mistrust

never leave her alone, at home, for too long.

It was clear that she was giving me the silent treatment. No reaction. She didn’t move a muscle. Nonetheless, I carried on explaining myself as I sat there beside her on the couch.

“How many times do I have to apologize? It would’ve been rude of me to just up and leave. Besides, Martin was telling me about his current problems. You know Martin. He poured his heart out to me. He needed a shoulder to cry on and I was there. You know he was there for me when grandma passed away.”

She slowly turned her head and gave me that blank stare she gives me whenever she’s pissed off then turned back to the TV and continued to watch “Desperate Housewives”. How I hate that sitcom!

“OK, I drank probably more than I should have, but what was I supposed to do? We were in a bar, for Goodness sake! Listen, I.. I don’t know what else to say. His wife has left him. And his daughter has leukemia. The one thing you may be happy to hear is that Max, his Boxer, was run over by a road hog. I know you never liked that dog but Martin is devastated. And as if that was not enough, his house was burned to the ground. A freak accident, apparently. How unlucky can one get? Oh, and someone stole his car. I’ll grant you it was a pile of junk but when he got to that point in the story, he cried his eyes out, telling me that the latest Justin Bieber album had been in the glove compartment.  I kid you not, he’s contemplating suicide. I can’t let that happen. He’s my only friend. I’ll never understand why you don’t like him. Oh, and who brought you home when you got lost last year? And have you forgotten that he looked after you when I had my surgery last January?”

I tentatively stretched my hand, intending to touch her, then thought better of it. Mad as she was, she would probably have lashed at me.

“Come on, you’re being childish. I was away for hardly an hour. It’s as if you’ve caught me cheating on you.”

Rose looked at me again and blinked. She then got off the couch and, without as much as a look at me, went to the kitchen and climbed into her litter box. I sighed and went to the cupboard to get her “Friskies”.     

Reviews

[barleygirl]

Oh hell yeah! I totally get this one! And I love it, too! This is so perfectly crafted to lead your reader astray, thinking along the wrong lines as always! I'm glad I came upon this lovely cat commentary, since I've been on a kitty bent myself the last week or so! You've done such a great job of describing Martin's woes in such a way, WHO could possibly find fault with an hour of friend consolation? YOUR KITTY, OF COURSE!!! Great ending stroll, too . . . nice & vividly-stated . . . food being the ultimate peace offering (((HUGS)))

[Woody]

:)) thought you'd like this one, being a cat-dog-bunny lady.
if I've got YOUR seal of approval then it must be good. thank you Dear.
to hell with onlookers. (((HUGS)))

[Asmi Bhattacharya]

Hey Woody,
That really did make go "aww"!
Cute,funny and yet deep!

[Woody]

Hi Asmi. much appreciated. I'm glad I managed to surprise you. good to know you liked the story.

[Jason Endfield]

Yes, and that is why I have a dog, he is slightly more forgiving than your cat, though he is prone to sulking and overthinking.... much like his owner some might say.
Excellent story Woody!

[Woody]

dogs are obedient. wonderful companions. you call them and they come running.
cats are cuddly and cute, especially when they're still small furballs but you can whistle till you're hoarse when they've eaten and that's what's frustrating to me.
thank you very much Jason. glad you thought it good.

[James]

Nice Woody, I read it twice and thought of my own conversations with my dog Ruby. She's very much like a cat.

[Woody]

thank you James. I love dogs but cats fascinate me. they're unfathomable, mysterious.
I hate them when they ignore me, once they're fed.
cheers.

[Valentine]

Roaring out loud. You caught me totally unawares with this gem. Great writing job of wit. Valentine

[Woody]

thanks heaps, Kathie dear. I'm overjoyed you liked it.

[Beccy]

Mostly, they are assessing what's in it for them. :)

[Woody]

I'll never figure them out. I'm always tempted to give them a taste of their own medicine when they come begging for food. but *sigh* I'm too soft-hearted. damn it!
thank you Beccy, dear :)

[Gaston Villanueva]

I can relate to this scenario a lot
Humorous and well-penned, an enjoyable read

[Woody]

thanks loads Gaston. glad you enjoyed this one :)

[Taylor]

I've found myself in similar situations before, but more often than not I've been the one sitting on the couch and being lectured to by my vocal feline. Maybe the cold shoulder is better. I enjoyed this, Woody, and I think you captured the interaction between feline and subservient "owner" perfectly. I also love the reference to the boxer. You've lightened my day, thank you.

[Woody]

thank you so much Taylor. they're both cute and infuriating at times. funny combination, isn't it?

[Jimmy Yetts]

Talking to a cat is one notch up from talking to a rock.
At least, unlike a wife, they rarely talk back.
Well done, Woodman!

[Woody]

they're infuriating when they look down their little pink noses at us and blink, don't they?
you're quite right, might as well talk to a rock.
thank you Frankie boy :)

[C.C.Summerwit]

This was a wonderful little read! thank you!

[Woody]

thank YOU for taking the trouble. glad you enjoyed it, shellkicker.