, and remember one hundred words, no more, no less.”
“I’m starting to sense there’s something that cats and book critics have in common. Probably their predatory ancestry, but anyway here goes…”
Sara rushed in, the early sun highlighting her form like a christmas ghost. I could see the excitement in her face, her posture. And the wings. I could see them clearly as she tried to fit thru my door. I met her in the foyer, awkwardly hugging and trying not to stare at the arching white wings nearly touching my ceiling.
“It’s OK to look!” she said, hugging back. I could feel all the muscles added to support the wings. Sara did a 360, barely able to contain herself. She saw the question on my face and nodded. “Yes, they work!”
I looked at Mitzi wondering if she was awake or not. Eventually she stretched out both front feet and said: “Not bad. You’re sure it was only 100 words long? I nearly dozed in the middle there. Couldn’t you make one shorter? Maybe a short poem instead?”
“You mean a haiku? I don’t think I’m clever enough to make up a book of haikus.”
She sighed and fixed me with an unblinking gaze. “If you would just learn to purr we could make great strides in human/feline communications.”
“You’re probably right but that’s not going to happen any time soon.”
“Well this will do then. Make me a book of 100 word stories and I’ll happily endorse it for you.”
“Say What? I’ve already written two-thirds of it!There’s…65,000 words in this book already!”
Mitzi lolled on one side and I swear she started grinning at me. “Cruft does accumulate over time doesn’t it? Make two versions; one for humans and one for cats with as you say, short attention spans.”
“I have a counter proposal. I’ll keep writing 100 word stories till you fall asleep. If you can stay awake for enough of them, we’ll make a second book for ADHD felines such as yourself.”
“Now who’s being predatory? You’re taking unkind advantage of my inborn nature. Increase the daily kibble quota and you have a deal.”
“Deal.”
“You could give me the supplemental kibbles now. Purely as a goodwill gesture of course.”
“Not till I write the next one.”
“A test of wills begins! That’s…almost Shakespearian! I like it.”
“You know about Shakespeare?”
“Less chatter, more writing! Never bet against a feline when there’s kibbles on the line.”