To Catch A Cat

1000 words.

The hum of the water cooler over in the corner still sounded the same, but even Jackie had left and the lights were out.

"No more office parties at Jackie's" he smiled at the memories.

A loud “meow” brought him out of his thoughts. Looking down at the large cardboard box that held seventeen year’s worth of personal items, he felt lost. Mechanically he picked up his one solitary box, turned, and left.

Way too quickly, he was getting out of his car, and standing in front of ‘home’ such as it was. Setting the box down on the steps, he punched in his access code on the keyless entry pad to his white cape cod. As walked he into the kitchen another loud meow sounded from behind him.

“Damn strays” he muttered.

Moment’s later Tony was drinking a cold beer on his red sofa and watching the news on a 72” plasma TV. The only illumination in the rather large and mostly empty living room was the track lightening above the couch.

The sound of a cat hissing brought Tony up out of his position on the couch. An empty can of beer tumbled to the carpet. Rubbing his eyes he looked around, and then glanced at his watch. It read “9:45”. Turning off the TV he walked through the dining room and stared out the patio doors into his back yard. By the light of the moon he could just make out the wooden privacy fence. The vibration of his cell phone going off in his shirt pocket startled him for a moment, and then he pulled it out.

“Hello?” he answered.

“Tony… this is Jackie” Jackie’s sweet voice had always grated on his nerves.

Sighing at the irritation, he responded, “Yes?”

The tone on the other hand got a little harder, “Look.. its my cat I can’t find her…”

“And you called me, why?” Being blunt was necessary with her or else she just kept on talking.

As he had hoped she would, she got offended, “Never mind.” Her voice was calm but he knew that she had to be mad. And with that she disconnected.

By two o’clock in the morning the cat thing was growing old. No matter what Tony did he could not escape its voice. A sudden inspiration hit him. He had brought home a box with him from the office. Which meant.. no that was impossible. How could he have carried a living cat home in a cardboard box and never noticed the movement?

Hurrying down the stairs he threw on a robe, and opened the door. The box was still where he had left it, but now the lid was open. Going back up stairs he pulled out his cell phone and re-dialed Jackie’s number.

Her voice sounded like she had been drinking, “Hellosss?” followed by a hiccup.

“Jackie, look its me.” He paused wondering how you tell a drunken former co-worker something like this at two o’clock in the morning, “Did you have your cat with you at the office before you left?”

A small sob confirmed that was the case, “Yep, Giggles came with me.. I thought it would help… but she gots away and wouldn’tz come back” the voice on the other end was nearly a wail.

Pulling his cell phone away from his ear he looked at it for a moment, “Giggles? You called your cat Giggles?” Running his hand across his face he bit his lower lip and struggled to control his irritation.

Interrupting her sob story, he told her, “PLEASE, come get your cat!”

“Zilly man.. I can’t drive till morning.” She told him.

So much for alcohol impaired judgment. But he didn’t want to get sued for a drunk driving accident.

“I’ll bring the cat to you!” he told her then hung up.

Heading to the frig he pulled out some luncheon meat. When the cat came for the meat, he would grab the cat and then take the cat to Jackie. At least that was the plan. The box had been outside, so the cat was to.Sitting down beside the box on his front steps he was glad it was warm. Putting the luncheon meat down beside him he leaned back against the door and soon his thoughts drifted away…

The sound of someone whistling brought him out of a dead sleep, “Look at those legs!” It was Jackie’s voice.

Shocked Tony realized that he’d fallen asleep outside wearing nothing but a bath robe and slippers. Embarrassed he went to stand up and nearly stepped on the cat asleep beside him. The cat stood and stretched as though it had just slept the best sleep of its life.

Coloring up he sputtered out a “Good morning.”

Walking up Jackie picked up the small black cat and cuddled her for a few moments.

“Giggles?” was the only thing he could think to say.

Jackie nodded yes, “Don’t suppose you want to come over for breakfast?”

For the first time he noted how attractive Jackie looked in her jeans and halter top.

“Well after that I figure you owe me.” Tony finally got out, “Give me a second to put something more decent on…”

Winking at him she said, “I think you look fine just like that… but I'll meet you over at my place when you're ready.“

Heading back inside the house, he quickly showered, shaved, and put on a pair of nice brown slacks and a red sweater. An hour later he drove over to her house and soon they were drinking coffee and eating scrambled eggs in her ‘breakfast nock’ built into a very large picture window.

“You’re not married?” Tony asked her.

Laughing she responded, “What do you think?”

“Guess not” he muttered into his now empty coffee cup.

“Thanks for rescuing Giggles” she smiled at him and for the first time he noticed how green her eyes were.

Really it was a black cat named Giggles that had rescued him.