1
The sun glimmered through the window and woke me up. I was sleeping peacefully on the windowsill and the sun warmed my fur.Lelecame over and pet my head. I had white fur with black spots and green eyes. My whiskers twitched if I was in the sunlight and one part of my ear was chipped. She heard the little bell on the door ring and walked over there. I looked around the room. There was Lele’s kitchen with the thing that she called an oven that made a decent replacement if the sun went behind dark clouds. There was also a tiny chair beneath my sleeping spot. Most importantly though, there were books. Books all around. They could have a soft feel on the paper part or a sleek, smooth one. The best part on those books was always the cover, rough or glossy. I jumped off and walked out the door while Lele was talking to some old lady. “Leonora,” the lady said, “Did you get the book I was asking for?”
“No, I’m sorry Mrs. Smith, it hasn’t arrived yet. The delivery should come soon though.”
The lady scoffed and walked out the front door while Lele sighed. I wanted to help Lele, but I don’t speak human… and when I try nobody understands what I say.
Even as I was outside, books surrounded me. There were books in every corner and all around me. There were two inside places in our area, the big one were Lele’s stuff is at, and the smaller one where it’s just books. I walked into the smaller area and found it. There, on a taller part of the bookshelf where I could fit in was my favorite book of all. The big red book. It was fat and red, a dark red shade that could be seen from miles away. At least that’s what Lele says. I don’t know red, but it looks more like a rich dark green. That’s not what I like it for though. I like its texture, its smell and the feeling I get when I jump on it. I leaped up and landed silently of its cover. Every time, it ends up being bigger than I thought. It was always the same size, and my size never changed, but I always underestimate it. I move around on it for a couple of seconds and finally flop down and look at a trail of ants going up and up and up the bookshelf and then coming down and down and down.
I lay there for some time. I don’t know how long. It’s not like I care about it, except when it’s time for food or head pats. I hear Lele shoutingsingsongy, “Albus, I have food for you!” That’s when I now I have to get off my book and go eat. I jump off and the ants are probably startled as i trot over into the big area. My food’s the same as always. Some fish, usually something called tuna and kibble. As I dig in, I imagine what fish out of the water, fresh, would taste. Probably weird. Too much effort for a tiny fish with water on it.
After the ceramic bowl is empty with just a tiny smear of fish paste I can’t reach I walk over to a white door next to the kitchen and push it open. Inside is Lele’s bed and tiny table with more books and paper. Her bed is still messy with a weird thing called a blanket not neatly tucked in like usually. There’s a squarish-rectangle thing on a stand that can magically change its front if you hold a thing called a remote to it. Lele calls it a TV and Lele’s mama hates it. Says it’s addicting. I think it’s interesting how it can have a fish on its front first and then a bird. I jump on her soft bed and curl up into a ball. I close my eyes and slowly start snoozing.
I wake up because of that bell again. Lele looks frustrated and the other person seems to be saying something in a different way then Lele usually says. Lele then takes out a little book with white, blue and “red” in that order on it. She starts reading from that and the man looks relieved. He starts talking way slower and Lele gives him a little book with a flag people often use here. He shakes her hand and goes outside, holding a little girls hand whose blonde hair is in two tiny pigtails.
Lele exhales sharply, looking proud. I push the front door open again and walk over behind the small area. There is a stone fountain with fresh water flowing through pipe-like things. I jump on the stone and begin lapping up the water. It’s cold and kind of rock flavored, but that isn’t a surprise and it tastes really good. I find a fly stuck in the water, and following my natural instincts, I eat it. Lele would be shocked and disgusted if she had to do it, but what’s so bad about eating something that’s kind of like meat. I dip my paw in the water and jump in. Some cats would scream at water. I kind of like it, especially on hot summer days like these. I paddle around, swishing my tail and then manage to jump out without asking Lele for help. She looks at me shocked when I walk into the big area and she wraps me in a towel. It’s quite nice actually.
I like swimming, but I do not like the consequences. Being wet not in the water is the worst. I either stay in my towel but become immobile, or I walk around but become cold, even if it’s a hot summer. I consider it worth it. I decide to stay in the towel and slumber. The towel is warm and nice, so falling asleep is generally easy. Soon enough, I’m knocked out on the bathroom floor sleeping.
When I wake up there is no sun and instead a crescent moon in a sky of black paint. I wriggled in the towel until it finally lets go. My fur is almost dry except the little tips of it. I walk out the bathroom and see Lele asleep with her head on the windowsill while sitting in the little chair with papers next to her. I walk out the front door and out the gate. The gate is what protects our area from other humans’ areas. I see Puffy sitting at the gate waiting for us. I lick her head and she purrs. Then Shadow appeared from-you guessed it-the shadows. I also lick his head. “Hi. Long time no see,” I say and they nod their heads. “What’s been happening in your houses recently?”
Shadow says, “My owner recently left his house on a ‘company thing’ as he said to his wife and his wife is going to her mother these weeks so I have the house ALL to myself!”
Puffy says, “My owner is getting one of those slobber beasts to guard the house. THERE’S NO REASON!”
I say, “I recently swam in the fountain thing. Trust me PUFFY it’s heaven!”
“Albus the water makes my fur wet and nasty I’m not doing it.”
We talk for some time about our lives and what’s happening to our owners. We then say goodbye and leave each other. I get to go in the safety of my library.
